Nationals pound Brewers, extend NL East lead to five

Washington, DC, United States (4E Sports) – Jordan Zimmermann pitched 6 2/3 innings of one-run ball and Ryan Zimmerman hit a three-run shot in the six-run fourth inning as the Washington Nationals salvaged a four-game split by pounding the Milwaukee Brewers, 12-2, Monday at Nationals Park.

Zimmermann (12-8) pitched 6 2/3 innings, allowing just one earned run on four hits with seven strikeouts to give the Nationals (93-60) a five-game lead over the Atlanta Braves for the National League East title.

The Nationals scored first when rookie Bryce Harper advanced home on a throwing error by catcher Jonathan Lucroy on a steal of third base.

However, Zimmermann, on his first pitch in the second inning, surrendered a homer to Corey Hart that tied the count at one.

The starting pitcher bounced back with an RBI single that fueled the Nationals’ six-run fourth frame and veteran Jason Werth drove a two-run double for a 4-1 lead.

After Harper drew a walk to put runners on first and second, Zimmerman hit Marco Estrada’s 0-1 pitch over the center-field wall for a 7-1 advantage.

In the fifth, the Brewers pulled out Estrada (4-7) for reliever Kameron Loe, who allowed a two-run double to Kurt Suzuki for a 9-1 Nationals lead.

The Brewers scored their second run in the eighth behind Aramis Ramirez’s RBI double but the Nationals retaliated with three runs for the final count. Ramirez became the second player in franchise history with 50 doubles in a season, joining Lyle Overbay, who hit 53 in 2004.

Zimmerman finished 3-of-4 with four RBIs, Werth contributed two hits and two RBIs while Harper scored two runs for the Nationals.

Estrada was saddled with the loss after giving up seven runs – six earned — on eight hits with three strikeouts.

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