Washington Nationals’ Rookie Leads Team to Victory Over Colorado Rockies 3-2

It hasn’t exactly been the season Washington planned this year, but one of their star pitchers grabbed another victory and they continued getting offensive production from a talented rookie as they defeated the Colorado Rockies again, 3-2, on Wednesday. It brings the Nationals back to a game over .500 and keeps them within striking distance of the Atlanta Braves.

Jordan Zimmermann grabbed his 11th win of the season giving up just three hits and two earned runs over seven innings pitched. He also struck out four Colorado Rockies, who had just three runners in scoring position all night.

However, the star of the show was third baseman Anthony Rendon who had three hits and reached home once. After getting just two hits in his first stint with the team earlier this season, he’s had 26 hits and eight doubles since June 4th.

“He’s been great,” Manager Davey Johnson said before the game to the Washington Post. “He knows the strike zone very well. He’s getting more and more comfortable, more and more aggressive. It’s going to be some interesting, good decisions about where I go with him. Do I leave him in the two hole, or do I go back with Jayson Werth in the two hole? I’d love to have that problem when it comes up. But I think he’s shown he’s a big-league hitter.”

Rendon has a hit in all but two games since rejoining the team and is currently riding a six-game hitting streak.

The Nationals currently sit at 5.5 games behind the Braves (who are currently playing the Kansas City Royals) and will try to complete the sweep over the Rockies on Thursday when another star pitcher, Stephen Strasburg, takes the mound against Patrick Corbin who’s a perfect 9-0 this season.