Dan Kolko

Nats will go with a closer-by-committee

May 22, 2012, 2:23pm

PHILADELPHIA - Henry Rodriguez will not be closing ballgames for the Nationals for the near future. Manager Davey Johnson announced today that he's going to go with a closer-by-committee going forward, and will use Rodriguez - who has struggled in save situations of late - in spots where there is less pressure riding on him. "Henry has been great," Johnson said. "(Lately), he's been not so great. I think he might be trying too hard. Probably change his role, put him in a little less...

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Lombardozzi gets second straight start in left

May 22, 2012, 11:36am

Nationals

Lombardozzi gets second straight start in left

PHILADELPHIA - For the second straight day, Steve Lombardozzi will start in left field for the Nationals and will hit out of the leadoff spot. Danny Espinosa again will hit in the six-hole and play second. Jordan Zimmermann gets the ball for the Nats tonight. The righty is 2-4 this season with a 2.58 ERA. This will be the second time Zimmermann has faced the Phils in a span of four starts. He got the loss back on May 6, allowing three runs on seven hits and four walks over six innings. In...

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Chien-Ming Wang activated, Mattheus placed on DL

May 22, 2012, 11:16am

Nationals

Chien-Ming Wang activated, Mattheus placed on DL

PHILADELPHIA - After a lengthy rehab process, Chien-Ming Wang has made it back to the majors. The Nationals have activated Wang off the disabled list and placed reliever Ryan Mattheus on the 15-day DL, retroactive to May 21, with a plantar fascia strain in his left foot. Wang will slide into the bullpen and serve as a long reliever. The right-hander will work on a starter's schedule, which will allow him to stay stretched out and eventually move to the rotation if a starter gets injured or...

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Examining the closer candidates

May 22, 2012, 6:33am

Nationals

PHILADELPHIA - Now that Davey Johnson is at the very least considering other options when it comes to the closer's role, it's probably worthwhile for us to take a look at the guys the Nationals' skipper has to work with. Henry Rodriguez's struggles have caused Johnson to look for alternatives in save situations, and while the Nationals don't have an obvious backup plan at this point, they do have some hurlers who Johnson could look to in the ninth inning. Johnson has indicated he might...

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Desmond provides pop, Mattheus awaits further word on injured foot

May 21, 2012, 8:27pm

Nationals

Desmond provides pop, Mattheus awaits further word on injured foot

PHILADELPHIA - Last season, in 154 games, Ian Desmond hit eight home runs. In 2010, also in the span of 154 games, Desmond jacked 10 homers. This season, in just 41 games, the Nationals' shortstop already has seven home runs, tied with Adam LaRoche for most on the team. What's the reason for his newfound power stroke? Possibly his baby boy. "I think daddy strength," Desmond said. "They say when you have a kid, you get stronger. Thanks, Grayson." Desmond delivered his seventh longball...

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Johnson on closer role: "I'm looking at alternatives"

May 21, 2012, 7:32pm

Nationals

Johnson on closer role: "I'm looking at alternatives"

PHILADELPHIA - Davey Johnson has stood by Henry Rodriguez through his three blown saves, handfuls of wild pitches and bunches of baserunners allowed. But after tonight's performance, in which Rodriguez was pulled after putting the tying runners in scoring position and throwing two wild pitches over 1/3 of an inning, Johnson finally said he's considering a change when it comes to the closer role. "I'm going to sleep on it, but I'm looking at alternatives," Johnson said. There aren't...

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Nats escape with 2-1 win over Phillies

May 21, 2012, 5:54pm

Nationals

PHILADELPHIA - Breathe, Nats fans. Facing a Phillies team which came into tonight having won seven of its last 10, scoring 4.9 runs per game over that span, the Nationals' pitching staff did the trick yet again. But that's not to say it wasn't interesting. Gio Gonzalez pitched six shutout innings, striking out nine and allowing just three hits. Craig Stammen delivered two monster frames in relief, serving as the bridge to the ninth inning. Things then got very tricky (and I mean very...

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The Ian and Gio show (plus a Gonzalez strikeout note and more)

May 21, 2012, 4:32pm

Nationals

The Ian and Gio show (plus a Gonzalez strikeout note and more)

PHILADELPHIA - Ian Desmond has provided the offense. And despite a quickly rising pitch count, Gio Gonzalez has done the job on the mound. The Nationals have a 2-0 lead after four innings thanks to a solo home run and RBI single by Desmond and a really sharp start by Gonzalez, who has struck out eight Phillies hitters. Desmond is now 5-for-8 with four RBIs since being moved into the No. 5 spot in the Nats order. Gonzalez, meanwhile, has needed 76 pitches to get through four innings, but...

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Harper excited for Philly debut, plus Lidge and Morse updates

May 21, 2012, 2:50pm

Nationals

Harper excited for Philly debut, plus Lidge and Morse updates

PHILADELPHIA - There's a slight drizzle coming down here at Citizens Bank Park, but it looks like we'll likely avoid any heavy stuff and should be able to get tonight's game in. Unless I just jinxed it, and the sky suddenly opens up, which will probably happen. Bryce Harper will get his first taste of Philadelphia tonight, and the Nationals' outfielder says he's legitimately excited to play in this city and this ballpark over the next few days. "It's going to be a great experience,"...

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Strasburg will make his next start, Mattheus has foot injury

May 21, 2012, 2:21pm

Nationals

Strasburg will make his next start, Mattheus has foot injury

PHILADELPHIA - If Stephen Strasburg taking part in a game of Ultimate Frisbee on the field at Citizens Bank Park wasn't indication enough that the Nationals' ace is feeling just fine health-wise, manager Davey Johnson confirmed today that his ace came out of yesterday's start OK. Johnson said he wasn't really concerned about Strasburg's status, and he doesn't expect there to be any lingering effects from Strasburg's biceps tightness/overall fatigue. "He's going to make his next...

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Lombardozzi in left, leading off

May 21, 2012, 12:08pm

Nationals

PHILADELPHIA - Here is the lineup for Game 1 against the Phillies. Steve Lombardozzi will be leading off for the Nats. Gio Gonzalez (5-1, 2.22 ERA) will take the mound. For the Nats: Steve Lombardozzi LF Bryce Harper RF Ryan Zimmerman 3B Adam LaRoche 1B Ian Desmond SS Danny Espinosa 2B Rick Ankiel CF Jesus Flores C Gio Gonzalez P

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Strasburg appears OK, plus other notes from Philly

May 21, 2012, 11:42am

Nationals

Strasburg appears OK, plus other notes from Philly

PHILADELPHIA - This is my first time in Citizens Bank Park in a working capacity, and man, this place is nice. The press box is pretty spiffy and the park just has a nice intimate feel to it. I'll stop complimenting a division rival, I promise. For anyone concerned about Stephen Strasburg after yesterday's health scare, you can probably stop worrying. Strasburg was out on the field a bit ago running around playing Ultimate Frisbee with a bunch of the Nationals pitchers. He appeared to be...

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Espinosa gives his take on his high strikeout numbers

May 21, 2012, 8:12am

Nationals

Espinosa gives his take on his high strikeout numbers

Making his first start in the leadoff spot this season during yesterday's win over the Orioles, Nationals second baseman Danny Espinosa went 2-for-5 with a two-run home run, a double and two runs scored. For the most part, it was a successful day for Espinosa, whose low offensive numbers have been a hot topic so far this season. But manager Davey Johnson saw something in Espinosa's performance he still didn't like: the 25-year-old recorded two more strikeouts. That gives Espinosa 50 Ks on...

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Heading out of D.C. on a high note

May 20, 2012, 11:14pm

Nationals

Who's ready for Philly? Bryce Harper is. And he hopes the City of Brotherly Love is ready for him, as well. "Hopefully, I get a couple boos," Harper said, when asked what type of reception he expects in Philadelphia tonight. "That'd be awesome. I'm excited to get up there and play and hopefully they don't throw any batteries at me." If it happens (and let's sure hope it doesn't), it

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Strasburg's homer the talk of the clubhouse

May 20, 2012, 3:34pm

Nationals

Strasburg's homer the talk of the clubhouse

Here was Stephen Strasburg's day today: he allowed three runs in his first two innings, struck out eight overall, retired the last 10 hitters he faced, went 2-for-2 at the plate with his first major league home run, and was pulled after his manager learned he might not be completely healthy. Just another day at the park. We've discussed the health situation, so let's move past that and touch on the rest of the stuff. Strasburg might not have been showing much emotion right after he hit...

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Strasburg pulled after five innings because of health concerns

May 20, 2012, 2:37pm

Nationals

Strasburg pulled after five innings because of health concerns

A group of reporters sat in the press conference room at Nationals Park ready to ask manager Davey Johnson about Stephen Strasburg hitting his first major league home run and bouncing back from a slow start to post five strong innings in today's win over the Orioles. Instead, we ended up asking Johnson a whole lot of questions about Strasburg's health. Johnson revealed that Strasburg was dealing with some sort of discomfort during his start today, discomfort which the Nats' skipper...

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Nats avoid sweep with impressive 9-3 win

May 20, 2012, 12:37pm

Nationals Orioles

Nats avoid sweep with impressive 9-3 win

The Nationals were completely outplayed through the first two innings of today's game. Stephen Strasburg looked rattled, Washington had made multiple defensive miscues and yet again fell behind the Orioles, this time by a score of 3-0. Then the Nats flipped the switch, and they didn't look back. From the third inning on, the Nats outscored the O's 9-0, outhit them 11-2 and went on to earn a 9-3 win, perhaps unleashing some pent-up frustration after three straight losses, including two to...

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Yup, Stephen Strasburg went yard (updated)

May 20, 2012, 11:22am

Nationals

Yup, Stephen Strasburg went yard (updated)

No, that's not a typo. Stephen Strasburg has hit the first home run of his major league career. And boy, did Nats Park ever explode when the ball landed in the visitors bullpen in left-center field. Strasburg took an 0-2 curveball from Wei-Yin Chen and dropped the barrel to it, sending it out and bringing another near-capacity crowd to its feet. The 23-year-old hurler took a slow trot around the bases and entered a dugout filled with smiling teammates. After the crowd requested a curtain...

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Ugly start for Strasburg, Nats (but they battle back)

May 20, 2012, 10:29am

Nationals

Ugly start for Strasburg, Nats (but they battle back)

Safe to say this isn't how Stephen Strasburg and the Nationals wanted to open up their series finale against the Orioles as they try to avoid a sweep. The Nats trail 3-0 in the second inning after a rocky top of the first for Strasburg and an all-around sloppy performance by Washington in the second. Strasburg gave up three hard-hit balls in the first and frankly was lucky to escape having just allowed a single run. He gave up an RBI single to Nick Markakis to get the O's on the board, but...

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Talking leadoff spot, Wang's rehab start and Beltway Battle

May 20, 2012, 8:28am

Nationals

Talking leadoff spot, Wang's rehab start and Beltway Battle

Yes, the Nationals will have a guy with 48 strikeouts - tied for fourth-most in the majors - and a .291 on-base percentage in the leadoff spot today. If Ian Desmond isn't a traditional leadoff guy, Danny Espinosa is even less so. Espinosa did hit a ball really hard during his pinch-hitting appearance last night, so there's that. We'll see if a move to the top of the lineup can get him jump-started. In 170 career plate appearances out of the leadoff spot, Espinosa has struggled, however,...