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Nationals' bats come alive just in time

May 24, 2008 12:15 am

BY RICH CAMPBELL

WASHINGTON--

Surely the outfield's collective .205 batting average entering yesterday is as abhorrent as any stat you could throw out there. But there's another deficiency that has been instrumental in holding the Nationals back.

Dig deep enough into the splits, and you'll find that Ryan Zimmerman, the team's entrenched No. 3 hitter and the cornerstone of the franchise, began yesterday with the worst batting average on the team with runners in scoring position. The gruesome number: .160.

So forgive Zimmerman for showing a bit of emotion after he slid safely into second base in the sixth inning last night. His RBI double keyed a decisive four-run rally that gave the opportunistic Nationals a 5-1 win over the Milwaukee Brewers in front of 28,007 at Nationals Park.

"In those type of situations is when we need a guy like him," manager Manny Acta said. "With the game on the line, we need our main guy to carry us."

The Nationals managed only three hits the entire game, but they made them count. Wily Mo Pena hit his first homer of the season, and Jesus Flores helped the Nationals capitalize on a costly error by Milwaukee shortstop J.J. Hardy with a two-RBI double that capped the rally in the sixth.

"Hits don't win ballgames," Acta said. "Hits with runners in scoring position win ball games."

Zimmerman can attest to that. He has struggled in those situations this season, particularly with his pitch selection. Too often during the first month of the season, he would chase pitches out of the strike zone.

"I think sometimes they're not going to let me drive the runs in," Zimmerman said. "That's part of the process of taking some pitches, and if they're going to walk me then it's OK for the guy behind me to drive the runs in to. That's part of the process where I have to grow up and mature as a hitter."

Zimmerman got his perfect pitch with runners on in the sixth. It was all made possible by Hardy's gaffe.

With the score tied 1-1, Felipe Lopez drew a one-out walk. Cristian Guzman then hit a ground ball slightly to the left of second base--a tailor-made double-play ball--but Hardy bobbled it. That allowed Lopez to reach second, and Hardy's throw to first was too late to get Guzman.

Without any warning, the Nationals offense showed an opportunistic side that has been missing for much of the season.

Jeff Suppan's first pitch to Zimmerman was a fastball that started out over the plate but tailed down and in. Zimmerman stroked it to the right-center-field gap and legged out a double, while Lopez came around to give Washington a 2-1 lead.

Zimmerman popped up after his slide at second base with an emphatic clap. The last 17 games have been much kinder to the 23-year-old, validating his stay-positive mantra after a lousy March and April in which he hit .233

He has batted .324 with five homers and 13 RBIs during that stretch, and his season average has climbed from a feeble .217 to a respectable .258.

"This game is a frustrating game," Zimmerman said. "You've just got to be professional and keep your approach."

Three batters after Zimmerman's double, Jesus Flores then continued his hot streak with a two-RBI double to left that scored Zimmerman and pinch-runner Aaron Boone.

The 5-1 lead was enough for reliever Brian Sanches, who picked up the win after being called up from Triple-A earlier in the day.

"You want to get in there as soon as possible and the anxiousness, the nerves, kind of get them out," he said. The anticipation is what kind of kills you more than anything."

NATIONALS 5, BREWERS 1

Milwaukee

Washington

Milwaukee

000

010

000--

1

Washington

010

004

00x--

5

E--Hardy (4). LOB--Milwaukee 7, Washington 3. 2B--Weeks (7), Kendall (11), Zimmerman (11), Flores (8). HR--WPena (1), off Suppan. RBIs--Suppan (1), Zimmerman (27), Milledge (17), Flores 2 (9), WPena (6). SB--Hardy (1). GIDP--Braun, Fielder. Runners left in scoring position--Milwaukee 6 (Weeks 3, Braun, Gwynn 2); Washington 1 (Mackowiak). Runners moved up--MCameron, Hardy, BHall, Kendall, Milledge. DP--Washington 2 (Zimmerman, FLopez and DmYoung), (FLopez, CGuzman and DmYoung).

Milwaukee

Washington

Inherited runners-scored--Shouse 2-0. HBP--by Suppan (DmYoung).

T--2:42. A--28,007 (41,888).

Rich Campbell: 540/735-1974
Email: rcampbell@freelancestar.com