(AP) -- Runs have come at a premium lately for the Washington Nationals, putting a big burden on their starting pitchers. Luckily, Jordan Zimmermann has been up to the task this season, though Friday night he'll have to bounce back from his first loss in nearly a month.

Zimmermann tries to become the NL's first eight-game winner as Washington opens a three-game home series with the Philadelphia Phillies.

The Nationals (24-23) have scored 31 runs over the last 12 games, but they managed a 2-1 win at San Francisco on Wednesday to halt a four-game losing streak.