Zimmermann was brilliant yet again. Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports
WASHINGTON — Jordan Zimmermann went seven strong innings, and Wilson Ramos connected for a home run as the Washington Nationals completed a three-game sweep of the San Francisco Giants with a 3-1 win Sunday night.
The Giants went 0-6 on a road swing through Miami and Washington. They lost their seventh consecutive road game, and they have just three wins in their past 12 games away from San Francisco.
Zimmermann (7-5) won his second straight decision. He allowed just one run on three hits and one walk while striking out a season-high-tying eight batters.
Ramos broke a 1-1 tie in the sixth with his eighth homer of the season, a shot to right-center off reliever George Kontos (2-1). The catcher also drove in an insurance run with an eighth-inning single.
Drew Storen pitched the ninth for his 25th save of the season.
The Giants fell for the 12th time in their past 14 games at Nationals Park, and starter Ryan Vogelsong was not around for most of the contest, getting ejected in the fifth inning for the first time in his career for arguing balls and strikes.
Vogelsong dealt with runners in scoring position in each of the first three innings, using a double play to get out of trouble in the first and a couple of flyball outs in the third to leave a runner stranded at second base. In the second inning, however, a pair of walks led to the first run of the game when left fielder Michael A. Taylor delivered an RBI single to score Ramos.
Zimmermann had the Giants fooled early, as he recorded five caught-looking strikeouts through the first five innings, although San Francisco did not agree with all of them. Center fielder Angel Pagan was particularly vocal after being called out on a high fastball in the third, and he was fortunate to not get thrown out by home plate umpire Phil Cuzzi.
San Francisco broke through in the fourth inning on a solo home run by shortstop Brandon Crawford to tie the score at 1-1. However, the situation with Cuzzi’s strike zone reached a boiling point in the fifth when both Vogelsong and manager Bruce Bochy were ejected after arguing a close pitch that was called a ball.
Vogelsong allowed one run on three hits and three walks in four-plus innings. He struck out two.
NOTES: The Nationals placed RHP Stephen Strasburg on the disabled list due to a left oblique strain. “He’s disappointed about it and so are we,” manager Matt Williams said. The team recalled RHP Taylor Jordan to take his spot on the roster. … Giants OF Hunter Pence took batting practice Sunday, the next step in his recovery from a left forearm injury that has sidelined him since June 2. He hit several balls over the fence during his time in the cage. … Nationals OF Bryce Harper and Giants C Buster Posey were announced as All-Star starters before Sunday’s games. Harper led all NL vote-getters, while Posey was a landslide selection at catcher. … Former Giants 1B Travis Ishikawa, who was designated for assignment by the team Tuesday, was claimed off waivers by the Pittsburgh Pirates.
