Dan Kolko

Johnson sticking with Clippard as co-closer

Nationals
Johnson sticking with Clippard as co-closer
Tyler Clippard's rough stretch continued tonight. Clippard, who was lights out for much of the season, blew his fifth save of the year tonight and earned his third loss in his last seven appearances after allowing three Brewers runs in the ninth inning. It stuck the Nationals with a 4-2 loss, wasting a fantastic outing by Edwin Jackson, who threw eight innings of one-run ball. "Well, that one hurt," manager Davey Johnson said. "Jackson pitched a great ballgame. I was tempted to let him...
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Dan Kolko

Harper shows off his arm (Nats lose 4-2 after blown save)

Nationals
Harper shows off his arm (Nats lose 4-2 after blown save)
Edwin Jackson retired just one batter he faced in the fourth inning and allowed three hits in the frame. Somehow, he still escaped with a scoreless inning of work. The Nationals put on a defensive display in the fourth, helping Jackson get through an inning in which he didn't make many great pitches. Ryan Braun doubled leading off the fourth, his second double in as many at-bats tonight. Aramis Ramirez followed with a single to center, a sharply hit ball which Bryce Harper charged quickly....
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Dan Kolko

Some possible tweaks to the rotation

Nationals
Some possible tweaks to the rotation
In addition to announcing that he's going to go with co-closers for the time being, Nationals manager Davey Johnson also announced his plans for the starting rotation through the next handful of days. We already knew that Chien-Ming Wang will start Sunday against the Brewers, and Johnson had two options for who would start Monday's series finale against Milwaukee due to the doubleheader played Wednesday. He's decided to go with Jordan Zimmermann on Monday on normal rest, and will have...
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Dan Kolko

Johnson says Storen, Clippard now co-closers

Nationals
Johnson says Storen, Clippard now co-closers
Tyler Clippard has done an exceptional job stepping into the closer's role this season, saving 32 games in 35 chances and providing some stability in the ninth inning after numerous early-season injuries to late-inning relievers. Drew Storen saved 43 games last season, appears to be completely recovered from elbow surgery and is on a roll right now. Manager Davey Johnson has faith in both Clippard and Storen when it comes to shutting down games. And that's why he says he'll use both guys...
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Dan Kolko

Jackson aiming for double-digit wins

Nationals
Jackson aiming for double-digit wins
Should Edwin Jackson pick up the win tonight, the Nationals would have five starters with double-digit win totals. Not too shabby. It'll be Jackson against Brewers right-hander Shaun Marcum tonight at Nats Park. Marcum is 5-4 with a 3.91 ERA this season. For the Nats: RF Jayson Werth CF Bryce Harper 3B Ryan Zimmerman 1B Adam LaRoche LF Michael Morse SS Ian Desmond 2B Danny Espinosa C Jesus Flores P Edwin Jackson For the Brewers: RF Norichika Aoki 2B Rickie Weeks LF Ryan Braun 3B Aramis...
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Dan Kolko

Fittingly, Storen puts final touches on clinching win

Nationals
Fittingly, Storen puts final touches on clinching win
It's been a bit of a rough year for Drew Storen. Elbow surgery wiped out the entire first half of his season and forced him through a lengthy and trying rehab process. When he did come back, his closer job had been taken by his good friend and roommate, Tyler Clippard. You won't hear Storen complain about what he's been through or the situation that he's currently in. He'd love to be closing games, sure, but he's more than happy contributing to a winning Nationals team and being one of...
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Dan Kolko

The Davey Johnson effect

Nationals
The Davey Johnson effect
The last time Davey Johnson managed a playoff team, the year was 1997 and he was in Baltimore. Johnson led the Orioles to a 98-win season and a spot in the American League Championship Series. He was named AL Manager of the Year after that season, and then, due to a disagreement with ownership, was promptly was out of a job the same day that he was given the award. Fifteen years later, Johnson again has managed his team to the postseason and again finds himself in the Manager of the Year...
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Dan Kolko

Nats celebrate, "but the next one will not be as subdued"

Nationals
Nats celebrate, "but the next one will not be as subdued"
The Nationals have been talking for the last couple weeks about how they didn't have their eyes set on a mere playoff berth. Loftier goals were ahead, they said, like the NL East title. Once they clinched a wild card spot tonight, they weren't about to get too caught up in this moment. After all, as Ian Desmond noted tonight, "This pretty much means that if we lose every game from here on out, we get to play one more game." Still, the Nats couldn't help but pop open a little champagne...
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Dan Kolko

Johnson discusses Nats' playoff-clinching win

Nationals
Johnson discusses Nats' playoff-clinching win
When Davey Johnson walked into the press conference room following tonight's 4-1 win over the Dodgers, a large group of fans looking on through a glass window in the Presidents' Club started applauding. "What's the big deal?" Johnson said, a giant smile creeping across his face. Oh, nothing. You just locked up a postseason berth for the first time in team history and gave D.C. its first playoff baseball team in the last 79 years. That's all. "That was fun but that's not what I had...
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Dan Kolko

Playoff bound

Nationals
Playoff bound
Congratulations, D.C. For the first time in 79 years, you now officially are the home of a playoff baseball team. The same Nationals who lost 103 games three seasons ago are now heading to the postseason, this after notching a 4-1 win over the Dodgers tonight. There is no giant pile-up on the field as the Nats celebrate, and we don't expect to see any champagne in the clubhouse. The Nats have their eyes set on a bigger goal - winning the National League East, and there's still a little ways...
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Dan Kolko

Detwiler not perfect, but not far from it (Captain Hook strikes again)

Nationals
Detwiler not perfect, but not far from it (Captain Hook strikes again)
Mark Ellis ended Ross Detwiler's perfect night with a solo homer leading off the fourth inning. Outside of that, the Dodgers have done almost nothing against Detwiler thus far. The Nationals lefty has faced just two over the minimum through five innings, needing just 63 pitches to get to this point. He has a 4-1 lead going to the sixth. Detwiler was absolutely dominant in his first three innings of work, retiring all nine hitters he faced, with four strikeouts. It was a fairly small...
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Dan Kolko

Johnson gets an apology from ump (plus Clippard notes)

Nationals
Johnson gets an apology from ump (plus Clippard notes)
One part of last night's blown call at home plate that Nationals manager Davey Johnson failed to mention after the game was that he actually received an apology from home plate umpire Alan Porter. Porter blew a call in the top of the fourth inning, giving the Dodgers a run when Adrian Gonzalez was clearly tagged out before Matt Kemp crossed home plate. The umpires declined to comment to reporters after the game, but Porter apparently fessed up to his error shortly after it...
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Dan Kolko

Chien-Ming Wang to start for Nats Sunday

Nationals
Chien-Ming Wang to start for Nats Sunday
Davey Johnson has decided on his starter for Sunday's game against the Brewers. He's going with Chien-Ming Wang. Wang pitched 2 1/3 scoreless innings for the Nationals last night, allowing two hits and striking out one. That performance was enough to get the veteran right-hander the start on Sunday. Johnson said he liked how Wang threw yesterday, and saw good sink on Wang's two-seam fastball. "The other guy I was (considering) was (Craig) Stammen, but I really like the role (he's in),"...
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Dan Kolko

Dodgers-Nats lineups

Nationals
Dodgers-Nats lineups
Ross Detwiler starts as the Nationals look to wrap up a playoff spot tonight, something they can accomplish with a win over the Dodgers. Detwiler has been on a bit of a roll lately, going 3-1 with a 3.09 ERA over his last six starts. He faces Chris Capuano, who hasn't won since Aug. 12. For the Nats: RF Jayson Werth CF Bryce Harper 3B Ryan Zimmerman 1B Adam LaRoche LF Michael Morse SS Ian Desmond 2B Danny Espinosa C Kurt Suzuki P Ross Detwiler For the Dodgers: 2B Mark Ellis LF Shane...
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Dan Kolko

About last night

Nationals
About last night
It was nearly one of the most thrilling, electrifying wins of the season, and if it had come to fruition, it would have clinched the Nationals a playoff spot in dramatic fashion. Down six, with six outs to go and three of their key hitters out of the game, the Nationals went on the comeback trail, bringing 12 men to the plate in one inning, tying the game and sending Nats Park into a frenzy. "It was an awesome inning to be a part of," said Michael Morse, who had a home run and a two-run,...
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Dan Kolko

Flores "in shock," Clippard says "it's a tough one to swallow"

Nationals
Flores "in shock," Clippard says "it's a tough one to swallow"
Jesus Flores had a pretty good view of the controversial play in the fourth inning tonight when home plate ump Alan Porter incorrectly called Matt Kemp safe at home. When Ryan Zimmerman placed a tag on Adrian Gonzalez for the third out of the inning, Kemp was still a good distance away from Flores and home plate. And the Nationals' catcher says he was blown away by what he saw as a "terrible call." "I didn't know they were arguing about the play, because when I saw Zimmerman tagging...
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Dan Kolko

Johnson talks blown call, comeback after Nats' 7-6 loss

Nationals
Johnson talks blown call, comeback after Nats' 7-6 loss
When home plate umpire Alan Porter ruled that Matt Kemp had touched home plate before Ryan Zimmerman tagged out Adrian Gonzalez for the final out of the fourth inning, it didn't seem like a huge deal. The Nationals were already trailing 5-0 at the time and starter John Lannan had been knocked out of the game. Kemp's run just added another tally onto what seemed like a lopsided affair. Turns out, that run ended up playing a major factor in the outcome of today's game. And Davey Johnson...
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Dan Kolko

How's this for a comeback? (Nats lose 7-6)

Nationals
How's this for a comeback? (Nats lose 7-6)
Josh Beckett had pitched seven scoreless innings and allowed just two hits. Davey Johnson had essentially thrown in the towel, taking Ryan Zimmerman, Adam LaRoche and Jayson Werth out of the game. It sure looked like the Nationals were going to have to wait another day to lock up a playoff spot. Well, maybe not. Six Nats runs came around to score in the bottom of the eighth, turning a laugher for the Dodgers into a fantastic ballgame. Twelve Nats came to the plate as they smacked two homers...
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Dan Kolko

A different John Lannan (Beckett shutting down Nats' bats)

Nationals
A different John Lannan (Beckett shutting down Nats' bats)
In John Lannan's first three major league starts this season, he allowed a total of five earned runs, pitched to a 2.41 ERA and earned the win in all three games. I was starting to believe the Nationals would be best off just running Lannan out there every day. You can't argue with guy who wins every time he takes the mound, can you? It wasn't the same Lannan out there today. And there's no chance Lannan moves to 4-for-4 in the win category. The lefty went just 3 2/3 innings, allowing...
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Dan Kolko

Quotes after Nats' 3-1 win in Game 1 (plus Game 2 lineups)

Nationals
Quotes after Nats' 3-1 win in Game 1 (plus Game 2 lineups)
The Nationals are at the 90-win mark. One more and they've locked up a postseason spot, marking the first time since 1933 that there will be a playoff baseball team in D.C. But again, the Nats insist they don't have eyes set on clinching a Wild Card spot. Their goal is the NL East title, and their magic number to lock up the division now sits at nine. "The only thing that's going to mean anything to me is when we clinch the pennant," manager Davey Johnson said. "That's the only number...
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