Byron Kerr

Zimmerman solid in seven innings at Potomac

July 22, 2016, 5:11am

First baseman Ryan Zimmerman completed his first rehab assignment in high Single-A Potomac's 4-2 win over Winston-Salem. Zimmerman went 2-for-4 with a single, double and run scored while playing seven innings at first base. After a single in the first, Zimmerman doubled in the fifth and scored on a Alec Keller single. Zimmerman is expected to be with Potomac through Saturday's game. Nats manager Dusty Baker is hoping to have Zimmerman to return to play in Cleveland on Tuesday. He is...

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Winning streak over for Strasburg, but positives come out of loss

July 21, 2016, 12:45pm

Nationals

Winning streak over for Strasburg, but positives come out of loss

The winning streak is over for Stephen Strasburg. But what might be more impressive is how he did not give up after a rocky first two innings. Justin Turner slammed two homers and had five RBIs as the Dodgers built a 6-1 lead through three innings. Turner connected on 3-2 slider in the first and a 3-0 four-seam fastball in the third against Strasburg, who suffered his first loss since September 9, 2015, as the Dodgers dropped the Nationals 6-3. Manager Dusty Baker pointed towards the pair of...

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Turners make impact in series finale (Strasburg suffers first loss 6-3)

July 21, 2016, 9:06am

Nationals

Turners make impact in series finale (Strasburg suffers first loss 6-3)

Justin Turner crushed a two-run shot off Stephen Strasburg to get the Dodgers on the board 2-0 in the first. The Nationals version of Turner was not to be outdone. Trea Turner and Michael A. Taylor singled to start the bottom of the first. Trea and Taylor pulled off a double steal. The Dodgers disputed the safe call at third, but the call was upheld. One batter later, Bryce Harper launched a sacrifice fly to left. The Dodgers led 2-1. Wilson Ramos' single in the second continued a nine-game...

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Zimmerman on rehab assignment; Solis, Ross close; Werth day off

July 21, 2016, 7:22am

Nationals

Zimmerman on rehab assignment; Solis, Ross close; Werth day off

First baseman Ryan Zimmerman will begin his rehab assignment tonight at high Single-A Potomac to test his left rib cage strain. Nationals manager Dusty Baker is hopeful Zimmerman can return to the team early next week. "I'd like him to get three games in probably," Baker said. "Then join us here and travel with us to Cleveland and then be eligible to play on Tuesday." * Baker scratched Jayson Werth from today's original lineup for a day of rest and not any type of injury. "Yeah,...

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Game 96 lineups: Dodgers at Nationals

July 20, 2016, 7:28pm

Nationals

Right-hander Stephen Strasburg just wants to go out and pitch. But if the San Diego State phenom can pull off the win Thursday afternoon against the L.A. Dodgers, he will have given his team a series win and continued the best start in his career at 14-0. With a victory today, he would also tie Roger Clemens (1986) for the fifth-best start in Major League Baseball history. After Wednesday's 8-1 win, the Nationals now have an 18-17 edge all-time over the Dodgers in D.C. Los Angeles counters...

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Rivero back to his consistent self after two more scoreless innings

July 20, 2016, 7:17pm

Nationals

Rivero back to his consistent self after two more scoreless innings

Quietly, Felipe Rivero has put together many consistent appearances. Nine in a row to be exact. Wednesday night, he fired a 1-2-3 seventh inning, inducing three flyouts. Then in the eighth, the southpaw Rivero worked two outs before allowing a Howie Kendrick double. He then got Chris Taylor to fly out. Two scoreless innings for Rivero. His previous outing was Sunday's 18-inning marathon against the Pirates. Rivero went a season-high and career-high matching three scoreless innings. Rivero now...

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Glover needs only four pitches to finish Dodgers in big league debut

July 20, 2016, 7:05pm

Nationals

Glover needs only four pitches to finish Dodgers in big league debut

With the Nationals leading 8-1 heading to the ninth, right-hander Koda Glover was given the perfect opportunity to shine in his major league debut. It took him all of four pitches to finish off the game. The Dodgers managed two flyouts wrapped around a comebacker to Glover. He stabbed the hot shot off pinch-hitter Andrew Toles' bat and calmly threw to first base for the second out. For the second time in as many nights, manager Dusty Baker was impressed with the performance of a player called...

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Harper hits one of four Nats homers in 8-1 win over Dodgers

July 20, 2016, 6:08pm

Nationals

Harper hits one of four Nats homers in 8-1 win over Dodgers

Bryce Harper has been hoping for that big hit to ignite a good run. He slammed one of four Nationals homers tonight in an 8-1 victory over the Los Angeles, snapping a six-game losing skid to the Dodgers. Facing the Dodgers right-hander Bud Norris in his first at-bat, Harper crushed a 451-foot two-run shot high into the third deck in right field to give the Nationals a 2-0 lead. It was his 20th homer of the season and first since July 7 at New York against the Mets. According to...

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Zimmerman close to rehab stint; Rendon returns, Drew ailing

July 20, 2016, 1:39pm

Nationals

Zimmerman close to rehab stint; Rendon returns, Drew ailing

First baseman Ryan Zimmerman ended Wednesday's batting practice with another round of solid swings. That makes two days in a row that Zimmerman has taken part with full swings in BP. Zimmerman is on the disabled list with a left ribcage strain. He was placed on the DL retroactive to July 7. During pregame clubhouse availability prior to batting practice, Zimmerman talked about the importance of getting swings in before returning. "It feels pretty good," Zimmerman said. "I think whenever...

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Gonzalez brings good history against Dodgers to tonight's crucial matchup (Robles day-to-day)

July 20, 2016, 6:47am

Nationals

Gonzalez brings good history against Dodgers to tonight's crucial matchup (Robles day-to-day)

Left-hander Gio Gonzalez has a huge start tonight and can provide a much needed stop for the Nationals, who have lost two in a row. Obviously it hasn't been Gonzalez's most consistent season, but he would certainly like to build off his last positive start against the Mets before the break. Gonzalez (5-8) notched a hard-fought 3-2 win July 10, going 5 2/3 innings, allowing two runs and four hits with four walks and three strikeouts. He surrendered just two solo homers. He had lost five of his...

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Flu bug slows Nats offense but Murphy believes they can adapt

July 19, 2016, 7:49pm

Nationals

Flu bug slows Nats offense but Murphy believes they can adapt

With the 8-4 loss to the Dodgers on Tuesday, the Nationals played a second straight game with a couple of offensive starters unavailable. And really it was three starters not available because of the left ribcage strain that has first baseman Ryan Zimmerman on the disabled list. On Sunday against the Pirates, Daniel Murphy was available only for the pinch-hit that tied the game. Anthony Rendon was a late scratch with flu-like symptoms. Then Tuesday against Los Angeles, Murphy was back but...

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Dodgers too much for Lopez in his debut

July 19, 2016, 6:13pm

Nationals

The Dodgers rudely welcomed rookie Reynaldo Lopez to the big leagues with a 8-4 defeat of the Nationals on Tuesday in the series opener at Nats Park. The Dodgers connected off of Lopez with four hits in the first inning. Chase Utley started the scoring with a solo shot over the right-center field wall. Howie Kendrick followed with a single and Justin Turner hit a double to put men on second and third. The Dodgers were able to connect on Lopez's 96-98 mph fastball. Adrian Gonzalez lined sharply...

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Reasoning behind Murphy at third base; Zimmerman takes swings in BP

July 19, 2016, 1:58pm

Nationals

Reasoning behind Murphy at third base; Zimmerman takes swings in BP

Unfortunately, third baseman Anthony Rendon's flu bug has continued into the Dodgers series. Rendon came down with flu-like symptoms late Saturday and was scratched from Sunday's lineup against the Pirates. "Sick. I mean that's pure and simple," manager Dusty Baker said. "He might be available to pinch-hit today. He wasn't available at all the other day. (I) just didn't want to tell you guys because the other team still thought that he might be available while we were playing the...

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P-Nats' Robles leaves game after being hit by pitch; Mapes and Martinson shine

July 19, 2016, 4:48am

Nationals

P-Nats' Robles leaves game after being hit by pitch; Mapes and Martinson shine

High Single-A Potomac dropped Salem 7-2 on Monday, but the P-Nats lost center fielder Victor Robles just two pitches into the game after he was hit by pitch on his arm. Robles was hit by a fastball from right-hander Michael Kopech. Robles is hitting .289 through 83 minor league games with 12 doubles, six triples, seven homers and 37 RBIs. His on-base percentage is .390. In a game last Friday, he was hit by pitch three times, but manager Tripp Keister told me that the opponent wasn't going...

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Scherzer pitches well again, continuing starters hot streak

July 18, 2016, 5:04am

Nationals

Scherzer pitches well again, continuing starters hot streak

Right-hander Max Scherzer pitched Sunday. And he pitched really well. No, really he did. The Nationals allowed only two runs in 18 innings Sunday. The game took so long, Scherzer felt like he was already preparing for his next start. "My arm hurts it's so long ago," Scherzer said. "Now I can actually feel day-after soreness." But Scherzer did pitch well. He tossed seven innings, allowing only one run over six innings, with one walk and seven strikeouts. The Pirates strung together a pair...

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Lopez to debut Tuesday, Solis to DL, Giolito starts Tuesday for Syracuse

July 17, 2016, 4:30pm

Nationals

Lopez to debut Tuesday, Solis to DL, Giolito starts Tuesday for Syracuse

Manager Dusty Baker announced after Sunday's 18-inning loss to the Pirates that pitching prospect Reynaldo Lopez will be have his contract selected from Triple-A Syracuse to make his major league debut Tuesday against the Dodgers. Baseball America had Lopez ranked as the No. 5 Nats prospect heading into 2016. Baker said the move allows right-hander Lucas Giolito to work on some of his pitches with a start Tuesday night when Triple-A Syracuse welcomes Gwinnett. Giolito went 0-0 with a 4.70 ERA...

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Murphy forces extras, but Marte gives Pirates 2-1 win in 18

July 17, 2016, 3:26pm

Nationals

Murphy forces extras, but Marte gives Pirates 2-1 win in 18

In the longest regular season game by innings in Nationals history, left fielder Starling Marte launched a two-out pitch from Nats reliever Oliver Perez in the 18th over the left field wall to give the Pirates a marathon 2-1 victory on Sunday. In the bottom of the 18th, Wilson Ramos singled with one out against Jonathan Niese. But Clint Robinson was called out on a questionable third strike, Stephen Drew singled to left and Danny Espinosa struck out to end the game. The game lasted 5 hours, 48...

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Back in comfortable starting role, Drew delivers three doubles in Nats' win

July 16, 2016, 7:59pm

Nationals

Back in comfortable starting role, Drew delivers three doubles in Nats' win

Manager Dusty Baker gave veteran Stephen Drew the chance to start Saturday. Protecting Daniel Murphy and his sore hamstring for one additional day, Baker placed Drew at second base in Saturday's game against Pittsburgh. It marked Drew's 49th appearance in the club's first 92 games. In the role that he was used to for so long in his career, starting and playing an entire game, Drew delivered with three doubles and two runs scored in the Nationals' series-clinching 6-0 victory over the...

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Roark delivers eight strong innings, Nats drop Pirates 6-0

July 16, 2016, 6:54pm

Nationals

Roark delivers eight strong innings, Nats drop Pirates 6-0

The same script repeated itself in the first two games of the series between the Nationals and Pirates at Nationals Park. A Nats starter went at least eight innings. The Nats scored at least five runs, including a homer. The Pirates committed defensive mistakes. The Nats won the series Saturday night in a rain-delayed 6-0 defeat of Pittsburgh. Tanner Roark (9-5) went eight innings plus two batters, allowing five hits. Blake Treinen notched three outs in the ninth. The Nats have won five in a...

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Baker and Drew on an ideal bench: Nats appear to have all the elements

July 16, 2016, 1:55pm

Nationals

Baker and Drew on an ideal bench: Nats appear to have all the elements

Stephen Drew and Clint Robinson are starting tonight. Drew is essentially subbing for second baseman Daniel Murphy, who is out with a hamstring problem, and Robinson for first baseman Ryan Zimmerman, who is on the disabled list with a rib cage strain. Both Drew and Robinson have done quite well for a bench that has been strong since the beginning of the season. Drew has seven homers and 16 RBIs, while Robinson has added five homers and 19 RBIs. Chris Heisey, Jose Lobaton, Trea Turner and...