Dan Kolko

Storen gives up the lead (Ramos leads Nats to 8-5 win)

July 04, 2013, 10:01am

Over the last couple of months, Drew Storen has either been really good or really bad. During a 17-appearance stretch, Storen didn't allow an earned run in 16 of those games. Now, in his last two appearances, Storen has surrendered a total of seven runs. Today, it was the Brewers putting up three runs on Storen in the seventh inning, turning a 5-2 Nationals lead into a 5-5 tie. Storen allowed a solo homer to Yuniesky Betancourt with one out in the seventh, and after striking out Norichika...

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Davey knows what he's doing (Ramos delivers a big knock in his return)

July 04, 2013, 8:27am

Nationals

Davey knows what he's doing (Ramos delivers a big knock in his return)

Davey Johnson was asked why he flipped Ian Desmond and Jayson Werth in the batting order today. "I don't know. Because I'm supposed to do something," Johnson joked. The man knows what he's doing. Desmond and Werth are a combined 3-for-3 with a walk and an RBI in their new spots in the lineup, and Werth's run-scoring single in the first gave the Nats a lead that has only grown since. The Nats have a 3-1 lead after three innings, with Adam LaRoche, Werth and Ryan Zimmerman each notching...

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The early leader for press conference of the year

July 04, 2013, 7:04am

Nationals

The early leader for press conference of the year

A sleep-deprived Davey Johnson is the best kind of Davey Johnson. Johnson was in rare form this morning when meeting with reporters before today's 11 a.m. game, ripping jokes - many of which were self-deprecating - and telling stories that even he admitted made him look a bit nuts. The ball got rolling when Johnson was asked why he decided to switch up his lineup by flipping Ian Desmond and Jayson Werth, putting the free-swinging Desmond in the No. 2 hole and Werth in the No. 6 spot. "I...

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Davey Johnson: "I don't have any answers"

July 03, 2013, 6:05pm

Nationals

Davey Johnson: "I don't have any answers"

Twice during his brief, three-minute postgame press conference tonight, Nationals manager Davey Johnson - a man who rarely is at a lack for words - uttered a simple phrase that sums up how perplexed the Nats are by their 42-42 start this season. "I don't have any answers," Johnson said quietly. The Nationals fell to the Brewers 4-1 tonight, marking their second straight defeat at the hands of a team that sits in the cellar in the National League Central. Going into yesterday's game,...

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The scoreless streak is over (Nats lose 4-1)

July 03, 2013, 4:17pm

Nationals

The scoreless streak is over (Nats lose 4-1)

Let's look on the positive side of things. Anthony Rendon's solo home run in the seventh, the second homer of his big league career, has brought the Nationals to within three at 4-1 and prevented them from getting shut out for the second straight day. Their scoreless streak has been snapped at 15 innings, and they'll turn the lineup over and get their big bats to the plate at least once more before this game ends. However, the Nats do still trail, and they'll either get Kyle Lohse for...

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Ramos expected to return to Nats' lineup tomorrow (the deficit increases)

July 03, 2013, 2:04pm

Nationals

Ramos expected to return to Nats' lineup tomorrow (the deficit increases)

Assuming all goes well tonight, the Nationals should have Wilson Ramos back in their starting lineup tomorrow. Ramos, who has missed the last 43 games with a strained left hamstring, will play in his fifth rehab game tonight. He'll serve as the designated hitter for high Single-A Potomac, and is slated to play a full nine innings. Barring any setbacks, manager Davey Johnson said Ramos will not only be activated off the disabled list tomorrow, but he'll likely be behind the plate in the 11...

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Haren ready to return, with what he feels is an improved repertoire

July 03, 2013, 1:37pm

Nationals

Haren ready to return, with what he feels is an improved repertoire

At 2 p.m. today, Dan Haren stepped on the mound at Nationals Park and started firing away as a rotation of hitters took their hacks. It was just a simulated game against three hitters with whom he shares a clubhouse - Chad Tracy, Tyler Moore and Steve Lombardozzi - but it was yet another step in the right direction for Haren, who has been on the disabled list the last 10 days with right shoulder inflammation. Haren threw 65-70 pitches split up over three simulated innings, with a couple of...

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Detwiler back on the mound

July 03, 2013, 11:21am

Nationals

Left-hander Ross Detwiler makes his first start tonight since feeling stiffness in his lower back following Friday night's effort at Citi Field in New York. Detwiler is 2-6 with a 4.13 ERA in 12 starts this season. His opposition is Brewers righty Kyle Lohse. He'll be backed up in his start against Milwaukee by what is becoming a familiar batting order, now that some of the bumps and bruises the Nationals have been dealing with have healed. For the Brewers RF Norichika Aoki SS Jean...

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Nats sign catcher Kelly Shoppach to minor league deal

July 03, 2013, 8:13am

Nationals

Nats sign catcher Kelly Shoppach to minor league deal

The Nationals have bolstered their catching depth, agreeing to terms with veteran Kelly Shoppach on a minor league deal. Shoppach, 33, will report to Triple-A Syracuse. A nine-year major league veteran, Shoppach played 35 games with the Mariners this season, posting a slash line of .196/.293/.346 with three home runs and nine RBIs in 107 at-bats. Shoppach's best offensive season came in 2008, when he hit .261/.348/.517 with 21 homers and 55 RBIs with the Indians. Considered a solid...

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On Strasburg, Espinosa and Span

July 03, 2013, 6:53am

Nationals

Stephen Strasburg's ERA this season - a miniscule 2.24 - is 24 points lower than his rotation mate Jordan Zimmermann's. Somehow, Zimmermann has 12 wins on the season, and Strasburg has one-third that many. Yet there are those who still view pitchers' wins as a crucial statistic. Doesn't make much sense to me. The Nationals are scoring an average of 4.71 runs per game when Zimmermann gets the start. When Strasburg pitches, that total is nearly cut in half. Strasburg has gotten 2.44 runs...

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Strasburg on lack of run support, Harper on the drop

July 02, 2013, 8:05pm

Nationals

Strasburg on lack of run support, Harper on the drop

Stephen Strasburg has gotten the lowest run support of any starter in the major leagues this season, at 2.44 runs per game. The Nationals have scored more than three runs in just three of his 16 starts, including tonight's 4-0 loss to the Brewers. Strasburg has now allowed two earned runs or fewer in last eight starts (and one earned run or fewer in seven of those eight), but it hasn't mattered. Still, despite having just four wins to go along with his 2.24 ERA - a mark that's sixth-best...

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Johnson discusses Nats' 4-0 loss

July 02, 2013, 7:30pm

Nationals

Over the course of 162 games last season, the Nationals were shut out eight times. Tonight marked the ninth time they've been shut out in their first 83 games this season. The Nats lost to the Brewers 4-0 tonight, wasting another stellar outing from Stephen Strasburg, who threw seven scoreless innings, dropping his ERA to 2.24. They went 0-for-8 with runners in scoring position and left 10 men on base, this after putting up 23 runs in their last two ballgames. "The other guy pitched a...

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Storen comes apart in the eighth (Nats lose 4-0)

July 02, 2013, 6:07pm

Nationals

Storen comes apart in the eighth (Nats lose 4-0)

Over the last five weeks, Drew Storen has reverted to his 2011 form, when he saved 43 games, struck out nearly a batter per inning and posted a 2.75 ERA. Storen had allowed an earned run in just one of his last 17 appearances coming into tonight and had talked about how he was feeling really confident against left-handed hitters lately, largely thanks to his improved feel of his changeup. Tonight, called upon to work the eighth inning in a scoreless game, Storen wasn't able to carry over...

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Nats sign seven international free agents

July 02, 2013, 5:22pm

Nationals

Nats sign seven international free agents

The international free agent signing period started today, and the Nationals have made a handful of moves within the first 24 hours, agreeing to terms with seven 16-year-olds. The Nats announced they've signed right-handed pitcher Edwin Adames, catcher Jose Cabello, right-handed pitcher Angel Guillen, left-handed pitcher Jose Jimenez, outfielder Victor Robles, outfielder Dany Rojas and catcher Edwin Trejos. In accordance with the Collective Bargaining Agreement, each team is now on a...

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Brewers can't touch the Strasburg curve, Nats can't give Strasburg runs (updated)

July 02, 2013, 4:44pm

Nationals

Brewers can't touch the Strasburg curve, Nats can't give Strasburg runs (updated)

Stephen Strasburg has thrown five scoreless innings tonight, allowing just two hits (one of which came on a blown call at first base) and walking two. He's struck out five Brewers, all five of which have been on the curveball, a pitch that has been truly filthy tonight. Strasburg has dialed the fastball up to 97 mph. He's thrown a few nasty changeups. But it's the curve that's been the money pitch against the Brewers, who had never faced Strasburg prior to tonight. Aramis Ramirez had his...

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Detwiler good to start tomorrow, Haren could rejoin rotation next week

July 02, 2013, 1:29pm

Nationals

Detwiler good to start tomorrow, Haren could rejoin rotation next week

Davey Johnson wanted to wait until today before making the final determination that Ross Detwiler would be good to start tomorrow against the Brewers. Detwiler felt some stiffness in the left side of his lower back following his last start on Friday in New York, and while Detwiler came out of his side session yesterday feeling just fine, the Nats needed to see how the left-hander was today before ruling him good to go. Well, Detwiler feels fine today. So he's good to go. Detwiler's back...

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Today's Nationals lineup (with Brewers lineup)

July 02, 2013, 12:12pm

Nationals

The Nationals will use the same lineup as yesterday, with one obvious exception. The Nats will send Stephen Strasburg to the mound instead of Jordan Zimmermann. I know Zimmermann went 3-for-3 yesterday, but if he was in the lineup again today, we'd have some news on our hands. As for the eight position players in the batting order, I guess if it ain't broke, don't fix it. For the Nats: CF Denard Span RF Jayson Werth LF Bryce Harper 3B Ryan Zimmerman 1B Adam LaRoche SS Ian Desmond 2B...

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Nats outright Cole Kimball to Triple-A

July 02, 2013, 10:34am

Nationals

The Nationals have outrighted right-handed reliever Cole Kimball to Triple-A Syracuse, the team announced this afternoon. Kimball was already on Syracuse's roster, but outrighting him takes him off the 40-man roster, opening up a spot. The Nats now have 39 players on the 40-man roster. That does not include reliever Christian Garcia, who is on the 60-day disabled list and is currently on a rehab assignment with Syracuse. Kimball made his big league debut with the Nats in 2011, posting a...

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Another tease or the start of an offensive turnaround?

July 02, 2013, 6:34am

Nationals

Another tease or the start of an offensive turnaround?

It's impossible to see what the Nationals have done offensively the last two days and not wonder whether this is it. Has the offense finally woken up for good? Is this the stretch where things turn around and the Nats start playing to their ability, as Davey Johnson likes to put it? This just has to be where the offense kicks things into high gear, right? "Oh, I don't know," Jayson Werth said. "We'll see. One minute, we can't score a run. The next minute, we're scoring too many runs....

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Harper on the homer and his return

July 01, 2013, 8:21pm

Nationals

Bryce Harper stepped up to the plate at Nationals Park for the first time in a while, got a loud ovation from the crowd, looked at a ball out of the zone and then slugged the second pitch he saw for a solo homer. He sprinted around the bases, was greeted by smiles and high fives in the Nationals' dugout and then came out to the top step for a curtain call. Harper's first at-bat off the disabled list, one that came in the bottom of the first inning in tonight's 10-5 win over the Brewers,...