Zimmermann, Morse power Nats

The Washington Nationals completed a four game sweep last night in Houston, powered on the mound by Jordan Zimmermann and at the plate by Mike Morse.  The the series finale win, the Nationals improved to 69-43 with a 4.5 game lead over Atlanta in the NL East Division.  The win also helped the Nationals maintain their best overall record status in the MLB.

As the Nats have become accustomed,last night was fueled by yet another dominating starting performance on the mound.  Jordan Zimmermann threw 6 shutout innings, allowing just 3 hits while fanning 11 Astros  batters.  A truly dominating performance.   Another performance that proved Zimmermann not only deserves to be mentioned int he same sentence as Stephen Strasburg and Gio Gonzalez, but perhaps should be the first pitcher talked about on this rotation.  Zimmermann faced 22 batters and threw 87 pitches, 59 for strikes, before Nats' manager Davey Johnson turned to the bullpen in the seventh inning.  Mike Gonzales, Sean Burnett, and Drew Storen combined for three additional shutout innings, allowing a combined two hits and three strike outs.

Mike Morse went 2 for 3 with 2 home runs, 3 RBI, and 2 runs scored to power the Nationals offense.  Morse hit opposite field home runs, the first a deep solo bomb to left field in the sixth inning and a solo shot to right field in the 8th inning.  Morse also sacrificed a run in during the 4th inning. Adam LaRoche knocked in a run in the 4th inning as well.  Morse raised his overall batting average to .303 and his two runs gave him 10tH he season. Morse also extended his hitting streak to an impressive 18 consecutive games.

Elsewhere offensively, Roger Bernadina had a three hit night.  Morse and Danny Espinosa each had two hits.

Washington will begin a three game road trip to Arizona starting tonight.  Their four game sweep of the Astros has lifted their winning streak to six consecutive games.  The Nata are 8-2 in the month of August.

Nats Streaks:.

*  The Washington Nationals have won SIX straight and SIX straight on the road.

*  Mike Morse extended his hitting streak to a major league high EIGHTEEN games.  During this current streak, Morse has 25 hits in 76 at bats (.329) with 5 home runs and 14 RBI.

*  Danny Espinosa extended his latest hitting streak to FOUR games.  In those 4 games, three of them he had two hits each game.  Espinosa is 7 for 17 over the last four games.

Yahoo Sports has put the Nationals atop their latest power poll.  Here is what they have to say.