Dan Kolko

Suzuki gets 10th straight start

October 01, 2012, 11:37am

Kurt Suzuki has told manager Davey Johnson in the past that he has no problem starting every single game. Until the Nationals clinch the NL East title, Johnson is taking Suzuki up on his offer. Suzuki's getting the start behind the plate for the 10th straight day, a very lengthy streak for a catcher. In the last nine games, Suzuki is batting .294 with a home run and seven RBIs, so Johnson doesn't want to go away from the hot hand. He'll stick with Suzuki until the Nats are able to lock up...

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Coming back home, still looking for the clincher

September 30, 2012, 10:11pm

Nationals

Coming back home, still looking for the clincher

ST. LOUIS - Each of the last two days, I'd brought a bag containing a change of clothes with me to Busch Stadium. If the Nationals happened to clinch the division and I ended up with champagne all over my button down and pants, I didn't want to then have to spend the next couple hours working while stinking like alcohol. My college friends can insert their own jokes here. The change of clothes never left the bag, however. Saturday night, a Braves win prevented the Nationals from popping...

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Postgame quotes from Detwiler, Espinosa and Desmond

September 30, 2012, 3:43pm

Nationals

Postgame quotes from Detwiler, Espinosa and Desmond

ST. LOUIS - Toward the end of a lengthy session with reporters after today's 10-4 loss to the Cardinals, Ross Detwiler, who was hit hard in his 2 1/3 innings of work, was able to inject a little humor to lighten the mood in a quiet Nationals clubhouse. "This was for all the fans back in D.C.," Detwiler deadpanned. "(I) wanted them to see the team clinch." Don't take that quote the wrong way; by no means did Detwiler take his rough start lightly. He was frustrated with his inability to...

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Johnson discusses Nats' 10-4 loss

September 30, 2012, 3:07pm

Nationals

ST. LOUIS - The Champagne celebration won't take place on this road trip. The Nationals came into today needing only a win or a Braves loss to pop open the bubbly as NL East champions, but they fell behind 5-0 after two innings and 7-0 after three, and then let the Cardinals put up two big tack-on runs in the bottom of the fourth to turn a 7-4 game back into a comfortable five-run lead. Ross Detwiler gave up seven runs (three of which were earned) over 2 1/3 innings. He struggled in finding...

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A disastrous start for Detwiler (Nats blown out 10-4)

September 30, 2012, 11:21am

Nationals

A disastrous start for Detwiler (Nats blown out 10-4)

ST. LOUIS - Given a chance to clinch the division title in his hometown, Ross Detwiler did not bring his A-game to the table. Detwiler has allowed five runs through two innings, walked four hitters and served up a two-run homer to Carlos Beltran. The Nationals trail the Cardinals 5-0 after two. Detwiler pitched a scoreless first inning, but fell apart in the second. He walked the first two hitters he faced, then got an awful break when Danny Espinosa booted a tailor-made 4-6-3 double play...

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Pitching in his hometown, Detilwer can notch the clinching win

September 30, 2012, 9:37am

Nationals

Pitching in his hometown, Detilwer can notch the clinching win

ST. LOUIS - Ross Detwiler was pretty down on himself after his last start, calling his performance in the Nationals' series-opening loss at Philadelphia "embarrassing." Detwiler allowed five runs over five innings Tuesday against the Phillies, an outing which you could tell stayed with him in the days afterward. Today, Detwiler has a chance to atone for that outing by helping the Nationals clinch the NL East, and he has a chance to do it in his hometown in front of dozens of family members...

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Lineups for series finale against Cards

September 30, 2012, 7:52am

Nationals

ST. LOUIS - The Nationals just posted the lineup for Sunday's series finale against the Cardinals. With a win today, Washington will clinch the NL East. For the Nationals: Jayson Werth RF Bryce Harper CF Ryan Zimmerman 3B Adam LaRoche 1B Michael Morse LF Ian Desmond SS Danny Espinosa 2B Kurt Suzuki C Ross Detwiler P For the Cardinals: John Jay CF Carlos Beltran RF Matt Holliday LF Allen Craig 1B Yadier Molina C David Freese 3B Daniel Descalso 2B Pete Kozma SS Lance Lynn P

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The Suzuki trade keeps looking better and better

September 29, 2012, 11:11pm

Nationals

The Suzuki trade keeps looking better and better

ST. LOUIS - When the Nationals acquired Kurt Suzuki from the Athletics back in early August, they expected him to provide some veteran experience behind the plate, manage the pitching staff and use his strong arm to stop teams from running all over them on the basepaths. In the minds of General Manager Mike Rizzo and manager Davey Johnson, any offensive production they got from Suzuki on top of his defensive play was gravy. The Nationals are getting plenty of gravy. Plates and plates worth of...

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Morse on his grand slam and fake swing: "It was just such a crazy moment"

September 29, 2012, 9:19pm

Nationals

Morse on his grand slam and fake swing: "It was just such a crazy moment"

ST. LOUIS - Michael Morse has been playing baseball for the bulk of his 30 years on this earth. I think it's fair to say he's never seen anything like what we saw in the first inning of tonight's game, when Morse needed to run the bases backwards and then essentially hit a grand slam without a bat in his hands. "I think anybody (has)," Morse said with a smile. "That was something different." If you haven't seen the clip of Morse's grand slam, do yourself a favor and check it out now....

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Johnson discusses Nats' 6-4, 10-inning win

September 29, 2012, 8:46pm

Nationals

Johnson discusses Nats' 6-4, 10-inning win

ST. LOUIS - Well this one sure didn't lack excitement. The Nationals jumped on top of the Cardinals 4-0 in the first inning on the most bizarre grand slam you'll ever see, punctuated by a Michael Morse fake swing. They then allowed three runs in the seventh inning and blew a save in the ninth, sending the game to extra innings. Kurt Suzuki followed that just minutes later with a two-out, tie-breaking double off the wall in left-center, and Craig Stammen earned his first career save in the...

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Save the champagne for at least another day (Nats win 6-4 in 10 innings)

September 29, 2012, 5:57pm

Nationals

Save the champagne for at least another day (Nats win 6-4 in 10 innings)

ST. LOUIS - The Nationals will not clinch the National League East title tonight, regardless of what happens here at Busch Stadium. The Braves have just put the finishing touches on a 2-0 win over the Mets down in Atlanta, meaning that even with a win over the Cardinals tonight, the Nationals' magic number will only be cut to one. They'll have to wait until tomorrow, at the earliest, to wrap up the division title. The Mets threatened in the ninth against Braves closer Craig Kimbrel, but...

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The most bizarre grand slam in the history of Major League Baseball (updated)

September 29, 2012, 3:53pm

Nationals

The most bizarre grand slam in the history of Major League Baseball (updated)

ST. LOUIS - The Nationals lead 4-0 after the top of the first thanks to what is easily one of the strangest scenes I've ever witnessed on a baseball field. Up with the bases loaded and none out, Michael Morse went with a Kyle Lohse, first-pitch, two-seam fastball and drove it to right. The ball bounced off an advertisement banner just above the right field wall and kicked back on the field. The guys on the bases for the Nationals all seemed to think the ball was gone and Morse should have...

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Get ready to scoreboard watch (plus more playoff rotation notes)

September 29, 2012, 2:59pm

Nationals

Get ready to scoreboard watch (plus more playoff rotation notes)

ST. LOUIS - It's not difficult to keep tabs on the out-of-town scores at here Busch Stadium. They've got an entire big screen dedicated strictly to what's going on around the rest of the majors, so the scores kind of jump out and smack you in the face. The Nationals will be glancing up at that scoreboard throughout the night tonight, keeping tabs on what's going on down in Atlanta. Should the Mets beat the Braves, and if the Nats win as well, Davey Johnson's team will get to break into...

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An intriguing pitching matchup tonight (with lineups)

September 29, 2012, 11:46am

Nationals

An intriguing pitching matchup tonight (with lineups)

ST. LOUIS - We should have a good one at Busch Stadium tonight. Both Jordan Zimmermann and Kyle Lohse, tonight's starting pitchers, rank in the top seven in ERA in the National League going into tonight's game, so we can expect quite the pitchers' duel. Of course, I said pretty much the same exact thing back on Sept. 1, when these pitchers faced off at Nationals Park. What happened then? Zimmermann allowed eight runs over 3 2/3 in his worst start of the season, while Lohse gave up eight...

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The champagne will be in the house

September 29, 2012, 12:54am

Nationals

ST. LOUIS - It's not often that a 10-run loss in the heat of a playoff race can be brushed aside so quickly. Fortunately for the Nationals, they're in a position that allowed last night's 12-2 loss to the Cardinals to be put in the rear-view mirror as soon as they walked out of Busch Stadium. Yes, they got whooped up on to the point that they'd essentially thrown in the towel in the fifth inning. It wasn't the prettiest game of the season, that's for sure. But thanks to the New York...

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Jackson takes the blame, ready to move on

September 28, 2012, 9:06pm

Nationals

Jackson takes the blame, ready to move on

ST. LOUIS - Edwin Jackson, much like Ross Detwiler a few nights ago, put full blame on himself for his sub-par outing in the Nationals' 12-2 loss. "Today's game was just very disappointing and embarrassing," Jackson said after allowing nine runs in 1 1/3 innings. "When your club is in a pennant race and you have a game like that, it definitely leaves a bitter taste in your mouth that you did absolutely nothing to give your team a chance to win." What was the major issue tonight? You...

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Johnson discusses Nats' 12-2 loss

September 28, 2012, 8:26pm

Nationals

ST. LOUIS - Edwin Jackson has been very, very good at times this season. Tonight was not one of those times. The Nationals' righty went just 1 1/3 innings tonight, allowing nine runs (eight earned). He gave up six hits, walked four and got only one swing-and-miss all night, which is incredibly low for a power pitcher who usually has no problem missing bats. Manager Davey Johnson tried to give Jackson a chance to pitch out of trouble and eat up innings, but it just wasn't happening. He had...

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A silver lining (Nats lose 12-2)

September 28, 2012, 6:31pm

Nationals

ST. LOUIS - Davey Johnson has waved the white flag tonight, emptying his bench with the Nationals trailing 9-1 in the middle innings. But even with the blowout here in St. Louis, the Nats still can clinch the NL East title tomorrow night, thanks to the Mets. The Braves lost to the Mets 3-1 tonight, cutting the Nationals' magic number to two. A Nats win and a Braves loss tomorrow, and the division title belongs to Washington. See, you got something positive out of tonight. For what it's...

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Jackson smacked around in St. Louis

September 28, 2012, 5:31pm

Nationals

ST. LOUIS - It's safe to say this is not how Edwin Jackson envisioned his return to St. Louis going. Facing the team he helped to a World Series title last season, Jackson went just 1 1/3 innings tonight, allowing nine runs (eight earned) on seven hits. He walked four and struck out none, and leaves with the Nationals trailing 9-1. Those of you who were still wrapping up dinner during the early innings, you missed a bit of action. It was clear from the start that Jackson just wasn't there....

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Taking a quick peek ahead to the playoff rotation alignment

September 28, 2012, 3:38pm

Nationals

Taking a quick peek ahead to the playoff rotation alignment

ST. LOUIS - It's hard to believe - from my perspective, at least - but tomorrow will mark the start of the last regular season turn through the Nationals' rotation. Jordan Zimmermann will take the ball for the Nats tomorrow and then not pitch again until the postseason. As I mentioned earlier, the rotation alignment for the final four games of the regular season will depend on when the Nationals are able to clinch the division title. Manager Davey Johnson will have options when it comes to...