"About a million things worth noting happened in the Nationals' 5-4 loss to the Reds today. Here are three more that either got overlooked or short-changed in the game story.

>>> Ryan Zimmerman does not pinch-hit often, but he had a pretty clear idea of what he wanted to do Sunday in the eighth inning, when he interrupted his day off with his second pinch-hit appearance of the season. Danny Espinosa stood on second base with two outs, the Nationals down by a run, and on the mound was fire-balling Aroldis Chapman.

"That guy throws 200 miles per hour," Zimmerman said. "So I'm looking fastball, from the first pitch to the last pitch. Pinch-hitting, I haven't done it much. Against a guy like that, obviously he's going to come after you. I'm just looking for a fastball."

Zimmerman took a 100-mile-per-fastball for ball one. Chapman fired another aspirin tablet, 98 miles per hour. Zimmerman stroked a line drive to right-center. Third base coach Bo Porter windmilled Espinosa home, and he slid in just before Drew Stubbs's throw arrived home. On second base, Zimmerman looked into the dugout and made one big clap.

If he can play, Zimmerman rarely starts the game on the bench. But whenever the situation has arisen, he has been an outstanding pinch-hitter. In his career, Zimmerman is 5 for 14 with six RBIs, two doubles, a homer and a walk.

"It's tough," Zimmerman said. "It's definitely not easy to do. If it's a good situation for me to go up there and I have the day but I'm available, definitely. I'm down, ready to do it every time.""