Dan Kolko

Johnson on Nats' 6-4 comeback win (Marrero optioned)

June 28, 2013, 7:46pm

NEW YORK - Over the seven innings that Mets ace Matt Harvey was in tonight's game, the Nationals managed one run on three hits. Harvey overpowered the Nats, as he'd overpowered pretty much every other team he's faced this season. But the Nats kept the game close, and trailed 4-1 when the mediocre Mets bullpen was called upon in the eighth. Then they pounced. Ryan Zimmerman tied the game with a bases-loaded, two-out double in the eighth, and Ian Desmond smacked a go-ahead double in the...

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Having trouble getting to Harvey (Nats come back to win 6-4)

June 28, 2013, 4:32pm

Nationals

Having trouble getting to Harvey (Nats come back to win 6-4)

NEW YORK - The hits might be few and far between for the Nationals tonight. That is, if they come at all. Mets right-hander Matt Harvey has been perfect through four innings so far, striking out six and making Nats hitters look pretty silly in the process. Five of Harvey's strikeouts have been of the swinging variety. He got Denard Span and Anthony Rendon swinging to open the game, showing both 98 mph fastballs and then getting them to flail at offspeed pitches (the curve got Span, the...

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What Johnson wants to see from Detwiler

June 28, 2013, 3:21pm

Nationals

NEW YORK - It's been a bit of an ongoing back and forth. Davey Johnson talks about wanting to see Ross Detwiler mix his pitches a bit more, and Detwiler goes out and has success throwing nearly almost entirely two- and four-seam fastballs. Lately, however, Detwiler hasn't had as much success. He has an 8.59 ERA in three starts since coming off the DL, and after Detwiler's last start, Johnson said that a major factor in his rough outing against the Rockies was that he wasn't mixing his...

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Harper staying with Harrisburg, Ramos close to returning, Taylor Jordan notes

June 28, 2013, 2:45pm

Nationals

Harper staying with Harrisburg, Ramos close to returning, Taylor Jordan notes

NEW YORK - Speaking following yesterday's game, Davey Johnson left the door open to the possibility that Bryce Harper would cut short his rehab assignment by a few days and join the Nationals in New York this weekend. That won't be happening. Harper is remaining with Double-A Harrisburg for the time being. Harper will get a day off today, but he'll still hit indoors and do some throwing. He'll be back in the lineup tomorrow against Bowie, and then if all goes well, could be ready to...

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Nats, Mets lineups for series opener

June 28, 2013, 11:50am

Nationals

NEW YORK - Greetings from Citi Field on a slightly muggy but otherwise nice day. Looks like we'll avoid the storm clouds that apparently are hovering around those of you back in the mid-Atlantic region. There was a point where I wasn't sure whether I'd make it here at all. The cab driver I had take me to my hotel was quite possibly the worst driver I've ever seen. I'm not 100 percent sure he'd ever driven a car prior to today. Luckily, I'm here safe and sound. Tonight the Nationals...

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Talking Strasburg and the lack of streaks

June 28, 2013, 5:35am

Nationals

Talking Strasburg and the lack of streaks

Here's the good news: The Nationals are looking like they've got three top-of-the-rotation starting pitchers right now. Jordan Zimmermann is tied for the major league lead with 11 wins and has a 2.28 ERA. Gio Gonzalez has bounced back from a rocky April and owns a 2.32 ERA over his last 10 starts. And after yesterday's outing, Stephen Strasburg has a 2.41 ERA on the season. Over his last eight starts (one of which was a two-inning, injury-shortened outing), Strasburg's ERA is a ridiculous...

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Johnson discusses Nats' 3-2 loss to D-backs and Harper's status

June 27, 2013, 5:56pm

Nationals

Johnson discusses Nats' 3-2 loss to D-backs and Harper's status

As he sat down for his postgame press conference after tonight's 3-2, 11-inning loss to the Diamondbacks, Davey Johnson looked at reporters and slowly shook his head. The offensive production and clutch hitting that had been present in the Nationals' first two games of this series disappeared in today's series finale, and the Nats will hop on a flight up to New York tonight again the owners of a .500 record. You can't exactly blame the Nats for missing the chance to pick up a series sweep...

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Desmond gets the Nats going (Nats lose 3-2 in 11 innings)

June 27, 2013, 2:29pm

Nationals

Desmond gets the Nats going (Nats lose 3-2 in 11 innings)

Ian Desmond's first half continues to get more impressive. The Nationals shortstop cranked a two-run homer in the fourth inning today, his 13th of the season, that gave the Nats a 2-0 lead over the Diamondbacks. Desmond took a massive swing at an 0-1 slider from Arizona starter Patrick Corbin and came up empty. I think I felt the gust of wind from Desmond's hack up here in the press box, about 3,000 feet in the air. After working the count to 2-2, Desmond then got another slider, and he...

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Perry outrighted, clearing spot for starter (Moore notes; we're under way)

June 27, 2013, 11:48am

Nationals

Perry outrighted, clearing spot for starter (Moore notes; we're under way)

The Nationals have outrighted right-hander Ryan Perry to Double-A Harrisburg, a move that drops Perry from the 40-man roster and clears a spot for the Nats to add a starter for Saturday's game against the Mets. Perry had already been pitching for Harrisburg, so this was strictly a procedural move. And while the Nats aren't officially willing to announce who will get the start on Saturday, we know who it will be. As has been speculated for much of this week, Taylor Jordan will get the ball,...

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Harper joins Harrisburg, likely to return to Nats Monday

June 27, 2013, 11:04am

Nationals

Harper joins Harrisburg, likely to return to Nats Monday

After kicking off his rehab assignment at high Single-A Potomac and playing two games with the P-Nats, Bryce Harper has moved on to Double-A Harrisburg. Harper has joined the Senators for their four-game series against Bowie, allowing him to jump up a level while also staying local. Harper, who is rehabbing from left knee bursitis, is scheduled to play 8-9 innings tonight, according to Nationals manager Davey Johnson. Assuming all goes well over these next few days and Harper doesn't suffer...

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Solano behind the plate in series finale vs. Diamondbacks

June 27, 2013, 10:45am

Nationals

Solano behind the plate in series finale vs. Diamondbacks

Davey Johnson is running out pretty much the same lineup today that he used in yesterday's 3-2 Nationals win over the Diamondbacks. Tyler Moore will get the start again in left field, this time against Arizona left-hander Patrick Corbin. The only change to yesterday's lineup is that Jhonatan Solano will be behind the plate, catching right-hander Stephen Strasburg. This should be a heck of a pitching matchup today, pitting two 2009 draft picks against one another. Strasburg (No. 1 overall...

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On Zimmermann, Rendon, Espinosa and Owings

June 27, 2013, 7:00am

Nationals

On Zimmermann, Rendon, Espinosa and Owings

After three long days, my jury duty is complete, this following more than 7 1/2 hours of deliberation last night that caused me to miss another Nationals game. I'm all done now, however, and am ready to get back into the flow this afternoon as the Nats wrap up their three-game series with the Diamondbacks and then head up to New York for three against the Mets. While I didn't get to see last night's 3-2 Nats win, I'm studying the box score right now. Here's what it tells me: Jordan...

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Some of this, some of that

June 26, 2013, 5:18am

Nationals

It had been 51 days since Gio Gonzalez last picked up a win. Fifty-one days, despite an eight-start stretch in which Gonzalez pitched to a 2.15 ERA and held opponents to a .174 batting average and .532 OPS. That can happen when your offense is ineffective and your team has a number of key position players dealing with injuries. Last night, Gonzalez's lengthy winless streak finally was snapped in a 7-5 Nationals win. Of course, as Davey Johnson pointed out to reporters after the game,...

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A look at Taylor Jordan and the open rotation spot

June 24, 2013, 9:31pm

Nationals

A look at Taylor Jordan and the open rotation spot

Before I dive into things this morning, some brief housekeeping notes. I spent nearly 10 hours at jury selection yesterday (what a fun process that was!) and was eventually chosen to serve for a trial starting today. The trial is scheduled to last two days, so I might be out of action through Wednesday, although I'm hoping things move swiftly and I'm able to make my way to Nats Park for tomorrow's game. Regardless, Byron Kerr will have you covered on all Nationals updates today, as I'll...

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Harper to begin rehab assignment tonight (updated)

June 24, 2013, 7:24pm

Nationals

Harper to begin rehab assignment tonight (updated)

The original plan was for Bryce Harper to start his rehab assignment Tuesday at high Single-A Potomac. Harper then said he'd prefer to wait another day or two, and the plan was altered to have Harper likely starting his rehab assignment Wednesday. Now we're back to Tuesday again. A source with knowledge of the situation has confirmed that Harper will head to Woodbridge, Va., on Tuesday, to make his first rehab appearance as he works back from left knee bursitis, which has bothered him for...

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Still treading water nearly three months in

June 23, 2013, 9:13pm

Nationals

Still treading water nearly three months in

If you look at the standings as of this morning, you'll get a clear picture of how the Washington Nationals' 2013 season is going. The team considered by many around the game to be the World Series favorites coming into the season has a 37-38 record after yesterday's loss to the Rockies. The Nats are six games back of the Braves in the National League East, and they're seven games out of a Wild Card spot. Eight of the other 14 teams in the National League have superior winning...

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Werth discusses his groin injury, Haren discusses landing on the DL

June 23, 2013, 2:40pm

Nationals

Werth discusses his groin injury, Haren discusses landing on the DL

The last time Jayson Werth had to leave a game due to an injury, he said that he didn't think it was too serious and hoped he wouldn't need to land on the disabled list. The tightness that had popped up in Werth's right hamstring hung around for a while, and he eventually needed to miss 28 games while rehabbing the hamstring on the DL. The hope is that this time, the pulled left groin that Werth suffered in today's 7-6 loss to the Rockies doesn't pose nearly as much of a problem. Werth...

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Johnson on Detwiler, Haren, Werth and Harper after 7-6 Nats loss

June 23, 2013, 2:20pm

Nationals

Johnson on Detwiler, Haren, Werth and Harper after 7-6 Nats loss

The Nationals put up six straight runs this afternoon to make this game respectable and give themselves a shot late, but they couldn't overcome the seven-run deficit they were handed by Ross Detwiler. A 7-6 loss to the Rockies was the result, a loss that dropped the Nats back to a game under .500. Detwiler allowed seven runs on nine hits over 3 2/3 innings. The left-hander relies almost exclusively on his two- and four-seam fastballs, and the Rockies weren't fooled by what Detwiler brought...

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The fourth-inning blues (Werth leaves game, Nats lose 7-6)

June 23, 2013, 10:58am

Nationals

The fourth-inning blues (Werth leaves game, Nats lose 7-6)

For the second straight day, a Nationals starter didn't made it out of the fourth inning. Yesterday, it was Dan Haren getting pulled after 3 1/3 innings, having allowed six runs on seven hits. Today, it's Ross Detwiler handing the ball to Davey Johnson after 3 2/3 innings. Detwiler allowed seven runs on nine hits (including two homers) with one walk and three strikeouts. Haren left to a heavy chorus of boos yesterday. Detwiler left to mild applause today. Ross Ohlendorf was able to pick...

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Haren heading to DL (Harper puts on a show in batting practice)

June 23, 2013, 9:18am

Nationals

Haren heading to DL (Harper puts on a show in batting practice)

Turns out the Nationals won't wait until after Dan Haren's side session before deciding what to do with the veteran right-hander. Haren will be heading to the disabled list, a team source confirmed this afternoon. The ailment has not yet been specified. Haren has gone 4-9 this season and has a major league-worst 6.15 ERA. He went just 3 1/3 innings yesterday against the Rockies, allowing six runs on seven hits, and left the field to a chorus of boos from Nats fans. The Nats have gone 0-8...