JOSEPH WHITE
AP Sports Writer

WASHINGTON (AP) — Jordan Zimmermann rebounded from a mini-slump to throw eight scoreless innings, Ryan Zimmerman hit a pair of doubles and handled two chances with aplomb in his left field debut, and the Washington Nationals beat the slumping Philadelphia Phillies 7-0 Tuesday night to open a three-game series.

Zimmermann (4-2) allowed five hits and struck out four, recovering well from four middling starts that had raised his usually impeccable ERA to 4.07. He got all the support he needed when the Nationals scored three in the third inning off David Buchanan (1-2), making his third career start.

Zimmerman went 2 for 4 with one RBI after being reinstated before the game following 44 games on the disabled list with a broken right thumb.

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