Byron Kerr

Gonzalez on loss to Padres: "You got to make a better pitch"

August 26, 2015, 7:27pm

The Nationals got down early against the Padres with left-hander Gio Gonzalez on the mound. San Diego led 4-0 after three innings and 5-1 after four. The Padres would eventually hold on for the 6-5 win. It marked Gonzalez's third straight loss. Unfortunately, this trend of early deficits has been repeated in his three most recent starts. Gonzalez has now allowed four or more earned runs in those three starts since August 15. He has been unable to record more than five innings of work in six of...

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Derek Norris looks back at time with Nats as important to his MLB development

August 26, 2015, 3:16pm

Nationals

Derek Norris looks back at time with Nats as important to his MLB development

The Nationals are taking on the Padres this week and there has been talk about rookies Trea Turner and Joe Ross playing for the first time against the team that drafted them. But San Diego also has a starting catcher/first baseman in Derek Norris who began his career in the Nationals system and was drafted by the team in 2007 as a fourth-round selection. Norris played five seasons (2007-2011) in the Nationals organization, reaching Double-A Harrisburg, before being traded to the Oakland A's in...

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Nats game blog: Nationals seek third straight series win tonight against the Padres

August 26, 2015, 2:32pm

Nationals

The Nationals can win their third straight series with a victory in tonight's second game of the series against the San Diego Padres. The Nationals toppled the Friars 8-3 last night behind a grand slam from Ryan Zimmerman. They also dropped the Rockies (2-1) and Brewers (2-1) in their last two series. Left-hander Gio Gonzalez (9-6, 3.98 ERA) looks to bounce back from two losses in a row. He is 2-0 with a 2.33 ERA in three starts against San Diego. Padres right-hander Tyson Ross (8-9, 3.32) is...

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Nationals starter Joe Ross came within one day of facing older brother Tyson Ross

August 26, 2015, 1:12pm

Nationals

According to Baseball Almanac, it has happened only 21 times. The last time was 2009 when Jered faced his brother Jeff Weaver. Phil and Joe Niekro squared off nine times in their careers. It almost happened in this series here at Nationals Park this week. Brother vs. brother on the starting pitching mound. The Nationals and Padres came within one day of pulling it off at Nationals Park. Right-hander Tyson Ross pitches tonight for the Padres. Little brother Joe Ross starts for the Nationals...

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Trea Turner on facing his former team for first time since trade

August 26, 2015, 6:34am

Nationals

Trea Turner on facing his former team for first time since trade

Nationals shortstop Trea Turner was drafted by the San Diego Padres in the first round in June, 2014. This season, in the middle of June, he was the player to be named later as part of a three-team, 11-player trade that finally brought him to the Nationals. This week, Turner is getting a chance to face the team that selected him with their top pick in 2014. Turner looked over and saw some familiar faces as he worked in a pregame fielding session Tuesday. "Yeah, it's different just seeing them...

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Zimmerman's grand slam highlights Nationals' 8-3 win over Padres

August 25, 2015, 7:32pm

Nationals

The Nationals subdued the Padres 8-3 to start their series Tuesday at Nationals Park. First baseman Ryan Zimmerman broke the game open with a grand slam in the bottom of the sixth that provided the Nationals with an 8-2 lead. Facing Bud Norris, Zimmerman was able to get ahead in the count and then drove a fastball over the right-center field fence. It was his first grand slam since July 2013, also against the Padres. "Slider, good pitch, but a little bit off the plate," Zimmerman said of the...

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Nats game blog: Strasburg faces hometown Padres in D.C.

August 25, 2015, 2:13pm

Nationals

Nats game blog: Strasburg faces hometown Padres in D.C.

The Nationals and the San Diego Padres begin a three-game set tonight at Nats Park. Right-hander Stephen Strasburg needs to maintain the pace for the Nationals after a pair of series wins for the club over the last six days. Strasburg (7-6, 4.22 ERA) has now won four of his last five decisions, including an outstanding seven innings at Colorado on Wednesday in which the Nats won 4-1. Strasburg allowed two hits and one unearned run in 93 pitches. He walked none and struck out five...

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Span is activated (again), says it "feels good to be back"

August 25, 2015, 1:22pm

Nationals

Span is activated (again), says it "feels good to be back"

Nationals center fielder Denard Span returned to the club Tuesday and was inserted in the starting lineup, leading off and playing center field against the Padres. Span has been on the disabled list with back tightness since July 7. Previously, he missed the first three weeks of the season as he recovered from right core muscle surgery. He has played only 59 games this season. "Feels good to be back," Span said. "It's been a long road. I'm just ready to get after it. Ready to do all that I...

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Nationals' two-out RBIs, patient at-bats key to series win over Brewers

August 24, 2015, 3:40am

Nationals

It was nice to see the offense take advantage of opportunities in winning their series against the Brewers. In 6-1 and 9-5 wins over the weekend against Milwaukee, the Nationals went 6-for-15 with runners in scoring position. Even more importantly, the Nationals were able to get two-out base hits that scored runs. In wins Saturday and Sunday, the Nationals combined for 12 two-out RBIs. Danny Espinosa and Anthony Rendon each had three RBIs Sunday, while Ryan Zimmerman and Ian Desmond also added...

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Zimmermann battles without one of his best pitches to beat Brewers 9-5

August 23, 2015, 1:33pm

Nationals

Zimmermann battles without one of his best pitches to beat Brewers 9-5

It says a lot about the top pitchers in the league that even when they don't have their best stuff, they still figure out a way to win. Right-hander Jordan Zimmermann did Sunday. Battling through a rough first inning and a couple of other tough situations to last 5 2/3 innings and down the Milwaukee Brewers 9-5. Zimmermann threw a season-high 116 pitches and surrendered eight hits, four runs and two homers. But he also only walked one batter and struck out seven. Zimmermann (10-8) knew not all...

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Nats game blog: Garza winless against the Nationals

August 23, 2015, 9:23am

Nationals

The Nationals seek their second consecutive series win today as they battle the Milwaukee Brewers. Wisconsin-native right-hander Jordan Zimmermann gets the ball for the seventh time against Milwaukee. He is 4-1 with 3.71 ERA in six starts against the Brewers. He also has a 3.06 ERA in 88 home starts in his career. The Brewers counter with veteran right-hander Matt Garza (6-13, 4.98 ERA). He has never defeated the Nationals, 0-3 with a 6.27 ERA. He pitched against the Nationals June 11,...

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Joe Ross mixes in changeup more to drop Brewers 6-1

August 22, 2015, 7:19pm

Nationals

Joe Ross mixes in changeup more to drop Brewers 6-1

Nationals right-hander Joe Ross bounced back well from a pair of losses on the West Coast with a commanding performance in a 6-1 win over the Brewers Saturday night. Ross went seven innings and allowed only six hits, the only run a solo homer, with no walks and four strikeouts. It was his second win of the season against Milwaukee. It was also with only 82 pitches to get those 21 outs. His bread and butter is his fastball in, but he said the big difference this time was the ability to slow down...

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Game blog: Nats need to make something happen for Ross against Brewers tonight

August 22, 2015, 2:05pm

Nationals

Game blog: Nats need to make something happen for Ross against Brewers tonight

The Nationals are running out of time to get something going. Only 41 games remain, and they pretty much have to win every series the rest of the way to have a chance to catch the Mets. It is impressive to view the impact Yoenis Cespedes has had on the Mets. Last night, driving home from the Nationals game and listening to the Oakland A's broadcast, their announcers commented on how important Cespedes has been to recent playoff runs for the A's and now with what the Mets are trying to do. Of...

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Williams addresses Werth, Ramos and improving outfield defense, throws to the plate

August 22, 2015, 1:44pm

Nationals

Williams addresses Werth, Ramos and improving outfield defense, throws to the plate

Manager Matt Williams announced in pregame that Jayson Werth is back in the lineup and leading off, which wasn't exactly the plan earlier Saturday afternoon. "We planned on giving him a day off, tough travel, late night, into yesterday," Williams said. "The fact that (Ryan Zimmerman) was scheduled for a day off yesterday, we planned on Jayson today. But he got here, feels good, and he's got good numbers certainly." Werth had trouble defensively Friday night in the Nationals' 10-3 loss to...

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Trea Turner on first game: "It was just fun to be out there"

August 21, 2015, 7:47pm

Nationals

Trea Turner on first game: "It was just fun to be out there"

Shortstop Trea Turner made his major league debut Friday in the Nationals' 10-3 loss to the Brewers. Turner went 0-for-2 with a couple of groundouts after arriving in the top of the seventh during a double switch. Maybe not the debut the rookie would have wanted? On the contrary, said Turner. "Every debut is good, I would like to say," Turner said. "Can't necessarily have a bad debut, no matter how you play, results whatever. It was just fun to be out there. I'm excited to go back out...

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Game blog: Gonzalez looking to erase last outing, get Nats going at home against Brewers

August 21, 2015, 3:11pm

Nationals

Game blog: Gonzalez looking to erase last outing, get Nats going at home against Brewers

The Nationals looking to erase the memory of a tough 3-7 road trip by getting something going at home. The Nats begin a nine-game homestand tonight against the 52-70 Milwaukee Brewers, fresh off of taking a series from the 49-win Colorado Rockies. Left-hander Gio Gonzalez faces Milwaukee right-hander Jimmy Nelson. Gonzalez suffered his first loss since June 15 in his last start Saturday at San Francisco. But he is 2-0 with a 2.82 ERA in four career starts against Milwaukee. Nelson took a 7-2...

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Turner on call-up the big leagues: "It's what everyone plays for"

August 21, 2015, 2:31pm

Nationals

Turner on call-up the big leagues: "It's what everyone plays for"

Straight out of Boynton Beach. Straight out of Raleigh. Straight out of Syracuse. Trea Turner is here. The Nationals summoned their top infield prospect today in shortstop Trea Turner. First baseman Tyler Moore was placed on the disabled list with a sprained left ankle. Also, right-hander Aaron Barrett was transferred to the 60-day disabled list with a right elbow sprain. The 22-year-old Turner met with reporters for the first time at Nationals Park, just a couple of stalls away from Ian...

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Fedde has solid outing for Hagerstown, Hearn shows upside for Auburn

August 20, 2015, 7:16pm

Nationals

Fedde has solid outing for Hagerstown, Hearn shows upside for Auburn

Right-hander Erick Fedde has made a positive first step this season as he rebounds from Tommy John surgery. The 22-year-old UNLV product was the Nationals' first-round selection in 2014 and then immediately had the ligament replacement procedure. Although Fedde gave up six runs in his first low Single-A start on Aug. 11, he did quite well in his most recent outing, not allowing a run over 4 2/3 innings innings as Hagerstown lost to Hickory 3-2 in 11 innings. Fedde allowed only four hits and...

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Reetz, 19, has "intangibles" to become one of the top catchers in Nats system

August 19, 2015, 6:59pm

Nationals

Reetz, 19, has "intangibles" to become one of the top catchers in Nats system

Catching prospect, 19-year-old Jakson Reetz, continues to gain experience at the professional level with the short-season Single-A Auburn Doubledays in the Nationals system. Auburn manager Gary Cathcart, who is also the Nationals coordinator of instruction, said Reetz truly is a baseball player who shows he has all the makeup to be a good one. Cathcart said Reetz just needs the repetition of game experience while playing at the top levels. Reetz, a 2014 third-round selection, has that baseball...

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Report: Doug Harris could be a front-runner for Milwaukee GM job

August 17, 2015, 6:40pm

Nationals

Report: Doug Harris could be a front-runner for Milwaukee GM job

There appears to be some Nationals-related buzz brewing in Milwaukee, where there is a vacancy for the Brewers' general manager position. Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe wrote Sunday that Nationals assistant general manager and vice president of player development and pro scouting Doug Harris is a front-runner for the vacancy created when Doug Melvin stepped down after 13 seasons earlier this month. "(Harris) could emerge as the front-runner for the GM job in Milwaukee," Cafardo wrote....