is 5-2 with a 2.42 ERA.

ATLANTA -- With apologies to Stephen Strasburg and 20-game winner Gio Gonzalez, the Washington Nationals appear to have a new ace of their pitching staff. wholesale nfl jerseys . Jordan Zimmermann has been downright dominant. The right-hander turned in another dazzling performance with two-hit ball over eight innings, Ian Desmond hit a two-run homer in the fourth and the Nationals finally beat the Atlanta Braves, 2-0 Wednesday night. "Everything was working," Zimmermann said. "I felt great." The Braves had won five in a row this season over their NL East rival, and nine straight dating to last season. "We needed that one bad and he went out and pitched a blueprint game," Washington manager Davey Johnson said. "I thought he was one of the elites last year. We just didnt give him a lot of run support. Zimmermann (5-1) made sure that streak ended, striking out eight and allowing only one runner past first base -- fellow pitcher Paul Maholm, who was nearly as stifling for the Braves. The only Atlanta hitters to reach against Zimmermann were Justin Upton, who singled with two outs in the first, and Maholm, who doubled into the right-field corner in the third. Zimmermann struck out eight and retired 17 straight Atlanta hitters before giving way to Rafael Soriano, who worked a perfect ninth for his eighth save. The Nationals snapped a three-game losing streak and got back to .500 for the season. "He pounded that fastball all night long," Upton said. "We just couldnt get it going." Zimmermann was coming off perhaps the best pitching performance in the Nationals nine-year history, a one-hitter for a 1-0 victory over the Reds. This one was nearly as good. The first-place Braves couldnt do anything against the right-hander, who seemed primed for his second straight shutout until manager Davey Johnson went to the bullpen, not wanting to put any more wear and tear on Zimmermann after he threw 107 pitches -- 72 for strikes. That was about the only thing that didnt go Zimmermanns way, costing him a shot at his third complete game in the last four starts. "That was one of my tougher hooks," Johnson conceded. "What a great effort." Maholm (3-3) came close to matching Zimmermann. He allowed only three hits in eight innings, retiring the last 13 batters he faced. But Desmond provided all the runs Washington needed, homering to left-centre on a 1-1 curveball after Bryce Harper led off the fourth with a walk. "Paul pitched a great game," said Braves second baseman Dan Uggla. "We just couldnt get him any runs. Ian took advantage of the only mistake Paul made. We didnt take advantage of anything." Desmond said he got some hitting advice earlier in the series from retired Braves star Chipper Jones, who told the Nationals shortstop "to stay on your legs." "That was a fun game," Desmond said. "We played our style of baseball. Hopefully we can roll with it." Maholms last start was one of the worst of his career. He surrendered 10 hits and eight runs in just 3 2-3 innings to the Detroit Tigers. This one was much better, but the outcome was the same. Another loss, his third in a row after a 3-0 start. "I gave up two infield hits and a home run," Maholm said. "Ive just got to take the positives from it and move on. We can still take this series with a win tomorrow. Thats the important thing." Harper had to leave the game in the middle of the sixth after tweaking his left side on a check swing, which was actually the holdover from a bruise he sustained the previous night slamming into the wall trying to catch Tim Hudsons home run. Harper completed the at-bat, grounding out sharply to first, but headed to the clubhouse after talking with Johnson and the training staff. He was listed as day to day. Roger Bernadina finished out the game in right field. "It got to the point where I couldnt breathe real quick," Harper said. "I had to catch my breath and it didnt feel very good." Harper iced his side and got treatment. He hopes to be back in the lineup on Thursday. "If I can play," he said, "Im going to play. I can tolerate pain. Hopefully nothing will keep me out of the lineup." The free-swinging Braves, close to a record pace for strikeouts, could only take solace from ending their streak of six consecutive games with at least 10 Ks. Soriano fanned one in the ninth, leaving the Braves with nine strikeouts on the night. "Thats what were billed as," manager Fredi Gonzalez said. "Teams that arent striking out are probably complaining they dont have any power." Notes: Strasburg experienced no pain during a bullpen session before the game and is expected to make his next scheduled start at Pittsburgh on Saturday. ... Washington OF Jayson Werth (bruised ankle, strained hamstring) missed his second straight start. ... Hudson was still savoring his memorable game Tuesday night, when he not only homered but picked up his 200th career win. Hudson said his son, Kade, was really excited about the long ball. "He says all I do is bunt," Hudson quipped. ... Uggla, B.J. Upton and Juan Francisco each struck out twice for the Braves. ... Braves RHP Kris Medlen (1-3) will start the finale of the four-game series, going against Washington RHP Dan Haren (2-3). cheap jerseys from china . And in typical Federer fashion, he did it in the most dramatic way possible. After four hours of exhilarating, record-setting tennis, Federer finally put away del Potro 3-6, 7-6 (7), 19-17 on Friday to advance to the gold medal match for the first time in his storied career, securing Switzerlands first medal at the London 2012 Olympic Games. cheap nfl jerseys . There was Lupuls promising 53-point sophomore season for Carlyles Anaheim Ducks in 2005-06. There was an injury-shortened 2009-10 campaign and a frustration-loaded return the following season. http://www.bootiedock.com/ . You can watch the game on TSN at 10pm et/7pm pt and get in-depth player stats, Twitter Trender and more with our GameTracker. The Ducks are 4-1-0 on the season, following up a season-opening blowout loss at Colorado with four consecutive wins. (Sports Network) - The New York Yankees try to make it two straight wins this evening when they open up a two-game set against the Baltimore Orioles at Camden Yards. The Yankees put the brakes on their six-game losing streak on Tuesday, as Alex Rodriguez belted two solo homers in New Yorks 6-2 win over Tampa Bay. Brett Gardner had three hits, an RBI and two runs scored for the Yankees, who banged out 12 hits to end their season-long skid, while picking up just their fourth win in their last 14 games. Ivan Nova (4-3) picked up the win, allowing one run on four hits and two walks while striking out four in 5 1/3 innings. He was pulled after loading the bases in the sixth and four New York relievers closed the game out. It just felt like we needed to win this game, Yankees manager Joe Girardi said. I dont want to say must-win, but this was as close as you can get to a must-win in the month of May. Robinson Cano ended the game 1-for-4 and is hitting just .228 over his last 16 games. However, the All-Star second baseman could get back on track tonight at Camden Yards, where he has hit safely in his last 15 games, and is batting .510 with nine homers, 11 doubles, 19 RBI and 26 runs in his last 23 games there. Barttolo Colon gets the call for the Yankees tonight, trying for his first win this month. nfl jerseys china. Colon pitched well against the Boston Red Sox on Friday, allowing three runs (two earned) and five hits in six innings, but received the loss nonetheless, dropping him to 2-2 on the year to go along with a 3.74 ERA. Colon has faced the Orioles 21 times (20 starts) and is 10-7 against them with a 3.50 ERA. His lone relief effort against them came back on April 14 and he tossed three scoreless innings. Baltimore, meanwhile, will counter with rookie sensation Zach Britton, who is 5-2 with a 2.42 ERA. Britton had perhaps his finest outing as a pro in his last trip to the hill on Thursday against Seattle, but did not get a decision, despite tossing nine scoreless innings of three-hit ball. He also struck out five without walking a batter in his teams 2-1 win. This will be Brittons first-ever appearance against the Yankees. Baltimore had the finale of its two-game set with the Boston Red Sox postponed on Tuesday because of rain. The Orioles blew a six-run lead to fall in the opener, but have lost just two of their last seven games. The Yankees have won all four of their meetings with the Orioles this season. wholesale authentic nfl jerseys ' ' '