GIF: Watch Hunter Pence hit HR on pitch almost 15 inches above strike zone

The next time Jordan Zimmermann tries to waste a pitch on Hunter Pence, he might try throwing it at least two feet off the plate.

During the first inning of Saturday's game, Zimmermann executed on an 0-2 offering to the San Francisco Giants outfielder, throwing a 95-mph fastball shoulder height and more than a foot above the top of the strike zone.

Unfortunately for the Washington Nationals right-hander, Pence executed too.

[Courtesy: CSN]

"I threw it right where I wanted it," Zimmerman said after the Nationals' 6-2 win. "0-2, up by his shoulders and it beats me how he hit it that far."

Pence is no stranger to taking his hacks at pitches off the plate, swinging at 35.6 percent of pitches he sees outside the strike zone (15th among National League players). But hitting a heater that high and that far (deep right center) is truly impressive.

"That was like, 'Wow!'" Zimmermann said. "You can't do anything about that. Tip your cap, I guess."

Here's a look at the pitch's high point:

And here's the location of the pitch plotted on the strike zone, courtesy of Brooks Baseball, via CSN's Mark Zuckerman:

[h/t: Federal Baseball]