Dan Kolko

A meltdown of epic proportions (Nats fall in 11 innings)

July 20, 2012, 6:48pm

What was a 9-0 Nationals lead entering the sixth turned into a 10-9 deficit. How the heck did this happen? The Nats were cruising over the Braves through five, smacking Atlanta pitchers around and putting up crooked numbers. Then Stephen Strasburg got ambushed in the sixth, allowing hits to four of the five hitters he faced and getting charged with four runs. In the eighth, the Braves hit up Drew Storen and Sean Burnett for four more. Storen, who manager Davey Johnson surprisingly went to...

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Michael Morse demolishes a baseball, so does Ryan Zimmerman (updated)

July 20, 2012, 3:53pm

Nationals

Michael Morse demolishes a baseball, so does Ryan Zimmerman (updated)

If you're driving around the district tonight and happen to have a baseball land on your car, you can thank Michael Morse. Morse just destroyed a Tommy Hanson offering, and there's a decent chance it still hasn't landed. The Nationals have a 3-0 lead thanks to the Morse homer, which brought in Ryan Zimmerman and Adam LaRoche. Both guys reached with two outs. It's Morse's fifth home run of the season, and he's now up to 23 RBIs on the year. He took a 89 mph fastball from Hanson and...

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Johnson: Pre-deadline deals aren't needed

July 20, 2012, 2:11pm

Nationals

Johnson: Pre-deadline deals aren't needed

There have been some national media members who have said or written that they expect the Nationals to be major players before the trade deadline. Some have talked about the Nats being in the mix for a big-name position player, like Justin Upton. Others have discussed the need for the Nationals to go get another starting pitcher to fill in for Stephen Strasburg once he's shut down. I've opined that such moves aren't necessary, barring some sort of injury over the next couple weeks....

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Werth feeling "good" stiffness in wrist, roster move on Nady coming

July 20, 2012, 1:15pm

Nationals

Werth feeling "good" stiffness in wrist, roster move on Nady coming

The Nationals are optimistic they'll be able to play tonight's game despite the rainy forecast for the D.C. region tonight. Should tonight's game get rained out before it starts, though, the Nats will just push their starters back and give Stephen Strasburg the ball for the first game of tomorrow's doubleheader. That would mean John Lannan wouldn't be needed tomorrow, which would be a tough break for the lefty, who's already in D.C. Piggybacking on MASNsports.com's Pete Kerzel's...

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Desmond returns, Werth heads out

July 20, 2012, 11:45am

Nationals

After five days out of the Nationals' starting lineup because of a sore oblique, Ian Desmond is back in there today. Desmond will start at short and hit in his normal No. 6 spot in the lineup for tonight's series opener against the Braves. That is, of course, if we play at all. The tarp is on the field and a light rain is currently falling at Nats Park. They're calling for showers pretty much all night, but with these two teams already scheduled to play a doubleheader tomorrow, they'll do...

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Set to square off against a red-hot division foe

July 20, 2012, 7:15am

Nationals

Set to square off against a red-hot division foe

You know what's tough? Waking up and reading reports about the horrific movie theater shooting in Colorado and then trying to refocus on sports. Truly awful stuff, and awful that it happened in a town which is apparently about 20 miles from Columbine. After opening the second half by playing four against the Marlins and then three against the Mets, the Nationals now move on to face the next division rival in their path - the Braves. The Nats are just working their way up the NL East...

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Storen's long-awaited 2012 debut an impressive one

July 19, 2012, 1:43pm

Nationals

Storen's long-awaited 2012 debut an impressive one

When Drew Storen sprinted in from the Nationals Park bullpen for the first time this season, he heard "Bad Company" blaring over the stadium speakers, saw the fans give him a standing ovation and thought back on the last four months, which have been pretty rough on him professionally. "It was pretty emotional for me, to be honest with you," Storen said. "It's hard to explain, but it is honestly one of the best feelings in the world to have the fans appreciate me being back out there. ......

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Plenty of positives from 9-5 loss (plus Lannan, Desmond notes)

July 19, 2012, 1:16pm

Nationals

Plenty of positives from 9-5 loss (plus Lannan, Desmond notes)

It's easy to look at a 9-5 loss to a division rival and say not much went right. Gio Gonzalez got hit hard and lasted just 3 1/3 innings, his shortest outing of the year. Craig Stammen didn't fare much better in relief. Bryce Harper went 0-for-5, the Nationals were 2-for-14 with runners in scoring position and they left 12 on-base. But Davey Johnson isn't looking at today's loss that way. He doesn't view this as a missed opportunity to earn a sweep and won't leave Nats Park frustrated...

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This one's gotten ugly (Nats lose 9-5)

July 19, 2012, 10:36am

Nationals

You could tell Davey Johnson was throwing in the towel on today's ballgame when he let reliever Craig Stammen hit for himself in the fifth inning. Johnson really waved the white flag when he had Mark DeRosa take over for Ryan Zimmerman at third base in the top of the sixth. This one hasn't been pretty from the Nationals' perspective, as they trail 9-2 through six innings. And Johnson's decided to rest a couple of his starters, including Jesus Flores, with the game seemingly out of...

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Rizzo feels comfortable with current catching corps (Gio leaves early)

July 19, 2012, 9:39am

Nationals

Rizzo feels comfortable with current catching corps (Gio leaves early)

The Nationals have used five different catchers at the major league level this season. Currently, with Jhonatan Solano landing on the disabled list with a left oblique strain, their duo consists of Jesus Flores, who came into today hitting .230 on the season, and backup Sandy Leon, who has just four innings of major league experience. That's led some to wonder if the Nats would consider adding an experienced, offensive-minded catcher before the trade deadline. But general manager Mike Rizzo...

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Rizzo on decision to designate Ankiel for assignment

July 19, 2012, 8:32am

Nationals

Rizzo on decision to designate Ankiel for assignment

Talk about rough timing for Rick Ankiel to find out that he'd been designated for assignment by the Nationals. Today is his birthday. Ankiel turns 33 today, but he now finds himself in a state of flux after being let go in order for the Nationals to activate reliever Drew Storen from the disabled list. General manager Mike Rizzo said the decision to let Ankiel go wasn't an easy one, but that the veteran outfielder took the news like a pro. "It was very difficult, just because of the guy...

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Storen to be activated, Ankiel likely designated for assignment

July 19, 2012, 6:28am

Nationals

Storen to be activated, Ankiel likely designated for assignment

The lineup card has been posted in the Nationals clubhouse for today's 12:35 p.m. game against the Mets, and right-hander Drew Storen is listed among the available pitchers. That's a signal Storen has been activated from the disabled list following recovery from surgery to remove a bone chip from his right elbow. Outfielder Rick Ankiel is not listed among the bench players. His locker has been cleaned out and his nameplate has been removed. It appears the veteran outfielder has been...

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Shooting for the sweep, looking forward to Leon

July 18, 2012, 10:25pm

Nationals

Shooting for the sweep, looking forward to Leon

In case you didn't happen to see it, reliever Miguel Batista called his squad "the best team in baseball" after last night's game. Yes, the same Miguel Batista who allowed two huge runs over two-thirds of an inning in yesterday's 4-3 Nationals win. Yes, the same Miguel Batista who suits up for the New York Mets, who are currently a game above .500 and eight games back of the Nationals in the National League East. "Right now they're playing good baseball, but I don't believe they're a...

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Another gem from Zimmermann (plus roster move)

July 18, 2012, 7:42pm

Nationals

Another gem from Zimmermann (plus roster move)

The move isn't official just yet, but the Nationals will place catcher Jhonatan Solano on the 15-day disabled list with a strained oblique and recall Sandy Leon from Double-A Harrisburg to serve as their backup catcher. Leon played one game (well, four innings, really) with the Nats this season before suffering a high-ankle sprain on a play at the plate, landing him on the DL. He's expected to be with the Nationals for Thursday's 12:35 p.m. start. Davey Johnson got a kick out of Tuesday's...

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Clippard shaky again, but Nats beat Mets 4-3

July 18, 2012, 6:06pm

Nationals

Clippard shaky again, but Nats beat Mets 4-3

As much as the Nationals might not enjoy facing the Marlins, they apparently love squaring off against the Mets. The Nats improved to 6-2 against the Mets this season with tonight's 4-3 win. For the time being, the Nationals move to four games up in the National League East, with the Braves still battling the Giants down in Atlanta. Jordan Zimmermann got the win tonight, pushing his record above .500 for the first time this season. He's now 7-6 on the year and sports a 2.35 ERA, currently...

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Jordan Zimmermann is a machine (updated again)

July 18, 2012, 4:34pm

Nationals

Jordan Zimmermann is a machine (updated again)

The level of consistency that Jordan Zimmermann has delivered this season has been remarkable, if not a little freaky. Zimmermann has thrown five shutout innings again tonight, lowering his season ERA to a miniscule 2.37 and leaving him one frame short of his 19th straight outing of at least six innings. The Mets have notched just three hits off Zimmermann, two of which were bloops off the bat of David Wright. Zimmermann hasn't walked a batter, has struck out four and has needed just 77...

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Get ready for some roster shuffling (Werth to begin rehab assignment)

July 18, 2012, 2:00pm

Nationals

Get ready for some roster shuffling (Werth to begin rehab assignment)

The tarp is on the field at Nats Park, the wind is howling and the skies are pretty freakin' dark. They're expecting "severe storms" here in D.C., but we haven't gotten any rain yet and it looks like the heavy stuff might miss us. We shall see. There's a ton of injury news to pass along today, starting with Jayson Werth, who took batting practice today. This marked a major step in the right direction after Werth broke his wrist back in early May. Manager Davey Johnson said today that...

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Werth back taking batting practice (with Nats lineup)

July 18, 2012, 11:39am

Nationals

Werth back taking batting practice (with Nats lineup)

Still no Nationals lineup just yet, as the team could yet again be checking on Ian Desmond's status before setting their starting nine for tonight's game against the Mets. While we wait on the Nats lineup, I've got some good news to pass along on Jayson Werth, who is currently taking part in some early batting practice along with Chad Tracy. This is the first time I've seen Werth taking BP since suffering a broken wrist back in early May. Manager Davey Johnson said yesterday he expected...

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Storen takes a step forward, Clippard questions his pitch selection

July 18, 2012, 9:02am

Nationals

Storen takes a step forward, Clippard questions his pitch selection

Davey Johnson said yesterday afternoon that the Nationals wanted to see Drew Storen's command improve and his breaking ball get more consistent before the team would consider activating the reliever from his rehab assignment. Storen was apparently listening loud and clear. He worked a 1-2-3 seventh inning for Single-A Potomac yesterday, throwing 11 pitches, 10 of which were strikes. Storen struck out two, both of which were swinging Ks on sliders. He's getting closer to a...

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Reliving last night's thriller

July 17, 2012, 11:53pm

Nationals

This is just one man's take, but I feel like last night's game was about as much fun as a baseball game can be in the middle of July. Some might prefer a 1-0 pitchers' duel. I'll take a back-and-forth, standing ovation-inducing, walk-off-ending 5-4 contest between two division rivals. Actually, if you think about it, last night's game had it all. If you're the pitchers' duel type, that's what you got for seven innings as Ross Detwiler and Jon Niese befuddled hitters and tossed up...