Byron Kerr

Gonzalez building confidence, thanks to his manager

April 27, 2016, 7:25pm

The Phillies shut out the Nationals 3-0, but left-hander Gio Gonzalez continues to pitch well. Gonzalez allowed just one earned run in 6 1/3 innings. He allowed a sacrifice fly in the sixth, a throwing error scored a run in the seventh and the lefty left with the bases loaded after a walk later in the inning. "Tough situation, I made some pitches that I wish I could take back a little bit," Gonzalez said. "They did a great job. I also got to give them credit. They were swinging at...

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Nationals suffer first series loss of season, fall 3-0 to Phillies

April 27, 2016, 6:05pm

Nationals

The Nationals offense has struggled in the first two games of the series against the Phillies. On Wednesday, Jeremy Hellickson allowed only two hits over seven innings as Philadelphia won 3-0, handing the Nationals their first shutout loss of the season. The Nationals were unable to produce any runs on the night, settling for a double by Daniel Murphy and a single from Danny Espinosa, the 500th hit in his career. Over the last three games, the Nationals are 3-for-28 with runners in scoring...

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Revere headed to Triple-A Syracuse to begin rehab assignment

April 27, 2016, 1:41pm

Nationals

Revere headed to Triple-A Syracuse to begin rehab assignment

Center fielder Ben Revere continues to make solid progress in his recovery from an oblique injury and will begin rehab games tomorrow night at Triple-A Syracuse. Manager Dusty Baker said Revere made progress during yesterday's batting practice session. Revere has been on the disabled list since April 5 with a strained right oblique. He has missed 18 games. "He looked good. I mean, he looked real good," Baker said. "He ran well. He ran the bases. He did everything baseball. And he went out...

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Baker, Nats players and coaches visit Walter Reed National Military Medical Center

April 27, 2016, 1:16pm

Nationals

Baker, Nats players and coaches visit Walter Reed National Military Medical Center

Nationals manager Dusty Baker, coaches and players visited service members and their families at the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center this morning. Players in attendance included Tanner Roark, Michael A. Taylor, Joe Ross, Danny Epinosa, Blake Treinen, Oliver Perez and Matt den Dekker. Baker said it meant a great deal for his team to be able to share some time with service members and their families. "It was gratifying, but sad at the same time," Baker said. "It was a situation...

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Belisle believes he reaggravated offseason calf injury in Tuesday's loss

April 26, 2016, 7:52pm

Nationals

Belisle believes he reaggravated offseason calf injury in Tuesday's loss

Right-hander Matt Belisle believes he has reaggravated a right calf strain he had originally suffered in the offseason in Tuesday's 4-3 loss to the Phillies. Belisle was summoned to begin the top of the eighth Tuesday against the Phillies. David Lough hit a grounder that Nationals first baseman Ryan Zimmerman easily grabbed and stepped on first for the out. Belisle tried to make a move towards first on the play and quickly realized he had hurt his calf again. "The reaction to break to the...

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Phillies get Harper out late, ride Franco's hit, defeat Nats 4-3

April 26, 2016, 6:17pm

Nationals

Phillies get Harper out late, ride Franco's hit, defeat Nats 4-3

The Phillies' Andres Blanco and Cesar Hernandez had three hits apiece, while Makiel Franco's run-scoring double proved to be the difference in a 4-3 win over the Nationals in D.C. It marked the Phillies' second straight win over the Nationals, dating back to April 17. Early on, the Nationals' ace right-hander Max Scherzer had trouble again. Scherzer allowed two runs in the first inning. Opponents scoring early has been an unfortunate recurrence in his April starts. In the top of the first,...

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Positive updates on Ross and Revere

April 26, 2016, 1:33pm

Nationals

Nationals right-hander Joe Ross confirmed his blister injury on his throwing hand has mended well enough that he could have started tonight. But the Nationals played it cautiously and gave Max Scherzer the start against the Phillies. "It's feeling good. I think I could throw today," Ross said. "They decided to skip me and give me some more rest. I don't think they want me to re-aggravate my finger or anything like that." Ross said he did not throw a bullpen today but believes he will...

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Rizzo weighs in on Nats' start, Giolito, pitchers and more

April 26, 2016, 3:55am

Nationals

Rizzo weighs in on Nats' start, Giolito, pitchers and more

Last weekend, Mike Rizzo met with reporters and gave his insight on how the Nationals have started this season. Of course, they were only 12-4 when he gave us this update. They are now 14-4. It still applies. "I'm happy with the start. I like the energy," Rizzo said. "I think we've been playing pretty solid fundamentally. We've been pitching well. The bullpen, with the exception of couple of hiccups, has pitched well. But I like the energy of the team, and the feeling and the vibe in the...

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Baker and Strasburg on eighth-inning homer, Heisey walk-off

April 25, 2016, 3:52am

Nationals

Baker and Strasburg on eighth-inning homer, Heisey walk-off

In a game that that felt like two or three games in one, it might be hard to remember that through the first seven innings, Stephen Strasburg was pitching a gem. He allowed the Twins just one run and four hits through seven frames. Then in the eighth, with one out and the game tied 1-1, Joe Mauer and Eduardo Nunez singled. Brian Dozier then cranked a three-run homer to give Minnesota a 4-1 lead. Incredibly, the Nationals came back twice after that and won it 6-5 in 16 innings in a game that was...

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Bryce Harper on another ninth-inning game-saving home run

April 24, 2016, 5:04pm

Nationals

Bryce Harper on another ninth-inning game-saving home run

Bryce Harper has a flair for the dramatic and Sunday he added to the record books with his ninth homer of the season. With his team down 4-3 in the ninth, Harper, on his scheduled day off, faced Twins closer Kevin Jepsen and launched a 3-2 fastball over the right-center field wall for a game-tying homer. The home run saved his team again. Eventually, Chris Heisey, who had replaced Harper after that pinch-hit homer, smacked his first walk-off home run of his career as the Nationals dropped the...

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Chris Heisey walk-off homer ends 16-inning marathon, Nats win 6-5

April 24, 2016, 1:21pm

Nationals

Chris Heisey walk-off homer ends 16-inning marathon, Nats win 6-5

Bryce Harper doesn't even need to start games any more to have a major impact. Neither does Chris Heisey. Heisey's walk-off homer, the first of his career, ended a 16-inning marathon as the Nationals came back twice to sweep the Twins with a 6-5 win. Not in the starting lineup for the first time this season, Harper arrived in the bottom of the ninth to pinch-hit with his team down 4-3. Facing the Twins closer Kevin Jepsen, Harper crushed a 3-2 fastball over the center field fence to tie the...

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Roark strikes out career-high 15, befuddles Twins in 2-0 shutout

April 23, 2016, 1:12pm

Nationals

Roark strikes out career-high 15, befuddles Twins in 2-0 shutout

Tanner Roark has never been considered a strikeout pitcher. On Saturday, he certainly looked like one. Roark came up big for the Nationals Saturday, mixing all four of his pitches to perfection while striking out a career-high 15 batters over seven innings in a 2-0 shutout of the Minnesota Twins. "He obviously threw a really good game," said third baseman Ryan Zimmerman, who contributed the two-run single in the first inning. "But I think Tanner is pretty consistent. He pounds the zone....

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Baker on getting hit by a pitch and Rendon's leadership skills

April 23, 2016, 10:46am

Nationals

Baker on getting hit by a pitch and Rendon's leadership skills

Nationals manager Dusty Baker had some intriguing thoughts on a couple of game situations that occurred in Friday's 8-4 win over the Twins. In that game, Danny Espinosa and Chris Heisey were hit by pitches. Baker was asked before Saturday's game if Espinosa showed toughness on the part by being plunked and starting the next day. "I got a different attitude about that," Baker said. "No. 1, you get paid to be tough. You get paid to play ball. No. 2, you better start trying to get out of the...

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Nationals set tone early again, win 2-0 (Roark fans career-high 15)

April 23, 2016, 9:30am

Nationals

The Nationals get some runs early for their starter again. Facing Twins right-hander Phil Hughes, the Nationals scored two runs on three hits in the bottom of the first. Last time Hughes pitched at Nationals Park, he allowed one run over six innings for a Yankees 7-2 victory in 2012. But this time, Anthony Rendon had a one-out single followed by a line-drive double down the right field line for Bryce Harper. Ryan Zimmerman then delivered a single to center that scored two runs and the Nationals...

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Baker: Taylor just needs to "remain confident and work"

April 23, 2016, 8:40am

Nationals

Baker: Taylor just needs to "remain confident and work"

Michael A. Taylor is getting a day off on Saturday, with Chris Heisey leading off and playing center field for the Nationals. Taylor is hitting .174 (4-for-23) the last seven days and .161 for the season. Leading off, he is hitting .175 through 13 games. Manager Dusty Baker was asked why he put Heisey at the top of the order. "You got any better choices? He's batted leadoff for me before," Baker said. "He's my best choice today." Baker is just giving Taylor the day off and he's not...

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Baker concerned about Ross's blister, status for Tuesday

April 23, 2016, 7:55am

Nationals

Baker concerned about Ross's blister, status for Tuesday

Manager Dusty Baker had limited notes on the status of right-hander Joe Ross, who left his last start due to a blister on his right middle finger. Baker said he had not talked to pitching coach Mike Maddux yet for an update as of Saturday morning but did see Ross work out Friday. "I was surprised to see him throwing yesterday," Baker said. "It looks ugly. I don't know if he could throw a full game like that. There is skin over it, but it looks kind of like an open wound where they shaved...

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Game 17 lineups: Twins at Nationals

April 23, 2016, 7:32am

Nationals

The Nationals seek another series win on Saturday afternoon as they take on the Twins. Friday night, the Nationals scored seven runs before the fourth inning to cruise to an 8-4 victory. Today, right-hander Tanner Roark (1-2, 3.71) faces right-hander Phil Hughes (1-2, 4.42 ERA). Roark has allowed seven earned runs to Miami in two starts this season but kept Atlanta off the board throwing seven shutout innings in a 3-0 win April 13. Hughes won his last start against the Brewers April 18,...

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Werth makes big plays on offense and defense, hamstring just fine

April 22, 2016, 7:40pm

Nationals

Werth makes big plays on offense and defense, hamstring just fine

With Jayson Werth's past hamstring issues a concern, the Nationals and manager Dusty Baker want to be careful with how they work the veteran left fielder this early in the season. During Wednesday's game in Miami, Werth left in the fifth inning with left hamstring tightness. He sat out Thursday's afternoon game and returned to the lineup for Friday's interleague matchup against the Twins. All systems were go for Werth as he contributed a solo homer, two runs and three catches in left field...

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Lobaton's bat helps lift Gonzalez, Nats to 8-4 win

April 22, 2016, 7:15pm

Nationals

Lobaton's bat helps lift Gonzalez, Nats to 8-4 win

Catcher Jose Lobaton does not get many chances to start. Usually, it is only on the fifth day as left-hander Gio Gonzalez's personal backstop. So when Lobaton gets his shot to play, he likes to make the most of it. Friday night, he was a key component in an 8-4 victory over the Minnesota Twins. In addition to calling a good game for Gonzalez, Lobaton smacked two hits, including a spectacular triple that highlighted a three-run fourth, giving the Nationals a commanding 7-0 lead. Lobaton smiled...

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Friday night fire: Nats jump out early against Twins, win 8-4

April 22, 2016, 3:39pm

Nationals

Friday night fire: Nats jump out early against Twins, win 8-4

Last Friday night in Philadelphia, the Nationals set the tone for the weekend series with five runs on six hits in the first inning. They went on to roll past the Phillies 9-1. Back home in D.C. tonight, the Nationals took it to Twins right-hander Kyle Gibson in the bottom of the first. Daniel Murphy smacked an RBI single and Danny Espinosa was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded. Jose Lobaton then slapped a two-run single to make it 4-0 Nationals. Nationals left-hander Gio Gonzalez started...