Strange means, familiar end

“It seemed to work today,” he said. “So I imagine we’re going to do the same thing and keep doing it.”

Zimmermann did serve up a solo homer to Nolan Reimold in the second and then allowed another run in the third on a pair of two-out hits by Roberts and Jones. But he rebounded to keep the Orioles from scoring again through the seventh.

Despite the strong outing, the rookie couldn’t earn his third career win because the Nationals got Zimmerman’s two-run homer in the fourth and then little else. By the time Ronnie Belliard lined out to end the game, Washington’s hit total for the night stood at a paltry four.

“Their bullpen just threw the ball real good,” Acta said. “We only got one hit in the last eight innings. They threw the ball very well.”