Cards even the series, hammer Nats
Jordan Zimmermann had a first career playoff start to forget this evening. After getting a quick three up, three down in the first inning, Zimmermann allowed 5 hits and 4 runs in the second inning. Zimmermann allowed a home run in the third inning to Allen Craig, which would lead to Zimmermann's departure after three inning. Zimmermann allowed 7 hits and 5 runs.
The Nats bullpen wasn't much more effective. Craig Stammen struggled for the second consecutive game, recording just one out, allowing 1 hits, 2 walks, and 2 runs. Mike Gonzalez allowed a run in the sixth inning and Sean Burnett was hammered in the eighth inning for 3 hits and 3 runs in .2 innings. Overall, the powerful Nats pitching staff leaves St. Louis a bit humbled.
Offensively, the Nats put up 2 runs in the fifth inning coming from solo home runs from Adam LaRoche and Ryan Zimmerman. Zimmerman got his second RBI of the night on a sacrifice in the seventh inning. Zimmerman and Mike Morse had two hit nights. Overall, in the last wo games, the Nationals have stranded 19 runners.
The loss sends the series to Washington tied at 1-1. It also sends the Nats home searching for ways to get their pitching back on track. The Nats will send Edwin Jackson to the mound on Wednesday. The positive for the Nats is that they need to win two of three in the friendly confines of Nationals Park.
