Reds take their swings against Zimmerman in D.C.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Right-hander Jordan Zimmermann starts for the second time this season and the third time in his career against Cincinnati this evening when the Washington Nationals host the Reds in the second of four games at Nationals Park.
The 25-year-old is 1-0 in two previous meetings with Cincinnati with a 2.70 earned run average across 10 innings. He's allowed 12 hits and three earned runs while walking three batters and striking out seven.
An eight-game winner with the Nationals last season, Zimmermann took a 4-3 loss at Chicago in his 2012 debut on April 8 after allowing an earned run on six hits in seven innings.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}For the Reds, veteran righty Bronson Arroyo makes start No. 2 of the season and 10th of his career against Washington.
The 35-year-old got a no-decision in outing No. 1 against Miami on April 8 in Cincinnati, allowing 10 hits and five runs in 6 1/3 innings of a game the Reds ultimately won. 6-5.
He's 3-3 lifetime against the Nationals with a 4.14 ERA in 54 1/3 innings.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}In Thursday's opener, Ryan Zimmerman slid across the plate with the winning run on a wild pitch in the bottom of the 10th inning, sending the Nationals to a 3-2 win.
Zimmerman led off the inning and was hit on the arm by Reds' reliever Alfredo Simon. He advanced to second on a one-out single to left by Jayson Werth, then moved to third on a groundout by Xavier Nady.
Facing Roger Bernadina, Simon (0-1) bounced a breaking ball that got away from catcher Devin Mesoraco, allowing the winning run to score.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Craig Stammen (1-0) struck out the side in the top of the 10th to pick up the victory after Washington blew a 2-0 lead in the ninth
The Reds won four of six versus the Nationals a season ago, but both losses came in Washington.