WASHINGTON — When Washington Nationals starter Jordan Zimmermann headed to the bullpen to warm up for his start Sunday, bullpen coach Matt LeCroy did not notice anything different about the mild-mannered right-hander from tiny Auburndale, Wisconsin.
“He warmed up the way he normally warms up,” former Washington catcher LeCroy said.
That was comforting news for the Nationals since the veteran had bruised his shoulder when he was hit by a line drive off the bat of Casey McGehee in his last start on Sept. 20 at Miami.
Zimmerman, 28, given three extra days of rest due to the bruise, turned in a dazzling tuneup for his postseason start as he threw the first no-hitter in franchise history.
The National League East champion Nationals beat the Miami Marlins 1-0 before a roaring home crowd of 35,085 on the last day of the regular-season in a game that took just 121 minutes.
“I think in the fifth and I looked up and saw zeroes on the board,” Zimmermann said. “They were swinging early and it was the last game. I figured I would be around (80 pitches) and come out. The best way of staying in is not giving up any hits I guess.”
Zimmermann retired center fielder Christian Yelich for the final out of the game on a diving catch in left-center field by rookie Stephen Souza, Jr.
What did Zimmermann think when Yelich smoked the liner to left?
“Double. No doubt double. I will buy (Souza) anything,” Zimmermann said with a grin. “He saved me.”
The Nationals (96-66) ended the year a season-best 30 games over .500 and were 19-8 in the month of September. The Marlins (77-85), who lost 100 games last year, failed in a bid to finish second in the division as they lost for the 13th time in 19 games to Washington this year.
“It’s a special day,” said Washington manager Matt Williams, whose team won its 51st home game. “This doesn’t happen very often. What a perfect end for his season (and) a fantastic end to our (regular) season. It’s the perfect baseball day — 80 degrees and sunny.”
The Nationals ran onto the field to mob Zimmermann and the celebration continued in short left field after the final out.
Souza, the Triple-A International League player of the year, had a rough day in left field in the second game of a doubleheader Friday night in a sloppy 15-7 loss but he is considered one of the best athletes in the system.
“I got a good jump on it,” said Souza, who took over in left to start the inning as Williams wanted his best defense on the field. “I was holding on like a football (catch). I was going to put my body on the line.”
“An unbelievable play,” said Washington catcher Wilson Ramos, who was behind the plate for all 27 outs. “I’m excited for this day.”
The losing pitcher was Henderson Alvarez (12-7), who threw a no-hitter on the last day of the season in 2013.
Zimmermann (14-5) retired the first 14 batters before Justin Bour, the first baseman, drew a two-out walk in the fifth. Zimmermann then retired catcher J.T. Realmuto on a liner to short — the third line drive out of the inning.
“Three rockets,” said Zimmermann, who then began to think something special may be going on.
While holding Miami hitless, Zimmermann had singles in the fifth and seventh. The right-hander fanned 11 batters with one walk and threw 104 pitches, 79 for strikes.
With the playoffs looming, Zimmermann figured he might pitch about six innings since that is how long Stephen Strasburg went on Saturday. But Williams said there was no way he was going to take out Zimmermann until he gave up a hit.
Washington shortstop Ian Desmond gave the Nationals a 1-0 lead in the second on his 24th homer of the year, a line drive into the Miami bullpen in left on a 90 mph pitch from Alvarez (12-7).