Jordan Zimmermann did not have his best stuff on Wednesday. So he says.
The Potomac Nationals’ right-handed pitcher certainly baffled the Winston-Salem Warthogs. Zimmermann tossed seven shutout innings, allowing three hits, no walks and striking out nine in Potomac’s 1-0 win over Winston-Salem.
Zimmermann worked quickly, attacking hitters and making them swing early and midway through counts.
He made such short work of Winston-Salem’s hitters that the game lasted an hour and 54 minutes. Zimmermann exited after retiring 12 straight batters.
“One thing about Jordan is he has four quality pitches,” said Potomac manager Randy Knorr, whose club improves to 17-7. “He goes after guys and mixes it up well.”
Zimmermann said his fastball lacked pop.
But the Warthogs were unable to mount any real threats against him. Winston-Salem’s Brandon Allen singled to begin the fourth and stole second base. Zimmermann retired the next three hitters in order, one via a fly ball, the other two by way of strikeout.
Zimmermann needed to prevent Winston-Salem from scoring runs. After all, Potomac’s offense did not put the game out of reach. The Nationals’ run came when Frank Diaz scored on Seth Bynum’s single. Bynum hit a ball, which bounced off Warthogs second baseman Javier Colina’s glove and into right field.
“[Catcher] Paul [Lo Duca] was calling a heck of a game,” Zimmermann said. “He caught [on Tuesday night]. I tried to execute my pitches and I got some ground balls and fly balls.”
Zimmermann has allowed only one earned run in his last 52 and two-thirds innings at home. Those innings include a stint at short-season Vermont and Potomac.
He is now 3-1 with three wins coming at Pfitzner Stadium.
Potomac’s Carlos Martinez pitched the eighth inning and Zech Zinicola the ninth.
Martinez walked Adam Ricks to begin the eighth, but Ricks was caught trying to steal second base.
Zinicola surrendered a one-out double to Colina, but struck out Allen and Lee Cruz for the final two outs.
NOTE: Potomac received right-handed pitcher Clint Everts from Low-A Hagerstown on Wednesday. Everts was 0-2 with a 4.63 ERA with the Suns.
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