Nationals down the Giants 9-3

The Washington Nationals celebrated Independence Day a bit early, exploding for 13 hits and 9 runs to defeat the SF Giants 9-3. The Nats have won three of their last four and improve overall to 46-32 and move to. 3.5 game lead over the New York Mets.

Jordan Zimmermann tossed 6 innings, scattering 7 hits and allowing one earned run while fanning 7 Giants to improve his record to 5-6. Zimmermann lowered his season ERA to 2.70. Zimmermann threw 99 pitches, which 74 were for strikes. Ryan Mattheus, Mike Gonzalez, and Henry Rodriguez combined for 4 more strikeouts and threw a combined 3 innings in relief, yielding 1 run.

The Nationals offense put up combined 8 runs in the second, third, and fourth inning. Danny Espinosa went 3-4 and started off the scoring with a run scoring double in the second inning. Jordan Zimmermann followed with a double that brought Espinosa in to complete a two run second inning. Adam LaRoche doubled in Zimmerman in the bottom of the third to give the Nats a 3-0 lead. Ian Desmond completed the third inning with a two run home run that brought LaRoche home. It was home run number 14 for All Star Desmond.

Mike Morse drove in two runs in the Fifth inning, scoring Steve Lombardozzi and Bryce Harper. LaRoche added his second RBI of the night, sacrificing in Zimmerman. Washington completed the nine run onslaught with an RBI double by Harper in the 8th inning. Harper was 2-5 with a run and an RBI. Overall, the Nats offense hit 5 doubles off Giants pitching. Morse, Desmond, and LaRoche each had 2 RBI, while Espinosa added a three hit night and Harper and Desmond had two hits.