ATLANTA — Jordan Zimmermann took a shutout into the eighth inning and the Washington Nationals beat the Atlanta Braves 6-1 on Tuesday night to continue their season-long dominance of the division rivalry.
The NL East-leading Nationals have won nine straight games in the season series with the Braves - including a three-game sweep at Washington last week.
Zimmermann (6-5) ended a streak of three losses since his last win on June 2. He earned a no-decision despite throwing eight scoreless innings against Atlanta on Wednesday. He continued that dominance in his second straight start against the Braves, allowing six hits with no walks and six strikeouts in 7 2-3 innings.
Clint Robinson hit a two-run homer to cap Washington’s four-run first inning off Shelby Miller (5-4).
Juan Uribe opened the ninth with a homer off former Braves reliever David Carpenter.
Zimmermann was pulled with two outs in the eighth - the only inning he allowed more than one baserunner. Zimmermann hit Jace Peterson with a pitch before giving up a two-out single to Nick Markakis. Left-hander Matt Thornton ended the inning with A.J. Pierzynski’s groundout.
Miller was 2-0 with a 0.85 ERA in five starts against the Nationals, but that success ended in the first inning.
Danny Espinosa’s double drove in Denard Span. With two outs, Wilson Ramos hit a single up the middle to drive in Espinosa. Robinson’s third homer to right field gave Zimmermann a 4-0 lead before making his first pitch.
Pierzynski’s throwing error on a rundown between home plate and third base allowed Espinosa, who had three hits, to score in the third.
Miller allowed five runs, four earned, with 10 strikeouts in five innings.
Right-hander Jake Brigham, making his major league debut, threw three scoreless innings, allowing one hit, in relief of Miller. Ryan Kelly, also making his debut, allowed one run in the ninth. Yunel Escobar, who led off with a single, scored when Ramos hit into a double play.
The Braves won the first game of the season series on April 27. The Nationals then started their streak of nine straight wins - matching their second-longest winning streak against any team since their move to Washington in 2005.
The Nationals set a franchise record with 11 straight wins against Seattle from 2005-14. They also won nine straight against the New York Mets from 2013-14.
TRAINER’S ROOM
INF Anthony Rendon took batting practice for the first time since he was placed on the 15-day DL on Friday with a left quad strain. … 1B Ryan Zimmerman (left foot plantar fasciitis) worked out with Class A Potomac and will be evaluated following another workout on Wednesday. He has been on the DL since June 11.
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