Max Scherzer: Scherzer fires seven shutout innings vs MIA

Ryan Zimmerman provided all the offense with a solo home run in the top of the second inning, and Max Scherzer made it stand as the Washington Nationals (54-46) shut out the Miami Marlins (42-60) by the slimmest of margins, 1-0, Thursday afternoon at Marlins Park. His average fastball velocity has dropped the past two seasons, so he’s increased the amount he throws his changeup and slider.

The Washington Nationals have a new closer, landing All-Star Jonathan Papelbon from the Philadelphia Phillies. “He’s a special hitter”. Mantle finished with 536 home runs.

“He did a lot of damage today, ” Nationals manager Matt Williams said. In six innings, he allowed only four hits, but one of those was Zimmerman’s home run. “I said, ‘Can you show me that slider grip tomorrow?’ He was really, really good”, Papelbon said. “Still left a few balls up in the middle of the plate, but I kept it to a fairly minimum number”.

Miami Marlins’ Tom Koehler pitches against the Washington Nationals in the first inning of a baseball game, Wednesday, July 29, 2015, in Miami.

“I don’t know if there was anything different”, Williams said when asked about the difference between Scherzer’s last two starts. Zimmerman led off the second with a homer to left off Haren (7-7), who gave up four hits in six innings and lowered his ERA to 3.42.

“He’s got such a forceful, violent swing and he’s now learning to control that even more, ” Jennings said. The Marlins five hit, two walk attack wasn’t enough to keep pace with Ichiro Suzuki and Adeiny Hechavarria driving in runs while Sam Dyson and Justin Bour scored. “To me it’s all about winning and being at a place that I’m happy”. Desmond then scored on a sacrifice fly by Taylor. He walked three and struck out six. RHP David Carpenter (shoulder) was placed on the 15-day disabled list on July 17.

Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo said he talked to Storen about the trade and indicated that the closer who converted 29 of 31 chances for Washington this year was taking it well. The team with the best starting rotation and a lineup as deep as any in the National League was expected to breeze through the regular season, make short work of an otherwise unimpressive NL East, and storm into October with nothing but a World Series title in mind.

Marlins: RHP Henderson Alvarez underwent season-ending shoulder surgery on Tuesday to fix a torn labrum.

“I’m sure it’s tough for them, tougher for them than any of us”, said Marlins starter Dan Haren, who himself has been mentioned in trade rumors in recent days. Ramos pitched a scoreless ninth for his 17th save of the season, getting a double play to end the game and escape a two-on jam. Setup relievers Bryan Morris and Carter Capps put up zeros in the seventh and eighth innings.The loss went to Jordan Zimmermann (8-6), who allowed three runs in six innings. Gonzalez is 4-0 with a 1.45 ERA in his last five starts, and 6-1 in his career on the road against the Mets.