Published: Thursday, Nov. 12, 2009

Updated: Thursday, Nov. 12, 2009

Zimmerman wins Gold Glove

NEW YORK — That travel team back in Virginia a decade ago must have played great defense on the left side of the infield.

Ryan Zimmerman succeeded boyhood friend David Wright as the National League’s Gold Glove third baseman on Wednesday. In high school, when Zimmerman was a shortstop, the two played together on a youth team.

“Hopefully if we’re lucky enough to continue doing what we’re doing, this will be a yearly thing,” Zimmerman said. “It’s fun for us.”

A college teammate from the University of Virginia, Arizona’s Mark Reynolds, is competing with Zimmerman for a Silver Slugger award, to be announced today.

“We all push each other to work harder,” said Zimmerman, who had 33 homers and 106 RBIs.

Zimmerman led major league third basemen with 325 assists and became only the second Washington player to win the award, joining catcher Earl Battey of the original Senators in 1960. He also became the second infielder to win a Gold Glove from a team with the worst fielding percentage in the majors, following Texas shortstop Michael Young last year.

The Nationals led the major leagues with 143 errors.

“Our team as a whole needs to realize that if we want to win we’ve got to play defense,” Zimmerman said. “We need to take more responsibility on the defensive side of the ball and realize that if we want to start winning that, you know, that’s just as much a part of winning as hitting and scoring runs.”

Philadelphia shortstop Jimmy Rollins earned his third consecutive Gold Glove and Phillies center fielder Shane Victorino won for the second straight time.

“Defense is a very important part of my game, and it truly is an honor to be recognized as one of the best defensive players in the league,” Rollins said in a statement.

Of course, the Gold Gloves were far more rewarding last year, when the Phillies won the World Series for the first time since 1980. Philadelphia failed in its attempt to repeat, losing to the New York Yankees in six games last week.

“I take a lot of pride in fielding my position,” Victorino, nicknamed the Flyin’ Hawaiian for his speed, said in a statement.

Rollins became the Phillies fifth three-time winner, joining Mike Schmidt (10), Garry Maddox (eight), Manny Trillo and Scott Rolen (three each).

St. Louis catcher Yadier Molina and San Diego first baseman Adrian Gonzalez also were second-time winners announced Wednesday.

“I don’t think I made as many plays as I made the year before. That’s because teams were more reluctant to bunt my way,” Gonzalez said. “You need a couple of years of doing things over and over before coaches say there’s a guy I could vote for.”

Adam Wainwright became the first Cardinals pitcher to win since Joaquin Andujar in 1984 and succeeded Greg Maddux, who won his record 18th Gold Glove last year. Wainwright also is a favorite for the NL Cy Young Award after going 19-8 with a 2.63 ERA.