No-hitters are always about a dominant pitcher completely shutting down an opposing squad. More often than not, these pitching gems have a few plays in the field on defense that make the difference between a no-hitter and a one- or two-hitter.
On Saturday in D.C., Max Scherzer was awesome in his no-hitter of the Pirates, with a final score of 6-0.
One play that got the crowd roaring was a defensive play by veteran second baseman Danny Espinosa late in the game that kept the Pirates off the...
Manager Matt Williams said Max Scherzer's first career no-hitter, a 6-0 shutout of the Pirates, was something special and the team was proud to be able to share it with the hometown Nats Park crowd.
"What's the max capacity here?" Williams queried the media throng in the press conference room. "Forty-one thousand people on their feet from the time he went on for the ninth. That's a very good feeling for our club. Maxie was fantastic all day."
Scherzer's gem came within one out of a...
Nationals shortstop Ian Desmond is out of the lineup for a second game in a row as manager Matt Williams wants him to take a "mental rest."
Since June 9, Desmond has gone 4-for-36 (.111) with 16 strikeouts.
"It's rest, it's clear," Williams said. "It's good work, it's all of those things. It's important for him to get back to where he wants to be, and if a couple of days does that, and at the end of the year he'll look back and go, 'Yeah, maybe that was good.' It's never easy to...
Nationals reliever David Carpenter was outstanding Friday in shutting down a potential late inning rally against the Pirates. His hold helped the Nationals to a 4-1 victory before a sellout crowd of close to 39,000 at Nats Park.
"It was just fun to get back into that type of situation that I'm used to," Carpenter said. "Just glad that I was able to come and strand the runner on first and get the ball to Drew (Storen). That's what it's all about. If we can do that, in that order, we are...
Following Friday's 4-1 win over the Pirates, Nationals manager Matt Williams had an update on right fielder Bryce Harper. Harper did not play in the game as he nursed a sore left hamstring strain.
Williams said Harper worked in the weight room and got treatment throughout the day after slipping on the wet field Thursday night against Tampa Bay when making a throw from the outfield to the plate.
"He did OK," Williams reported. "He did some leg work today, didn't hit, but did some leg work...
Nationals manager Matt Williams said outfielder Bryce Harper is still "sore" after suffering a mild strain of his left hamstring in slippery conditions at Nats Park during a 5-3 loss to the Rays on Thursday night.
"He's sore," Williams said. "Hasn't done a whole lot today. He's getting treatment. I'm sure at some point he'll get a few swings in and light (stretching). He's off for today. We'll re-evaluate after the game today after he does all of his treatment and everything and see...
Despite the 5-3 loss to the Tampa Bay Rays on Thursday, Nationals starter Doug Fister felt pretty good about his return from the disabled list and first game since May 14. Fister had been on the disabled list with a right forearm flexor tendon strain.
"I felt a lot better," Fister said. "Obviously, it's a work in progress. I mean, I keep saying that, but that's exactly what it is. I've kind of gone back to some of my base and my roots and trying to get back to doing what I do best and...
The Little League Anderson Monarchs, featuring 13-year-old Little League World Series pitcher Mo'Ne Davis, paid a visit to Nationals Park on Thursday for the Nationals game against the Tampa Bay Rays.
The Monarchs are a travel team, based out of Philadelphia, on a barnstorming tour across America as a tribute to Jackie Robinson, the Negro Leagues and the Civil Rights Movement.
Anderson manager Steve Bandura said that his team was so excited to visit the Nationals and the Nationals Youth...
Right-hander Doug Fister returns to the starting rotation tonight as the Nationals wrap up their home-and-home interleague series with the Tampa Bay Rays.
Fister, who will be activated from the disabled list after missing time with a strained right flexor forearm muscle, was impressive in his rehab assignment with the Double-A Harrisburg Senators last Friday night. He struck out four and allowed only two hits over six shutout innings in the 4-2 win over Trenton.
In seven major league starts...
It is the trade that is talked about a lot, mostly because the Nationals received right-hander Joe Ross and shortstop Trea Turner in the three-team deal that involved the Padres and the Rays.
The Nationals traded for Ross, who is currently in the starting rotation, and now finally Turner, who had three hits for Double-A Harrisburg Wednesday, in their part of the 11-player deal.
Tampa Bay got power hitting outfielder Steven Souza Jr. in the deal that sent Wil Myers to San Diego.
Nationals fans...
The Nationals and Rays play game three against each other tonight, but this time in D.C. It is the first time that right-hander Jordan Zimmermann and now Rays right fielder Steven Souza Jr. have been on the same field playing in the same game since Zimmermann's first career no-hitter September 28, 2014.
Souza arrived in that game in the ninth inning and played left field. His diving catch robbed Christian Yelich of extra bases with two outs in the ninth inning. The incredible catch also earned...
Manager Matt Williams confirmed that Doug Fister (right forearm tightness) will be activated off the disabled list tomorrow to make the start against the Rays in the series finale. Fister last pitched in the 8-3 loss at San Diego on May 14.
Stephen Strasburg (neck tightness) had a positive rehab start earlier today in Harrisburg at the Double-A level. With 80 pitches, the last nine in the bullpen, Williams said if Strasburg feels good this week, he could make his next start back in the majors....
The Nationals and Tampa Bay Rays play their third game in a row tonight, but this time at Nationals Park. The Nationals hope to build off of their 16-4 pasting of the Rays on Tuesday at Tropicana Field to finish the road trip 4-4. Tonight is the first of eight-straight games at home for the Nats.
The Nationals have granted Triple-A RHP Mitch Lively his unconditional release. He will join the Hokkaido Nippon-ham Fighters in Japan.
Denard Span gets the night off and Clint Robinson, fresh off a...
The Nationals can use a game like Tuesday's 16-4 drubbing of the Rays. The 23 hits were the most ever by the Nats and the most since the Expos tallied 26 in a game against the Giants in 1997.
Catcher Wilson Ramos told reporters afterwards he will use the video from his last two at-bats, both homers off position players, to help him because he got his hands so relaxed. Shortstop Ian Desmond went 2-for-4 with a walk and only one strikeout.
The Rays also had to use five relievers, although two of...
Ricky Hague had a smashing debut for Triple-A Syracuse with a three-run homer in the Chiefs' 8-1 dispatch of Toledo.
It was Hague's first homer since June 27, 2014 while with Double-A Harrisburg. He finished 2-for-4 with two runs and three RBIs in his Triple-A debut.
Kevin Keyes also debuted with an RBI double in his first at-bat. He also went 2-for-4 with two runs scored and an RBI.
Taylor Jordan had a nice bounce back performance extending to seven innings, allowing five hits, no runs, no...
From the time they arrived from Montreal before the 2005 season, the Nationals have been a mainstay in the Washington, D.C., sports scene. But the Nats are also very active in the community, working diligently over the past decade to touch the lives of many in the region and proving that baseball has a further reach than wins and losses, balls and strikes, batters and pitchers. Each Thursday through mid-August, MASNsports.com's Byron Kerr will explore the Nationals' community outreach...
Nationals right-hander Stephen Strasburg is set for a rehab assignment Wednesday with Double-A Harrisburg as they take on Richmond. The game will be at noon at Metro Bank Park in Harrisburg, Pa. The gates open at 11 a.m.
Strasburg has been on the disabled list since May 30 with a left trapezius strain.
On Friday in Milwaukee, Strasburg threw 60 pitches in a bullpen session. Earlier, he had practiced holding the end of a towel in his follow-through until it whipped to find his release point....
The Nationals opted to place Danny Espinosa in a position he had never played before in a major league game. Espinosa started at first base Saturday in the Nationals' 7-2 win over the Brewers.
As expected, he had to make some plays. He had to flip the ball to the pitcher, a little high and a little late, but it worked to record the out. He had to stretch up the line once to make a stop in which the runner was safe. In the late-going, Espinosa went to one knee to make an athletic stab at a ball...
The Nationals have hit a heavy skid the past two weeks, losing 11 of their last 14 games. One reason is the amount of starters that have been placed on the disabled list.
Offensive starters like Denard Span, Jayson Werth, Ryan Zimmerman and Anthony Rendon have spent a good amount of time unable to play in regular season games due to various injuries and setbacks.
The pitching staff has been hit significantly as well with starters Doug Fister and Stephen Strasburg on the disabled list. Craig...
The Nationals don't have to worry about pulling an active pitcher off their 25-man roster to activate right-hander David Carpenter.
Right-hander Aaron Barrett has been placed on the 15-day disabled list with a right biceps strain. Carpenter was activated officially today to take Barrett's place on the roster. He has previously pitched for Houston, Atlanta, Toronto and the New York Yankees.
Barrett appeared to swing his arm in attempt to stretch it out after allowing the go-ahead RBI single to...