ST. LOUIS (AP) — Joe Ross pitched six sharp innings and the Washington Nationals threw their first regular-season shutout at Busch Stadium, blanking the St. Louis Cardinals 6-0 Wednesday.
Ross (1-0) improved to 3-0 in four career starts against the Cardinals. He allowed four hits, struck out five and walked one. He also singled and scored a run.
“Kid didn’t pitch all last year and he looked awesome today,” Nationals manager Dave Martinez said.
Ross opted out of the 2020 season due to health concerns and underwent Tommy John surgery in 2017.
“It feels good. Coming back and having a good start to the season is good,” Ross said. “I would say today the slider and sinker were especially good. Once I found a groove, I stuck with it.”
Martinez liked what he saw.
“When he throws strikes he’s going to be good and he was pounding the strike zone today,” he said. “He’s worked diligently all spring to make sure his mechanics are good.”
Four relievers combined to hold St. Louis hitless the rest of the way.
The Nationals, who started play in Washington in 2005, had pitched a shutout at St. Louis in the 2019 NL Championship Series opener, but never in the regular season.
Ryan Zimmerman hit his first homer of the season, a two-run drive in the third off Adam Wainwright (0-2). Zimmerman’s 271st career home run hit the top of the wall and bounced into the left-center fielder bleacher seats.
“I think the biggest thing with Adam is you can’t do too much,” Zimmerman said. “He’s not going to throw it over the plate. You have to make him throw strikes. You have to be patient. I just reacted to that fastball. I love facing a guy like Waino. I have nothing but respect for him. He’s done this for a long time. ”
Juan Soto reached on an infield single…
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