Byron Kerr

Espinosa adds clutch hit to recent power surge

June 13, 2016, 4:25am

There are usually many parts to a ninth inning comeback, and Sunday's 5-4 Nationals win over the Phillies had a lot of those types of amazing at-bats. One such at-bat was the battle between shortstop Danny Espinosa and Phillies closer Jeanmar Gomez. Espinosa fought off a ton of changeups and, on a 1-2 count, kept the inning alive with a single to left field. "Just trying not to do too much," Espinosa said of the at-bat. "He's got a really good changeup, off his fastball, staying ready for...

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Papelbon admits mistake to Franco, but still feels good about his pitching

June 12, 2016, 4:32pm

Nationals

Papelbon admits mistake to Franco, but still feels good about his pitching

Right-hander Jonathan Papelbon allowed a go-ahead home run in the ninth inning by Phillies third baseman Maikel Franco. Suddenly the Nationals' early 3-0 advantage was gone. It was 4-3 Phillies. Jayson Werth saved the day with a two-run single and the Nationals walked off with a dramatic 5-4 victory for a series sweep. But with Papelbon switching from a possible loss to his first win of the season, should there be cause for concern with the closer? Papelbon admitted after the game that the...

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Werth's two-run single helps Nats walk off Phillies 5-4

June 12, 2016, 3:07pm

Nationals

Werth's two-run single helps Nats walk off Phillies 5-4

Former Phillies helped mold the outcome of Sunday's Nationals game against Philadelphia. One giveth, and one taketh away. The Phillies certainly know how to get to ex-teammate Jonathan Papelbon. On April 17 in Philadelphia, Papelbon allowed a game ending walk-off double by Freddy Galvis in a 10-inning 3-2 comeback victory for his former team. On Sunday in D.C., with the game tied at 3-3 in the top of the ninth, Maikel Franco slammed a solo homer, his 11th of the season, to put the Phillies...

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Roark continues mastery of the Phillies in 8-0 shutout

June 11, 2016, 12:28pm

Nationals

Roark continues mastery of the Phillies in 8-0 shutout

Right-hander Tanner Roark demonstrated his ability to keep the Phillies guessing with seven strong innings in Saturday's 8-0 victory. In his last three starts against Philadelphia, Roark has allowed only two runs over 21 innings. His ERA in those three games stands at 0.86. He did a nice job of following catcher Wilson Ramos' lead, earning outs with his two-seam fastball, slider and curveball. "Execution on (my pitches) and keeping the hitters guessing because I don't want to fall into a...

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Roark steady and strong as Nats shut out Phillies 8-0

June 11, 2016, 11:02am

Nationals

Roark steady and strong as Nats shut out Phillies 8-0

Right-hander Tanner Roark got out of a major jam early against the Phillies on Saturday. And he was quickly rewarded. Coming off his shortest stint of the season at Cincinnati, there certainly had to be some anxiety when the Phillies got men on second and third with two quick base hits with no outs to begin the second. But just like the five runs the Reds scored last Sunday, Roark was unfazed in this challenge at Nats Park. Roark then struck out the side and dodged the first rally by the...

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Looming free agency hasn't bothered Wilson Ramos one bit

June 11, 2016, 9:04am

Nationals

Looming free agency hasn't bothered Wilson Ramos one bit

It is a contract year for catcher Wilson Ramos, but that has not seemed to bother the six-year veteran. The 28-year-old has been with the Nationals since a mid-season trade with the Twins in 2010. For the last month, he has scorched the ball for the Nationals, hitting .340 with 33 hits, six of those home runs, and 22 RBIs. On the season, he is slashing .345/.395/.962. Ramos is set to be a free agent in 2017, currently earning $5.35 million. Shortstop Ian Desmond appeared to squeeze his bat a...

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Strasburg first major league pitcher to reach 10-0 this season

June 10, 2016, 8:43pm

Nationals

Strasburg first major league pitcher to reach 10-0 this season

Right-hander Stephen Strasburg became Major League Baseball's first 10-game winner with seven strong innings in which he bounced back from a slow start to lift the Nationals past the Phillies 9-6. Strasburg allowed four runs before the fourth inning, highlighted by a Tommy Joseph two-run shot that lifted the Phillies to the early 4-0 lead. The Nationals answered with two runs in the bottom of the third. Strasburg then rolled the Phillies, giving up no runs and no hits the rest of the way. He...

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Mike Rizzo on selecting eight position players out of first 11 picks

June 10, 2016, 7:44pm

Nationals

Mike Rizzo on selecting eight position players out of first 11 picks

The Nationals selected nine Division I college baseball players out of their first 11 picks in the 2016 First-Year Player Draft. In that lot, eight were position players, including two catchers. In a rare move for the Nationals, only three of their top 11 selections were pitchers. But when asked about that development, Nationals president of baseball operations and general manager Mike Rizzo was not surprised. "The players that we took certainly fell to us where we felt we were very, very...

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Espinosa, Drew spark offense in Nats' 9-6 comeback win

June 10, 2016, 7:21pm

Nationals

Espinosa, Drew spark offense in Nats' 9-6 comeback win

The Nationals pulled off another comeback win during what has become a confidence-building run for the offense. Down 4-0 early, the Nationals reeled off nine unanswered runs. They ended up beating the Phillies 9-6, behind seven extra base hits. The Nats have now scored nine or more runs in four of their last five games. The beneficiary of the offensive burst Friday night was right-hander Stephen Strasburg, who became the first 10-0 starter in the majors. Strasburg struck out 10 batters - his...

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Phillies get to Strasburg early, Nats rally for 9-6 victory

June 10, 2016, 4:08pm

Nationals

Phillies get to Strasburg early, Nats rally for 9-6 victory

The Phillies grabbed the early lead in the second inning against Stephen Strasburg. Cody Asche's RBI single scored Carlos Ruiz. Tyler Goeddel added a bunt single that plated Freddy Galvis and the Phillies jumped out to a 2-0 advantage. In the third, Tommy Joseph homered to left-center with a man on and suddenly it was 4-0 Phillies. The Nationals answered in their half of the third. Jayson Werth's sharp line drive turned into a double to left field, scoring Danny Espinosa and Ben Revere,...

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Dunning "extremely grateful" to be selected by the Nats

June 10, 2016, 2:40pm

Nationals

Dunning "extremely grateful" to be selected by the Nats

The Nationals went to the college ranks with their second selection in Thursday's night's first round of the First-Year Player Draft And as it turned out, seven of their first nine selections were from Division I college baseball. With the 29th pick, the Nats selected right-hander Dane Dunning out of the University of Florida. The Gators are in the NCAA super regionals against Florida State this weekend. The winner gets a ticket to Omaha and the College World Series. Florida's starting...

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Baker to adjust Saturday personnel after quick turnaround

June 10, 2016, 1:28pm

Nationals

Baker to adjust Saturday personnel after quick turnaround

Manager Dusty Baker and the Nationals arrived home early this morning, and the manager didn't get back to his place until 5 a.m., making for a stressful back-to-back tonight in D.C. as the Nats open a home series against the Phillies. "They are tough," Baker said. "You wish baseball could do something about this. Baseball is trying to make the game more competitive and more parity, but this is going the complete opposite way. We are not the only ones. There are a bunch of teams. Today is...

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Carter Kieboom on Nats' selection: "Really a dream come true"

June 10, 2016, 10:50am

Nationals

Carter Kieboom on Nats' selection: "Really a dream come true"

The Nationals' top selection in the 2016 First-Year Player Draft met with the media on a conference call Friday. Shortstop Carter Kieboom, the younger brother of Double-A catcher Spencer Kieboom, was selected with the 28th pick in the opening round on Thursday night. "To be selected by the Nationals, that's very special," said the 6-foot-2, 185 lb. Carter Kieboom. "I've never been able to play with my older brothers. Now to be given the opportunity to potentially to play with Spencer in a...

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Game 61 lineups: Phillies at Nats

June 10, 2016, 10:26am

Nationals

The Nationals finally return home to face the team they started their most recent road trip against, the Phillies. Friday night's opener begins a six-game homestand for the Nats before they embark on another long trip June 16-26. The Nationals went 5-5 on their first long road trip. This time, against the Phillies, Reds and White Sox, they tallied an impressive 6-3 mark. The Nats were swept in their last matchup against the Phillies at Nationals Park, but returned the favor last week at...

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Nats select left-hander Jesus Luzardo (updated through 10th round)

June 10, 2016, 10:05am

Nationals

Nats select left-hander Jesus Luzardo (updated through 10th round)

With the 94th pick in the third round of the First-Year Player Draft, the Nationals selected left-hander Jesus Luzardo out of Stoneman Douglas High School in Florida. The southpaw underwent successful Tommy John surgery in March, according to Baseball America. The surgery was performed by Dr. James Andrews. His fastball was around 90 to 93 mph and touched 97 mph. Luzardo, 18, is listed at 6-foot-1, 205 1bs., played for the Elite Squad Prime U17, was a first team All-American Perfect Game...

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Nationals select Carter Kieboom and Dane Dunning in first round (updated)

June 09, 2016, 6:16pm

Nationals

The Nationals have been impressed with the growth and ability of catcher Spencer Kieboom. The fifth-round selection in 2012 was placed on the 40-man roster November 20, 2015, alongside left-hander Nick Lee and infielder Chris Bostick. Kieboom is currently a catcher at Double-A Harrisburg. And staying in the family to begin the 2016 First-Year Player Draft, the Nationals selected Spencer's little brother, shortstop Carter Kieboom, out of Walton (Ga.) high school. Carter was selected with the...

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Nats well represented at Single-A All-Star games on June 21

June 08, 2016, 1:18pm

Nationals

Nats well represented at Single-A All-Star games on June 21

The Nationals announced a big haul of minor league All-Stars today. From the high Single-A Potomac Nationals, right-hander Ryan Brinley, left fielder Alec Keller, center fielder Andrew Stevenson and third baseman Drew Ward have been named 2016 Carolina League mid-season All-Stars. From the low Single-A Hagerstown Suns, right-handers Mariano Rivera III and Jefry Rodriguez, second baseman Max Schrock, third baseman Kelvin Gutierrez and outfielder Victor Robles all made the South Atlantic League...

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Middle of the order needs consistency to pair well with starting pitching

June 07, 2016, 8:09am

Nationals

Middle of the order needs consistency to pair well with starting pitching

Sunday's 10-9 win over the Reds was the best offensive output for the Nationals during the three-game set. Bryce Harper, Daniel Murphy and Wilson Ramos combined for nine hits, seven runs, two homers and five RBIs. Manager Dusty Baker said it was a welcome sight to see, following losses in the first two games of the series in which the club combined for five runs on 10 hits. "That was big for Harp, that's the first time he's had three hits in long time," Baker said. "You'd like to see...

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Bullpen with questions and answers as Nats move on to Chicago

June 05, 2016, 5:12pm

Nationals

Bullpen with questions and answers as Nats move on to Chicago

CINCINNATI - The bullpen was certainly tested Sunday when starter Tanner Roark had to be pulled after three innings with the Nationals trailing by five runs. Left-hander Sammy Solis was solid again, pitching three innings of scoreless baseball and racking up a career-high six strikeouts. In 13 games, he now has a 1.59 ERA in 17 innings. Last season, he said at times his off speed offerings were not as repeatable. This season, he has much more confidence in every pitch he throws. "Just staying...

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In seesaw offensive affair, Papelbon finally saves the day

June 05, 2016, 2:31pm

Nationals

In seesaw offensive affair, Papelbon finally saves the day

CINCINNATI - After a seesaw battle that saw the Nationals get down early, battle back to take the lead and watch the Reds cut it to one, they finally earned the elusive last out. The Nationals trailed 5-0 and then tied the game at 5-5. They went up 10-5 only to watch the Reds cut it to 10-8. Closer Jonathan Papelbon arrived in the ninth inning to try to get three outs. It was not easy. Tyler Holt started the rally with a single. Joey Votto walked. Brandon Phillips doubled down the left field...