This time, Ryan Zimmerman’s healing hamstring appeared to pass a seven-inning for the playoff-bound Washington Nationals.
Zimmerman hit, ran the bases and played left field to the satisfaction of manager Matt Williams in the Nationals’ 7-4 loss to the New York Mets in the opener of a day-night doubleheader Thursday.
“It was less thinking about it, I think, which is exactly what we want,” said Williams, who added that the two-time Silver Slugger winner could’ve finished the game if needed. “We want him to be able to react out there. I thought it was fine today.”
Matt den Dekker singled home the go-ahead run off Tyler Clippard (7-4) in the eighth inning to help the Mets (77-81) avoid a sixth consecutive losing season, at least for a few more hours. Wilmer Flores drove den in Dekker from second with an infield single, and Ruben Tejada singled home another run in the ninth.
Curtis Granderson also had three of New York’s 15 hits and drove in three runs to prevent NL East champion Washington from clinching home field throughout the NL playoffs until at least Friday. Flores had three singles.
Zimmerman went 1 for 4 and played left field in his second start since straining the hamstring in late July. He’s batting .286 with 37 RBIs in 56 games as he attempts to get healthy for Washington’s postseason.
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Zimmerman scored in the fourth after singling, going first-to-third at 75 percent pace on Adam LaRoche’s single, and running home at a similar speed on Ian Desmond’s sacrifice fly to center.
“I can’t really go 100 percent yet,” Zimmerman confessed. “I’m sort of learning what I have, what I don’t have, and the only way to do that is to go out and play.”
Saturday in his first start back, Zimmerman went 2 for 3, tripled and drove in a run, and was also removed after seven. He was slated to play third, his position in past seasons, on Tuesday before residual soreness prompted Williams to reduce him to a pinch-hitting role.
“I’m just getting hits,” said Granderson, who is .229 with 19 homers and 65 RBI in his first season with the Mets, but is 9 for his last 21. “I really wish it was more complicated than that, but sometimes you find a little bit of grass or a couple of holes here or there. That’s really it.”
Carlos Torres (8-5) pitched the seventh, and Jenrry Mejia worked the ninth for his 28th save.
Nationals left-hander Gio Gonzalez (9-10) faced Mets righty Zack Wheeler (11-10) in the second game Thursday. The Nationals also play a home day-night doubleheader Friday against the Miami Marlins.
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Washington’s Blake Treinen allowed four runs on eight hits in 4 1-3 innings, the shortest of his seven spot starts this season, while New York’s Dillon Gee gave up four runs on nine hits over five.
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