Byron Kerr

Turner has been adept at setting the table (plus lineups)

August 28, 2016, 5:05am

In the first game of the Nationals' series with the Rockies, Trea Turner and Jayson Werth set up the rest of the offense by getting on base in an 8-5 win. The duo combined for four hits, four runs and two RBIs. Turner has two stolen bases in the series. Manager Dusty Baker was asked how having Turner in leadoff role alters the equation for Werth. "Well, it changes the equation," Baker said. "Everybody in the order changes the equation for the next person. "I knew that it changed the...

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Baker confirms Giolito will start Sunday; Cole held his own vs. Rockies

August 27, 2016, 7:05pm

Nationals

Baker confirms Giolito will start Sunday; Cole held his own vs. Rockies

Manager Dusty Baker confirmed after yesterday's game what was expected: Right-hander Lucas Giolito will be called up from Triple-A Syracuse on Sunday to start against the Rockies in the deciding game of a three-game set. "Tomorrow it's going to be Giolito, so I'm hoping he throws up a gem against a very tough lineup," Baker said following the Nationals' 9-4 11-inning loss to Colorado. This will be Giolito's fourth start for the Nationals. He is 0-0 with a 4.91 ERA in three starts. His...

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Bryce Harper ejected in Nats' 9-4 11-inning loss to Rockies

August 27, 2016, 3:05pm

Nationals

Bryce Harper ejected in Nats' 9-4 11-inning loss to Rockies

The Rockies thwarted the Nationals' comeback in the ninth inning, scoring five runs in the 11th to win 9-4. The five-run outburst came immediately after Bryce Harper was ejected in the bottom of the 10th. It was the eighth time in his career that Harper had been tossed, and the second ejection this season. Frustration clearly got to the Nationals cleanup hitter in the 10th inning and contributed to the short bench later in the game. Leading off the 10th, Harper was called out on a low and...

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Blackmon homers twice (Harper ejected in 10th, Nats fall 9-4 in 11)

August 27, 2016, 10:14am

Nationals

Blackmon homers twice (Harper ejected in 10th, Nats fall 9-4 in 11)

A.J. Cole and Jorge De La Rosa shared the labor of a 33-minute first inning but did not allow a run on a sun-splashed Saturday afternoon matchup between the Nationals and the Rockies. Cole didn't give up a hit until the top of the third. On a 3-2 pitch, Charlie Blackmon launched a solo shot, his 22nd homer of the season, over the right field wall and into the Nats bullpen. Colorado leads 1-0. Trea Turner and Anthony Rendon have base hits for the Nats. In the first, Turner stole his 17th base...

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Ross on rehab assignment, Giolito likely Sunday starter

August 27, 2016, 8:03am

Nationals

Ross on rehab assignment, Giolito likely Sunday starter

The Nationals announced that right-hander Joe Ross (right shoulder inflammation, July 3) will make a rehab start Sunday afternoon for Triple-A Syracuse as they host Pawtucket at 1:05 p.m. That starting slot at the Triple-A level had recently been occupied by right-hander Lucas Giolito. But Giolito is expected to be the Nats starter on Sunday in the series finale against the Rockies, although no official announcement has been made by the club. Manager Dusty Baker said they will give out that...

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Game 129 lineups: Rockies at Nats

August 27, 2016, 5:23am

Nationals

With Trea Turner doing Trea Turner things, hitters 2-3-4 in the Nationals lineup are settling in for good at-bats. The opposing pitcher is preoccupied with the speed and havoc Turner provides on the basepaths. That allows Jayson Werth, Daniel Murphy and Bryce Harper to be themselves. The trio delivered six RBIs in the Nats' 8-5 series opening win over the Rockies. Werth has hit homers in two straight games. Murphy reached 500 career RBIs. Harper has hit safely in 11 of his last 13...

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Lobaton's unique skill set provides perfect change of pace for Nats hurlers

August 26, 2016, 5:25am

Nationals Orioles

Lobaton's unique skill set provides perfect change of pace for Nats hurlers

Right-hander Max Scherzer returned to form Thursday night in the Nationals' 4-0 victory over the Orioles. Scherzer recorded at least 10 strikeouts for the 11th time this season to improve to 14-7. His 227 strikeouts this season lead the major leagues. One element of yesterday's win that was different than most of his previous starts this season was his batterymate. Backup catcher Jose Lobaton replaced starter Wilson Ramos. Manager Dusty Baker said before the game he wanted to give Ramos a day...

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Harper hitting his stride at plate crucial for Nats to get rolling again

August 25, 2016, 7:10pm

Nationals

Harper hitting his stride at plate crucial for Nats to get rolling again

The Nationals downed the Orioles 4-0 to end their four-game losing streak behind eight shutout innings from Max Scherzer. Right fielder Bryce Harper perfectly placed a two-run double down the left field line to highlight a three-run eighth inning, adding crucial insurance to a 1-0 lead. After watching the Orioles put up 18 runs in their last two games against the Nats, Harper knew that 1-0 would not hold up against a team with that kind of firepower. So the three runs in the eighth provided a...

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Scherzer returns to vintage form in Nats' shutout of Orioles

August 25, 2016, 5:47pm

Nationals Orioles

Scherzer returns to vintage form in Nats' shutout of Orioles

The Nationals were desperate to end their four-game losing streak on Thursday. In order to accomplish that task, they needed a solid outing from their ace right-hander Max Scherzer. Scherzer delivered. It was vintage Max. Allowing only two hits over seven innings, Scherzer and the Nationals finally got to the Orioles 4-0. Scherzer allowed no runs on two hits with no walks and 10 strikeouts to improve to 14-7. Scherzer has recorded 11 10-plus strikeout games this season and now has 47 for his...

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Baker says Strasburg's elbow soreness in different location from Tommy John surgery

August 25, 2016, 1:57pm

Nationals

Baker says Strasburg's elbow soreness in different location from Tommy John surgery

Nationals manager Dusty Baker went out to watch Joe Ross (right shoulder inflammation, July 3) and Reynaldo Lopez through their bullpen sessions. While out there, he got to see right-hander Stephen Strasburg (right elbow soreness, August 21) throw the baseball, too. "It was coming out pretty easy," Baker noted. "I asked him how he felt afterwards. He said he felt pretty good. I had seen his spin rate was different or less, and he sort of laughed about it. As long as it's spinning in the...

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Harper designs cap for Harper's Heroes, charity seeking cure for leukemia

August 25, 2016, 4:36am

Nationals

Harper designs cap for Harper's Heroes, charity seeking cure for leukemia

Nationals right fielder Bryce Harper co-announced with the New Era Cap Company a new cap that he helped to design for Harper's Heroes, a charitable organization created to raise awareness and benefit the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. On Wednesday, Bill Adams, vice president of U.S. Sales for New Era, Nationals president of baseball operations and general manager Mike Rizzo and Harper made the joint announcement that the newly designed Harper's Heroes baseball cap will be available...

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Roark on erratic first inning: "Couldn't locate, it's as simple as that"

August 24, 2016, 7:35pm

Nationals Orioles

Roark on erratic first inning: "Couldn't locate, it's as simple as that"

The Nationals hoped a return to their home field would jumpstart a weary bunch after a tough nine-game road trip ended Tuesday in Baltimore. On the mound was right-hander Tanner Roark, who had worked at least seven innings in 11 of his previous 16 starts. But Roark was not his usual reliant self on Wednesday night. Roark allowed four runs in the first inning, including a two-run shot from Manny Machado. The Orioles bookended that inning with five runs in the eighth en route to a 10-8 win over...

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Late rally fizzles in 10-8 loss to Orioles, Nats' fourth straight

August 24, 2016, 6:06pm

Nationals Orioles

Late rally fizzles in 10-8 loss to Orioles, Nats' fourth straight

The Orioles continued their mastery of the Nationals with a 10-8 win at Nats Park before a sellout crowd of 39,100. Baltimore has defeated the Nationals in 17 of 23 meetings dating to 2011. With the win, the Orioles have now won the season series from the Nationals for five straight seasons. The Nationals have lost four straight games. Right-hander Tanner Roark could not find the strike zone consistently in the first innings. The Orioles tallied four runs, highlighted by a two-run homer from...

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Solis makes progress with left shoulder rehab

August 24, 2016, 1:13pm

Nationals

Solis makes progress with left shoulder rehab

Left-hander Sammy Solis has been on the disabled list since with left shoulder inflammation since Aug.16. Before today's game, he was in the Nationals clubhouse preparing for another workout. Solis confirmed that he initially felt soreness in his shoulder after earning the win in a 5-4 victory over the Rockies on Aug. 15. Solis (2-3) notched the victory by pitching one inning, scattering two hits and allowing no runs. He gave up back-to-back singles to DJ LeMahieu and Carlos Gonzalez, but then...

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Revere's struggles have not deterred Baker's confidence

August 24, 2016, 4:25am

Nationals

Revere's struggles have not deterred Baker's confidence

Manager Dusty Baker opted to give center fielder Ben Revere the night off in Baltimore on Tuesday. Revere has struggled, hitting .186 (18-for-97) in his last 30 games, with one homer, seven RBIs and nine strikeouts. Revere has not played as much recently with the addition of Trea Turner and his introduction to center field. His on-base percentage is just .259 this season, well off his career mark of .321. But Baker said the Nationals need Revere to get more consistent and he will be valuable as...

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Turner goes for career-high four hits, but pair of overturned calls stunt Nats chances

August 23, 2016, 7:26pm

Nationals Orioles

Turner goes for career-high four hits, but pair of overturned calls stunt Nats chances

BALTIMORE - Center fielder Trea Turner continues to impact every game he plays at the big league level, and has pretty much erased one of the Nationals' early season weaknesses. Turner went 4-for-4 in an 8-1 loss to the Orioles. The four hits, three singles and a double, were a career-high. The top of the order is generating offense again, thanks to Turner. But the offense was never able to really get rolling Tuesday due in part to a pair of calls that went against the speedster. Turner was...

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Lopez rocked early as Orioles drop the Nats, 8-1

August 23, 2016, 6:19pm

Nationals Orioles

Lopez rocked early as Orioles drop the Nats, 8-1

BALTIMORE - A rough start for Nationals right-hander Reynaldo Lopez in an 8-1 setback to the Orioles. Lopez could not get through the third inning, as Baltimore scored six runs early to hand the Nationals their third straight loss. The Orioles scored three runs on four hits in the first two innings, racing out to a 3-0 advantage. Mark Trumbo and Adam Jones smacked RBI singles, while Matt Wieters laced a run-scoring single down the right field line. Lopez walked a batter and allowed two hits in...

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Baker hoping for long work again tonight from his starter

August 23, 2016, 2:09pm

Nationals

Baker hoping for long work again tonight from his starter

BALTIMORE - Despite the loss to the Orioles on Monday, Ryan Zimmerman and Daniel Murphy praised right-hander A.J. Cole for his career-high seven innings that kept the Nationals in the ball game. The Nats lost 4-3, but Cole helped give the team's taxed bullpen a day of rest it desperately needed in the midst a stretch that features 20 games without an off day. Manager Dusty Baker hopes that 22-year-old Reynaldo Lopez is capable of seven innings as well. That would allow the relievers one more...

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Baker: Nats need to get better in close games

August 23, 2016, 4:58am

Nationals Orioles

Baker: Nats need to get better in close games

BALTIMORE - Nationals manager Dusty Baker spoke of the importance of one-run games during postgame Monday following the 4-3 loss to the Orioles. With the loss Monday, the Nationals are 19-15 (.559) in one-run games this season. Baker likened close games like last night's contest as similar to what you will encounter in a playoff series: Good pitching and crucial late game at-bats spelling the difference. Baker hopes his team can deliver better in the clutch against good teams, because that's...

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Zimmerman, Murphy on squelched eighth-inning comeback attempt

August 22, 2016, 6:49pm

Nationals Orioles

Zimmerman, Murphy on squelched eighth-inning comeback attempt

BALTIMORE - The opener between the Nationals and the Orioles slowed down a bit after Baltimore jumped out to a 4-2 lead after four innings. Danny Espinosa inched the Nationals closer with a solo shot in the seventh to cut the lead to 4-3 Orioles. Then in the eighth, the Nationals looked to accomplish something that has been difficult for many teams this season: try to find a way to solve right-hander Brad Brach. Daniel Murphy led off the inning with a double versus Orioles left-hander Donnie...