Nationals 5, Astros 0
Jordan Zimmermann won his sixth straight decision, matching a career high with 11 strikeouts over six shutout innings as red-hot Washington completed a four-game sweep at Houston.
Michael Morse
extended his career-best hitting streak to 18 games, homering twice and finishing with three RBIs as the Nationals won their sixth straight game. It was also Washington's sixth consecutive road win and 10th in its previous 11 games away from the nation's capital.
Washington
(69-43), which has the best record in baseball, increased its lead to 4
1/2 games over Atlanta in the National League East.
The Astros (36-77), the worst team in the majors, have lost five straight and are 4-34 in their last 38 games.
Zimmermann
(9-6), whose 2.35 ERA is third in the majors and second in the NL, has
not lost since June 22 and has a 1.47 ERA in nine starts during that
span. He allowed three hits and didn't walk a batter.
Lucas
Harrell (9-8), who had won his last two starts - Houston's only two victories in the past 22 games - fell to 6-2 at home. He yielded two runs, five hits and struck
out five in five innings.
The Nationals scored twice in the
fifth inning. Roger Bernadina led off with a single, stole second and scored on Adam LaRoche's bloop single following a Ryan Zimmerman walk. Morse followed with a sacrifice fly to plate Zimmerman.
The
Astros escaped further damage in the fifth when Justin Maxwell climbed
the hill in center field to make an over-the-shoulder catch, taking
extra bases away from Jayson Werth with one on. Harrell retired Zimmermann on a lineout to center with the bases loaded to end the inning.
Morse
greeted reliever Mickey Storey with a no-doubt blast to left field in
the sixth inning and took Fernando Rodriguez to the opposite field in
right in the eighth for his 10th of the season.
GAME NOTEBOOK:
Nationals rookie OF Bryce Harper, who was 0-for-11 in the first three
games of the series, did not play. ... Zimmermann struck out 11 against
Atlanta on May 12, 2011. ... Washington improved to 19-8 against NL
Central teams. ... The Nationals swept the Astros in a four-game series
for the first time and recorded a sweep in a series of at least three
games over Houston for the first time in 12 years. ... Harrell
has allowed two earned runs or fewer in six straight starts and eight of
his last nine. ... Bernadina had three of Washington's 12 hits and stole two bases. ... Brett Wallace had three hits for Houston. ... The
Nationals won the season series 6-2. ... Los Angeles Angels ace Jered
Weaver leads the majors with a 2.13 ERA while San Francisco's Ryan
Vogelsong is second at 2.27.