GAME IN A NUTSHELL: The Nationals already were moving ever closer to elimination when they took the field for the opener of a weekend series with the Phillies. The crowd of 31,019 that gathered on South Capitol Street did so knowing the outcome of the game would be secondary to the reception the man on the mound, Jordan Zimmermann, would receive in what everyone knew would be his final home appearance with the organization.
That crowd, though, never got the opportunity to shower the right-hander with gratitude for his seven seasons of service. Zimmermann was roughed up by the Phillies for six runs, four of them coming on Aaron Altherr’s inside-the-park grand slam past a diving Michael Taylor in shallow center field.