Third baseman Ryan Zimmerman and outfielder Michael Morse hit back-to-back home runs in the fifth inning, turning a one-run lead into a rout. Backup catcher Jhonatan Solano had his best day at the plate, going 2 for 3, including an impressive solo home run to the opposite field in the fourth inning. Rick Ankiel, used mainly in late innings as a defensive center fielder, added a two-run blast in the eighth inning.
In the past week and a half, the Nationals shed their status as one of the lowest-scoring teams in baseball behind the emergence of Zimmerman and Morse. They have scored at least five runs in the past eight games.
The newly-potent offense has boosted the best pitching staff in baseball. The Nationals matched their high water mark for the season, 15 games over .500, and own the National League?s best record.
Zimmerman has been on a tear since June 25, going 11 for 41 with four home runs and 15 runs batted in. Morse, in the same span, is 17 for 39 with three home runs and nine runs batted in. Before that, Zimmerman was in a career-worst slump caused by an ailing shoulder, and Morse was practically in spring training mode after he missed the season?s first 50 games with an injury to his side.
After allowing three runs in the first inning, right-handed starter Edwin Jackson settled down and gave up only one more over the next 4 2/ 3 innings.
In his past two starts, Jackson?s velocity has been lower than usual. His fastball was mostly between 89 and 91 mph last week, the worst start of the season. Jackson insisted he wasn?t hurt, that he was just in one of those ruts that occurs during the season. His first five pitches were between 91 and 93 mph but ended in a walk for leadoff hitter Gregor Blanco.
While Jackson?s return to normal velocity was a reassuring sign for the Nationals, his lack of command in the first inning wasn?t. Jackson?s worst inning this season has been the first. His earned run average is higher in the first than in any other frame.
With Blanco on base, Giants catcher Buster Posey drove in a run on a groundout to third base. Then, facing all-star third baseman Pablo Sandoval, Jackson got ahead 1-2 after inducing two swings and misses on 95 mph fastballs. Jackson offered another high fastball and Sandoval crushed it, slamming the ball into deep right-center field for a two-run home run. It was 8:23 a.m. in San Francisco and the Giants already had a 3-0 lead.
Earlier in the season, that deficit would have been difficult for the Nationals to surmount. Yet with even their lesser-known players hitting, the Nationals attacked and tagged Giants starter Madison Bumgarner, who entered the game with a 10-4 record and a 2.85 ERA, for nine hits, seven runs and three home runs in five-plus innings.
All-star shortstop Ian Desmond drove in two runs with a single in the third inning and Solano tied the game, 3-3, with his blast an inning later. Zimmerman and Morse added their blasts in the fifth off Bumgarner. Solano?s single in the sixth chased Bumgarner from the game.
Source: http://feeds.washingtonpost.com/click.phdo?i=da054ae2c355197c9099b982fed6b35e
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