(Sports Network) - Jordan Zimmerman aims to win his fifth straight decision on
Saturday when the Washington Nationals continue a four-game series with the
Milwaukee Brewers at Miller Park.
Zimmerman did not get a decision on Monday against the New York Mets, but was
terrific in allowing just a run and four hits in six innings. He has gone at
least six innings in each of his 20 starts this season and is 7-6 on the year
with a 2.31 ERA.
"Every time you have a good start, you feel good," Zimmermann said. "I mean,
you always want to carry it over to the next start, and I have a pretty good
streak going right now. Everything's been working, so hopefully it continues."
Zimmerman, who has never faced the Brewers, is unbeaten in his last six
starts, pitching to a 0.95 ERA in that span.
The Brewers, meanwhile, will counter with veteran lefty Randy Wolf, who is 3-6
with a 5.46 ERA. Wolf, though, has pitched well his last two times out, but
did not get a decision in Philadelphia on Monday, despite surrendering two
runs and five hits - two solo home runs in the first inning - in six innings
of a 7-6 loss.
"It's been by far the most frustrating year of my professional career," said
Wolf. "Personally, it's been frustrating. Team-wise, it's been frustrating.
It's been a very tough year. It's been a lot of losses that are hard to
swallow."
Wolf is 9-5 lifetime versus the Nationals with a 4.54 ERA in 21 starts.
On Friday, Mike Fiers posted a career-high nine strikeouts over 6 1/3 innings
and the Brewers beat Washington, 6-0, capping a day of change for Milwaukee.
Before the game, the Brewers, who are mired in fourth place in the NL Central,
traded away their ace Zack Greinke to the Angels. In exchange, Milwaukee will
receive shortstop Jean Segura and a pair of Double-A pitchers - Ariel Pena and
Johnny Hellweg.
Corey Hart and Aramis Ramirez each smacked two-run homers, as Milwaukee
snapped their seven-game skid and Washington's six-game winning streak.
"We did a nice job of concentrating. We knew what we had to get done. Any time
you lose one of your main guys it changes your make up," said Brewers manager
Ron Roenicke.
Fiers (4-4) gave up four hits and walked three in 6 1/3 shutout innings to
even this four-game series.
Ross Detwiler (5-4) surrendered seven hits and four runs over 4 2/3 frames to
suffer his first defeat since May 19 against Baltimore. The Nationals were
limited to four hits, all singles.
"That's a good hitting team over there," said Detwiler. "They will capitalize
if you make a mistake. I put us in hole early."
The Brewers reportedly made the decision to trade Greinke, the 2009 AL Cy
Young Award winner after an 0-6 road trip. That included three straight 7-6
losses at Philadelphia, when the Phillies rallied to win each game in their
final at-bat.
"We greatly appreciate Zack's contributions to the Brewers," general manager
Doug Melvin said. "He will be greatly missed on the field and in the
clubhouse. We wish him nothing but the very best. We are also very excited
about acquiring three good young players who are already on the 40-man roster.
We look forward to them joining organization and their future contributions to
the Brewers."
Washington won three straight in April and Milwaukee took three straight in
May. The Brewers have won the season series each year since 2006.
The Sports Network