Dan Kolko

Komatsu returns, Tracy won't for a while

May 29, 2012, 2:26pm

The Nationals are getting back outfielder Erik Komatsu, the 2011 Rule 5 pick who had stints with the Cardinals and Twins this season.

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Solano activated, Espinosa gets a day off

May 29, 2012, 11:59am

Nationals

Solano activated, Espinosa gets a day off

The Nationals have officially called up catcher Jhonatan Solano from Triple-A Syracuse, giving them a third catcher on the 25-man roster and providing some insurance in case Jesus Flores isn't able to return from a hamstring injury as quickly as hoped. Solano, who batted .250 with two doubles, two RBIs and eight runs scored in 13 games with Syracuse this season, will wear No. 23. The 26-year-old threw out 40 percent of runners trying to steal (4-of-10) for the Chiefs this season Carlos...

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Looking back on a wild holiday weekend

May 28, 2012, 11:10pm

Nationals

No, I'm not talking about my trip to Vegas, which was lots of fun but will not be discussed in this space. I can tell you that I'm back on the East Coast in one piece, sunburn-free and with more money than when I left. So that's all good news. Not much went down Nationals-wise while I was away, unless you count an injury to the Nats' top pinch hitter, a change in the starting rotation, a sweep of a hot division rival, another (yes, another) Nats catcher being knocked out of a game due to...

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A big night for Detwiler (with note)

May 25, 2012, 5:12am

Nationals

Ross Detwiler's first six outings of this season were about as good as the Nationals could have hoped for when they named the lefty their No. 5 starter at the end of spring training. Over those six starts, Detwiler pitched to a 2.10 ERA, posted a 1.02 WHIP by allowing just 35 baserunners in 34 1/3 innings, and held opponents to just a .208 average and a lowly .280 slugging percentage. He was pitching exceptionally well, making Nats fans forget about Chien-Ming Wang, who was rehabbing a left...

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Still harping on Harper

May 24, 2012, 12:20am

Nationals

You know what's fun? Being around opposing team's reporters and members of the national media and hearing them discuss Bryce Harper. Those of us who watch the 19-year-old play every day are accustomed to his speed, power, baseball awareness (most of the time) and hustle. Those who haven't witnessed Harper in action as much are wowed by what they see even on days when the youngster doesn't light up the stat sheet. As I wrote last night, Harper's statistical performance in yesterday's...

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Harper discusses facing Hamels a second time around

May 23, 2012, 7:18pm

Nationals

Harper discusses facing Hamels a second time around

PHILADELPHIA - Bryce Harper was asked after tonight's game whether he got the feeling early on that his old buddy Cole Hamels was going to keep the Nationals off-balance all night. "Um, me personally, no," Harper said. "But maybe for everybody else, I guess. I felt good against him." Harper went 1-for-3 with a single and a walk against Hamels tonight, but it was his first at-bat that he was lamenting after the game. The Nats right fielder took a 90 mph cutter out to deep left in the...

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Johnson talks after Nats' 4-1 loss

May 23, 2012, 6:51pm

Nationals

PHILADELPHIA - After a bit of a shaky start, Edwin Jackson settled down and ended up allowing just three runs over seven innings in tonight's loss to the Phillies. Jackson just got out-pitched by Cole Hamels, who held Nationals hitters in check for a second straight start. "I thought Edwin pitched a damn good ballgame, we just couldn't get nothing going against Hamels," manager Davey Johnson said. "You've got to give him credit. Pitched a good ballgame, and by the time we got something...

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Nats can't solve Hamels, fall to Phillies 4-1

May 23, 2012, 5:47pm

Nationals

Nats can't solve Hamels, fall to Phillies 4-1

PHILADELPHIA - The Nationals have won 10 series this season. They still only have one sweep, and that was of the two-game variety. For the ninth time this season, the Nationals entered a series finale with a chance to earn a sweep and came up short. They lost to the Phillies 4-1, with Cole Hamels again cruising through an outing against Nats hitters. He held them scoreless over eight innings, allowing just four hits and three walks and striking out eight. The Nats had chances, but Hamels was...

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No hits for Nats through five (a blown chance in the sixth)

May 23, 2012, 4:43pm

Nationals

No hits for Nats through five (a blown chance in the sixth)

PHILADELPHIA - While Cole Hamels' actual outing against the Nationals back on May 6 might have gotten overlooked because of the Bryce Harper plunking, the Phillies lefty dominated Nats' hitters that day, allowing just one run and five hits over eight innings. Hamels has continued that dominance tonight. The Nats have yet to record a hit off Hamels through five innings, and they've been set down on strikes five times. Hamels has walked three Nats, but the scoreboard at Citizens Bank Park...

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Morse continues to make progress, plus updates on Lidge, Storen, DeRosa

May 23, 2012, 3:35pm

Nationals

Morse continues to make progress, plus updates on Lidge, Storen, DeRosa

PHILADELPHIA - Nationals players aren't the only ones dealing with injuries. Their manager is, too. Davey Johnson has been battling a toe injury which originally came about back in his football playing days, but has cropped up recently. He's going to see a toe specialist in Baltimore during the Nats' off-day, but scoffed when asked if there's a chance of him missing any games. "I'm not missing no games," Johnson said. "I'm missing my day off and playing golf and hustling some of the...

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Strasburg feels "great", Johnson expects no Hamels/Harper carryover

May 23, 2012, 2:20pm

Nationals

Strasburg feels "great", Johnson expects no Hamels/Harper carryover

PHILADELPHIA - Stephen Stasburg threw a bullpen session earlier today at Citizens Bank Park, and all went well. The Nationals' ace felt no effects from his last outing, in which he was pulled after five innings due to fatigue, and said he felt "great" during today's mound session. He will make his next planned start, this Saturday against the Braves. Strasburg thinks that if he wasn't coming back off Tommy John surgery, he would've been allowed to stay in the game on Sunday, even after...

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Zimmerman back in Nats lineup

May 23, 2012, 11:38am

Nationals

PHILADELPHIA - The Nationals have a two-game sweep over the Marlins, but have yet to register a three-game sweep this season. They've got yet another shot tonight. Ryan Zimmerman, who sat out last night with shoulder soreness, returns to the Nationals lineup, playing third base. Here are the lineups for tonight's game: For the Nationals: 2B Danny Espinosa RF Bryce Harper 3B Ryan Zimmerman 1B Adam LaRoche SS Ian Desmond CF Rick Ankiel LF Xavier Nady C Jesus Flores P Edwin Jackson For the...

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Munching on a few mid-afternoon stats

May 23, 2012, 9:10am

Nationals

PHILADELPHIA - The Nationals will go for the sweep of the Phillies tonight when Edwin Jackson opposes Cole Hamels, but even before tonight's game, Washington has already locked up another series win, its 10th of the season. Of those 10 series wins, six have come on the road. How much better is this Nats team on the road than the 2011 version? Last season, the Nats didn't earn their sixth road series win until Sept. 12-14 when they swept the Mets. With last night's win, the Nats matched...

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Harper shows not just skill, but smarts

May 22, 2012, 10:46pm

Nationals

PHILADELPHIA - Cole Hamels will take the hill for the Phillies in the series finale against the Nationals later tonight. I'm pretty sure if Hamels hits anyone this time, he'll remember to say the pitch just got away from him. Just a hunch. We all know about Bryce Harper's immense skill and the intensity with which he plays the game. Those are aspects the phenom brings to the table which can't be ignored. But last night, Harper showed us a less-talked-about part of his overall repertoire...

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Final notes, quotes from Johnson, Zimmermann, Desmond

May 22, 2012, 8:20pm

Nationals

Final notes, quotes from Johnson, Zimmermann, Desmond

PHILADELPHIA - Roy Halladay had gone 11-0 in his last 13 starts against the Nationals/Expos prior to tonight. Jordan Zimmermann entered tonight 0-3 in four career outings against the Phillies. Those scripts got flipped. Davey Johnson likes the line he got from Zimmermann tonight - six innings, seven hits, one run, two walks and two strikeouts - but he doesn't like how much of an effort it took the righty to get there. Zimmermann needed 98 pitches to get through five innings and he finished...

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Clippard: "It was a good feeling. I haven't had that for a while"

May 22, 2012, 7:33pm

Nationals

Clippard: "It was a good feeling. I haven't had that for a while"

PHILADELPHIA - In Tyler Clippard's career as a reliever, he's worked some intense seventh innings and a bunch of crucial eighth innings, where he's had runners on base and needed to battle out of key jams. But according to Clippard, tonight's 1-2-3 ninth inning was more nerve-rattling than any situation he's been in recently. "A lot more adrenaline, a lot more nervousness," a smiling Clippard said after the game. "But it was a good feeling. I haven't had that for a while, so it was...

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Zimmerman battling shoulder soreness, will play tomorrow

May 22, 2012, 7:07pm

Nationals

Zimmerman battling shoulder soreness, will play tomorrow

PHILADELPHIA - Ryan Zimmerman was scratched from tonight's game against the Phillies because of soreness in his right shoulder - the same shoulder which sent him to the disabled list late in April when it became inflamed. But both Zimmerman and his manager say the soreness is nothing to worry about. During batting practice before tonight's contest, Zimmerman had a conversation with manager Davey Johnson about the shoulder, a conversation which turned a little heated when Johnson told his...

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For once, Nats smack around Halladay (Nats beat Phillies 5-2)

May 22, 2012, 4:49pm

Nationals

For once, Nats smack around Halladay (Nats beat Phillies 5-2)

PHILADELPHIA - Roy Halladay normally dominates the Nationals. I mean dominates them. Coming into today, Halladay was 11-0 with a 2.09 ERA in his last 13 starts against Montreal/Washington. Today has been a different story, however. The Nats have struck for five runs and eight hits off Halladay through five innings, and hold a 5-1 lead over the Phillies as we go to the sixth. Halladay allowed four runs in the third inning, two coming on a triple to right-center off the bat of Bryce Harper....

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Clippard on closer's role: "I want it bad" (plus Chien-Ming Wang notes)

May 22, 2012, 3:19pm

Nationals

Clippard on closer's role: "I want it bad" (plus Chien-Ming Wang notes)

PHILADELPHIA - You've got to appreciate Tyler Clippard's honesty. Asked how he'd feel about being given a shot at the closer's role, the 27-year-old righty didn't mince words. "I want it bad," Clippard said today. "I've been fighting for the opportunity for three years now. I feel like I've been over-stepped a few times along the way for the opportunity to get those saves, for whatever reason. I don't really know. But they have a plan and I trust their plan. "We've had a good...

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Zimmerman scratched from lineup, Tracy to play third

May 22, 2012, 2:34pm

Nationals

Zimmerman scratched from lineup, Tracy to play third

PHILADELPHIA - Third baseman Ryan Zimmerman has been scratched from today's Nationals lineup less than an hour before first pitch. When it rains, it pours. The scratch was a "manager's decision", according to a Nationals spokesman, who said that Zimmerman will be available to pinch hit. Chad Tracy will take Zimmerman's place in the lineup straight up, meaning he'll play third and hit third. This is the second time this year a Nats player has scratched because of a "manager's...