Mark Zuckerman

Espinosa's pair of homers lead Nats to 13-4 blowout win

June 30, 2016, 6:05pm

If anyone was worried the Nationals, after the highs of a three-game sweep over the rival Mets, might suffer from some form of letdown against the Reds, they needed watch only one inning of baseball to have those fears assuaged. The Nationals jumped out to an early lead behind Ryan Zimmerman's three-run homer in the bottom of the first, then rode Danny Espinosa's historic pair of homers in the third and fourth innings en route to a 13-4 thrashing of an overwhelmed Cincinnati club. Winners of...

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Zimmerman, Espinosa lead offensive explosion (Nats win 13-4)

June 30, 2016, 4:37pm

Nationals

Zimmerman, Espinosa lead offensive explosion (Nats win 13-4)

Throughout his season-long struggles, and especially this month, it seems like Ryan Zimmerman perpetually has found himself behind in the count, often 0-2, before making an out. So when Zimmerman finally found himself in an advantageous situation tonight - ahead in the count, 2-0, with two on in the bottom of the first - he made sure to make the most of it. And when Danny Espinosa found himself at the plate with the bases loaded in the bottom of the third, he did the same thing he's been doing...

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Strasburg and Giolito both preparing to start Sunday

June 30, 2016, 1:54pm

Nationals

Strasburg and Giolito both preparing to start Sunday

The Nationals still haven't decided if Stephen Strasburg will return from the disabled list this weekend, but Dusty Baker seems to prefer taking the cautious route with his rehabbing right-hander. Strasburg, who is eligible to come off the DL on Friday, continues to prepare as though he may start Sunday's series finale against the Reds. Rookie Lucas Giolito, though, also is preparing for the same assignment, with the club holding off for now choosing between the two. Both Strasburg and...

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Game 80 lineups: Nats vs. Reds

June 30, 2016, 11:13am

Nationals

After a highly publicized, highly significant series against the division rival Mets that resulted in a sweep, the Nationals now find themselves hosting one of baseball's worst teams this season for the next four nights: the Cincinnati Reds. That, of course, doesn't guarantee anything. The Nats lost two of three at Great American Ball Park last month, and nearly lost the third game before eking out a 10-9 victory. But they'll need to find the same intensity they brought to the Mets series...

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Murphy makes the Mets pay again with pair of homers

June 29, 2016, 8:06pm

Nationals

Murphy makes the Mets pay again with pair of homers

Daniel Murphy won't ever say it, at least not publicly, so Max Scherzer was left to explain how his attention-deflecting teammate feels about his performance against the Mets this season. "It's just obvious that he wants to beat 'em up," Scherzer said. "It's obvious. Everybody wants to. When you face your former team, you obviously want to get the best of them. For him to come out here and really slug against them, it puts a smile on all of our faces because we know what he's going...

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Even in June, Nats recognize significance of Mets sweep

June 29, 2016, 7:38pm

Nationals

Even in June, Nats recognize significance of Mets sweep

It's the last week of June and the season isn't quite halfway complete yet, so there's only so much significance that can be applied to a three-game series at this point. The Nationals didn't make a profound statement this week. There's too much time left for that script to be flipped, as everyone in Washington painfully found out one year ago. Then again, it's not like anyone inside the home clubhouse tonight was complaining about a 4-2 victory that completed a series sweep of the...

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Nats ride Scherzer, Murphy to 4-2 win and sweep of Mets

June 29, 2016, 6:02pm

Nationals

Nats ride Scherzer, Murphy to 4-2 win and sweep of Mets

The Nationals already had this key series won after back-to-back victories the last two nights. But they weren't satisfied with that, so tonight they went for the jugular and succeeded, riding another dominant performance from Max Scherzer and a pair of Daniel Murphy homers to a 4-2 win and a series sweep of the Mets. Scherzer allowed just two hits over 7 1/3 sparkling innings, retiring 18 batters in a row at one point and striking out 10 to lead the way. Murphy accounted for three of the...

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Scherzer sharp early vs. depleted Mets (Nationals win 4-2)

June 29, 2016, 4:17pm

Nationals

Max Scherzer has dominated a depleted Mets lineup before. He won't be duplicating his end-of-season no-hitter tonight, but the Nationals ace is dealing and looking as sharp as he has in his previous historic starts. Scherzer has tossed three scoreless innings so far, striking out six as he attempts to lead the Nats to a series sweep over New York. Daniel Murphy's solo homer - his third against his former team already this season - gave the Nationals an early 1-0 lead, and Jayson Werth added a...

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Nats sign Latos to minor league deal, Papelbon throws sim game

June 29, 2016, 2:10pm

Nationals

Nats sign Latos to minor league deal, Papelbon throws sim game

Seeking some insurance in case a need for experienced pitching arises down the road, the Nationals have come to terms with journeyman Mat Latos on a minor league contract. Latos' deal won't be official until he passes a physical, according to a club source, but once that happens, he'll report to the Nationals' minor league complex in Viera, Fla., and attempt to work his way back after a tumultuous stretch that has seen him employed by five different franchises in the last 365 days. The...

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Game 79 lineups: Nats at Mets

June 29, 2016, 11:19am

Nationals

Three days ago, the Nationals were mired in a seven-game losing streak, unable to drive in a run in a key spot, with a daunting series against the Mets looming. Since then, they have won three games in a row (one over the Brewers, two over the Mets) and tonight they have a chance to sweep their chief division rivals and expand their lead over them to six games. Quite a turn of events, huh? In order to pull it off, Max Scherzer will need to put together a strong start tonight. Or at the very...

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Ramos still hitting, Harper homers and bullpen delivers

June 28, 2016, 9:51pm

Nationals

Ramos still hitting, Harper homers and bullpen delivers

Lucas Giolito got most of the attention last night and deservedly so, despite the odd nature of his rain-shortened, major league debut. But there were some other noteworthy developments during the Nationals' 5-0 victory over the Mets, so let's give some of those their due ... * Wilson Ramos continues to hit as well as any hitter in baseball. With a 2-for-4 night that included a two-run double, the Nats catcher extended his current hitting streak to 11 games, during which he's batting .383...

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Rain can't spoil Giolito's long-awaited major league debut

June 28, 2016, 9:30pm

Nationals

Rain can't spoil Giolito's long-awaited major league debut

Like every kid who grows up with a baseball in one hand, a bat in the other and the imagination to believe anything is possible, Lucas Giolito had played out his major league debut in his own mind plenty of times. But did he ever envision that debut being interrupted twice by rain, the second delay dragging on long enough to prevent him from re-taking the mound despite his effectiveness? "Not once," the 21-year-old said with a laugh. "I never saw rain in the forecast at all. I thought it...

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Giolito dealing with Mets, rain (Nationals win 5-0)

June 28, 2016, 4:55pm

Nationals

The biggest threat to Lucas Giolito so far in his major league debut hasn't been the Mets lineup. It's the weather. A heavy cell of storms delayed the first pitch of Giolito's career for 55 minutes tonight. Now the Nationals rookie is trying to record as many outs as he can before the next cell hits. With ominous clouds hovering above Nationals Park, Giolito is pitching like a seasoned pro, not a 21-year-old just promoted from Double-A. He has tossed three scoreless innings to begin his...

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Strasburg's MRI shows "nothing serious" (we're underway)

June 28, 2016, 1:47pm

Nationals

Strasburg's MRI shows "nothing serious" (we're underway)

The Nationals remain optimistic that the injury that landed Stephen Strasburg on the disabled list isn't serious and that the right-hander will be able to return to their rotation soon after getting a positive report from medical tests administered over the last two days. Results of Strasburg's MRI confirmed the Nationals' initial diagnosis of a strained upper back, encouraging news for the club. "Nothing serious," manager Dusty Baker said. "As we had hoped it wasn't." Strasburg was...

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Game 78 lineups: Nats vs. Mets

June 28, 2016, 11:10am

Nationals

There's nothing quite like a major league debut. Every single one of them, no matter how hyped, is a big deal, literally a once-in-a-lifetime moment for a young man who gets to realize his dream. There are, of course, debuts that are bigger than others, and tonight we will be witnessing one of those when Lucas Giolito takes the mound shortly after 7 p.m. The 21-year-old right-hander may not be pitching tonight with as much hoopla surrounding him as Stephen Strasburg had six years ago, but he...

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Nats confident Giolito can handle pressure of tonight's debut

June 27, 2016, 8:41pm

Nationals

Nats confident Giolito can handle pressure of tonight's debut

The Nationals have seen their share of players take the field for much-hyped, big league debuts during their first 12 seasons of existence. Stephen Strasburg's inaugural appearance in 2010, of course, tops the list, but Bryce Harper's arrival in 2012 stands right alongside it. And more than just die-hard fans recognized the significance of the first games in the careers of top prospects like Jordan Zimmermann, Anthony Rendon, Trea Turner, Ian Desmond, Drew Storen and (once-upon-a-time) Ryan...

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How the Nats turned a four-run deficit into a seven-run victory

June 27, 2016, 8:10pm

Nationals

How the Nats turned a four-run deficit into a seven-run victory

They were down four runs already to their chief division rivals, their starting pitcher getting rocked and an imposing flamethrower on the mound for the opposition who had pitched his way out of a bases-loaded, no-out jam in the bottom of the first. Given the way things had been going for the Nationals over the last week or so, you could forgive them if they were a bit demoralized at this particular moment, trailing Noah Syndergaard and the Mets in uninspired fashion. To listen to them describe...

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Nats bats come roaring back during 11-4 thumping of Mets

June 27, 2016, 6:24pm

Nationals

Nats bats come roaring back during 11-4 thumping of Mets

Down four runs early to Noah Syndergaard, with the Mets lineup all over Joe Ross, the Nationals found themselves in a precarious position in the middle of the third inning tonight, in danger of letting their chief division rivals draw even closer in the standings. And then came the bottom of the third, at which point a Nationals lineup that spent the last week searching for any hit it could possibly get with a man in scoring position finally decided enough was enough. Beginning with a five-run...

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Papelbon tosses perfect inning on rehab (Nats win 11-4)

June 27, 2016, 4:50pm

Nationals

Papelbon tosses perfect inning on rehab (Nats win 11-4)

Jonathan Papelbon cruised through a 1-2-3 inning in the first minor league rehab appearance of his career, moving a step closer to rejoining the Nationals bullpen. Pitching for high Single-A Potomac, Papelbon retired the side in the top of the first inning against Winston-Salem. Given a chance to start and get his work in quickly before making the short drive back up Interstate-95 to Washington, Papelbon recorded a flyout to center field, a swinging strikeout and then a groundout to second...

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Nationals trying out Trea Turner in center field at Syracuse

June 27, 2016, 2:38pm

Nationals

On the day they announced the promotion of their top pitching prospect to the big leagues, the Nationals also made an unconventional move that may be a precursor to a promotion of their top position player. Trea Turner, an infielder throughout his amateur and minor league career, is starting in center field tonight for Triple-A Syracuse. And the 22-year-old figures to see significant action there in the next week, with the Nationals strongly considering him for use in the big leagues as an...