Jordan Zimmermann allowed five runs in three innings against the St. Louis Cardinals in their Game 2 victory over the Washington Nationals, but coming into Game 4 in relief—with the score tied 1-1 in the seventh inning—Zimmermann was outstanding, flashing a high-90s fastball and striking out the side on 12 pitches.
The side, admittedly, was Pete Kozma, Kyle Lohse, and Jon Jay. But Zimmermann, whose fastball averaged just under 94 miles per hour in the rotation this year, looked impressive enough to strike out any side you care to name in a one-inning role.
The Cardinals' Game 2 starter, Jaime Garcia, could have serious shoulder problems and was replaced on the postseason roster by top prospect Shelby Miller. Lance Lynn, who picked up the 12-4 win when Garcia left after two, has warmed up in the bullpen, but the Cardinals haven't needed to pull Lohse yet; he's allowed just one run, on an Adam LaRoche homer, in seven innings.
The Cardinals are a win away from clinching an NLCS berth for the second consecutive season. The Nationals have to win to force a decisive Game 5.