The Arizona Diamondbacks used a home run from an unlikely source and the strong pitching from Ian Kennedy to shutout the Nationals, 2-0, before 17,029 at Nationals Park.
Jordan Zimmermann was the hard luck starter, masterful for six innings, scattering three hits before Sean Burroughs crushed his first homer in 6 years on the first pitch with a man on in the seventh and Arizona led 2-0.
Zimmerman left after 6 1/3 innings, allowing five hits, two runs on the homer, two walks, four strikeouts and a hit by pitch. He tossed 109 pitches, 71 for strikes.
Kennedy did a great job of wiggling out of trouble, getting out of a few jams with strikeouts to end four straight innings and a double play finishing off the Nationals rally attempt in the sixth.
He finished with seven strong innings of shutout ball, allowing six hits, two walks, eight strikeouts and one hit by pitch. Kennedy tossed 101 pitches, 68 for strikes.
Diamondbacks snapped a six-game skid with first win since August 16. It was only the Nationals second loss in their last six games.
