Dan Kolko

Espinosa hitting leadoff

May 20, 2012, 7:08am

Yesterday's Nationals lineup had success with second baseman Steve Lombardozzi hitting in the leadoff spot. Today, Davey Johnson will again put his second baseman atop the lineup. Today, though, it's Danny Espinosa, who will get the start at second. Ian Desmond will hit fifth for the second consecutive day. The Nats will face O's lefty Wei-Yin Chen, who has gotten off to a great start, going 4-0 with a 2.45 ERA. Stephen Strasburg gets the ball for the Nats, looking to put an end to a...

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In defeat, offense puts up a good fight

May 19, 2012, 8:31pm

Nationals

What a great atmosphere we had here at Nationals Park tonight, as 42,331 packed the yard to catch an exciting game between two surprisingly successful teams early in the season. Tonight was actually the second-largest crowd in the history of Nats Park, yet, despite that fact, it wasn't even a sellout. Those on hand watched the Nationals fall behind big early and then scratch their way back in the middle innings. Things got really good in the ninth when Ryan Zimmerman smacked a two-out homer...

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Detwiler: "It was just terrible"

May 19, 2012, 7:34pm

Nationals

Ever honest after a poor performance, Ross Detwiler put full responsibility on himself for the Nationals' 6-5 loss to the Orioles tonight. "I mean, give up six in five innings? That's awful," Detwiler said. "Put the team in a hole early and they did a great job trying to dig out and it was just too much, really." Detwiler allowed nine hits (a season high) and a walk over his five innings, and gave up two two-run home runs. He lacked command the entire night, struggling to locate his...

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Not quite enough

May 19, 2012, 6:20pm

Nationals

When you fall behind 6-0, you're asking a lot of your offense. You're asking even more when that group has scored the third-fewest runs of any offense in baseball this year. The Nationals lost to the Orioles 6-5 tonight, marking their third-straight defeat and giving them just their third series loss of the season. It wasn't for a lack of effort. Ross Detwiler allowed six runs on nine hits over his five innings of work, and put his team in quite a hole. The Nats trailed 6-0 in the fifth...

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Chippin' away at a big deficit (updated)

May 19, 2012, 5:28pm

Nationals

Chippin' away at a big deficit (updated)

Ross Detwiler put the Nationals in a hole. They're slowly working their way out of it. The Orioles came through with six runs off Detwiler in just five innings, and jumped out to a 6-0 lead after four and a half. Detwiler allowed 10 baserunners in his time on the mound tonight (nine hits, one walk) and wasn't fooling anyone all outing. Two of those nine hits were two-run home runs, which came off the bats of Adam Jones and Nick Markakis. But the Nats are battling back, and now trail just...

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Rizzo talks Wang decision and offensive woes (plus game update)

May 19, 2012, 4:01pm

Nationals

Rizzo talks Wang decision and offensive woes (plus game update)

By now, you know that when Chien-Ming Wang returns from his rehab assignment, he's likely to slide into the Nationals' bullpen, with Ross Detwiler remaining in the rotation. That news was passed along by manager Davey Johnson, but general manager Mike Rizzo also discussed the decision this evening, saying Wang is completely healthy and nearly ready to return. "He's pitching today and we'll see how that works out, Rizzo said. "Probably at first, initially put him in the bullpen because...

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Johnson senses "a little frustration" in Espinosa

May 19, 2012, 3:05pm

Nationals

Johnson senses "a little frustration" in Espinosa

Davey Johnson stood by Danny Espinosa through the second baseman's second-half slide last season and has done so through his rough start to the 2012 campaign, as well. But today, Johnson is giving Espinosa the day off. Why? Johnson has seen the 25-year-old start to get a bit frustrated recently, and didn't want him carrying that into tonight's game. A prime example of that frustration came last night. Espinosa twice failed to get a bunt down in a seventh-inning at-bat, then went ahead and...

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Johnson: Detwiler likely to stay in rotation, Wang probably to bullpen

May 19, 2012, 1:20pm

Nationals

Johnson: Detwiler likely to stay in rotation, Wang probably to bullpen

Over the course of his major league career, Chien-Ming Wang has made just five relief appearances. That number is likely to increase. Manager Davey Johnson said today that when Wang returns to the Nationals after he's wrapped up his rehab stint, the 32-year-old right-hander will probably be used out of the bullpen, with Ross Detwiler holding onto the No. 5 spot in the Nats' rotation. "When he comes up, I will probably start him in the bullpen," Johnson said of Wang. "That's probably...

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Situational hitting still an issue as Nats struggle offensively

May 19, 2012, 6:17am

Nationals

Situational hitting still an issue as Nats struggle offensively

At times during the Nationals' 2-1 loss to the O's last night, it almost seemed like there was a hint of desperation coming from Washington's offense. After getting nothing done offensively through the first four innings, Davey Johnson called for a hit-and-run with one out in the fifth. Nothing wrong with that, except the hit-and-run came with the pitcher - Edwin Jackson - at the plate and perhaps the Nats' slowest baserunner - catcher Jesus Flores - on first. With Bryce Harper on first...

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Mattheus on the home run, Espinosa on the botched bunt

May 18, 2012, 8:11pm

Nationals

Mattheus on the home run, Espinosa on the botched bunt

Ryan Mattheus gave up a deep fly ball off the bat of J.J. Hardy to begin the top of the 11th, and when center fielder Rick Ankiel tracked it down at the wall in front of the 402-foot sign, it looked like Mattheus might have escaped his one mistake in the inning. But then Nick Markakis took a slider that stayed down and in, and crushed it deep over the right-field wall, giving the Orioles their second run of the game and leading them to a 2-1 win. Normally you hear about pitchers leaving a...

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Johnson discusses Nats' 2-1 extra-inning loss

May 18, 2012, 7:43pm

Nationals

Johnson discusses Nats' 2-1 extra-inning loss

As he sat down at the podium for his postgame press conference, Davey Johnson said what all Nationals fans are probably feeling tonight. "Well, that was a tough one," Johnson said. The Nats battled with the O's over 11 innings, but the frustrating part of the night was the 0-for-5 with runners in scoring position. Washington had opportunities but just couldn't get guys in, and they couldn't capitalize on a fantastic eight-inning performance from Edwin Jackson in which he allowed just...

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More fantastic pitching, more low-scoring ballgames (Nats lose in 11, 2-1)

May 18, 2012, 5:24pm

Nationals Orioles

More fantastic pitching, more low-scoring ballgames (Nats lose in 11, 2-1)

With the exception of his complete-game, two-hitter back on April 14 against the Reds, Edwin Jackson delivered his finest performance as a National tonight. Jackson was sensational through eight innings, allowing just one run on five hits with one walk and eight strikeouts. After allowing a run in the first inning, Jackson set down 19 of the 23 Orioles he faced and needed just 95 pitches to get through his eight frames. Luckily, he won't get stuck with a tough-luck loss, thanks to Ian...

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Morse to head to Viera on Monday (the run of Ks continues)

May 18, 2012, 3:43pm

Nationals

Morse to head to Viera on Monday (the run of Ks continues)

After taking some swings off a tee and doing more throwing from about 50-60 feet today, Michael Morse has taken another step toward participating in games of some kind. Those games might come as soon as Monday. Manager Davey Johnson said today that Morse will head down to the Nationals' complex in Viera, Fla., when the Nats begin their road trip on Monday. Morse will get lots of at-bats in extended spring training games, building up his timing and allowing him to keep working back from the...

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The time Davey Johnson saved Frank Robinson from drowning

May 18, 2012, 1:30pm

Nationals Orioles

The time Davey Johnson saved Frank Robinson from drowning

As a guy who has been around baseball for 50 years, Davey Johnson's always good for a story. Today, he shared a hilarious one. Johnson - who resigned as Orioles manager after the 1997 season - is set to face the O's for the first time in a regular season game, and opened up about his time in Baltimore, both as a player and a skipper. Asked to recount his favorite story from his Orioles days, Johnson chose one that involved one of his former teammates, Frank Robinson. "It was my first...

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Nats lineup to open Battle of the Beltways

May 18, 2012, 11:40am

Nationals Orioles

Nats lineup to open Battle of the Beltways

Starting tonight, the Nationals will play 33 consecutive games against teams from either the American League East or National League East. Good thing none of those teams are any good. Oh, wait... The Nats will face Orioles righty Jake Arrieta today, a guy who has started 2-4 with a 5.21 ERA. Here are the lineups for both teams: For the Nationals SS Ian Desmond LF Roger Bernadina 3B Ryan Zimmerman 1B Adam LaRoche RF Bryce Harper 2B Danny Espinosa CF Rick Ankiel C Jesus Flores P Edwin...

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Battling with the Birds (April 22 rainout rescheduled)

May 18, 2012, 6:27am

Nationals Orioles

Battling with the Birds (April 22 rainout rescheduled)

It's kind of a shame that the Nationals weren't able to stay atop the National League East through the end of last night's action. It would have been fun to have two first-place teams battling it out this weekend in the Battle of the Beltways. We've sure had two last-place teams battling it out in this matchup enough times. The Nats (23-15) welcome the Orioles (25-14) to town this weekend for a three-game set between two teams off to hot - and surprising - starts. The O's currently have...

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Strikeouts mount as Nats fall to McDonald, Pirates

May 17, 2012, 8:17pm

Nationals

Strikeouts mount as Nats fall to McDonald, Pirates

For five innings, James McDonald overpowered the Nationals, his mid-90s fastball and dazzling curve holding them without a hit. In the sixth, the Nats finally were able to figure the Pirates starter out, touching McDonald for three extra-base hits and three runs. But it just wasn't quite enough. "We had a chance. We came back," manager Davey Johnson said. "The other guy pitched a heck of a five or six innings, but that was a tough one. We had runners on, we just couldn't get the big...

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Nats can't wait to get McCutchen out of D.C.

May 17, 2012, 7:28pm

Nationals

Nats can't wait to get McCutchen out of D.C.

If there happens to be any issues with the Pirates' team charter, delaying tonight's flight to Detroit, I'm pretty sure the Nationals would be willing to pay for a commercial ticket for Andrew McCutchen. At this point, I think they'll do whatever it takes to get the guy out of D.C. McCutchen has worn out the Nationals in his career, and that didn't change today. The Pirates' center fielder went 2-for-4 with two home runs against the Nats tonight, the second of which came in the sixth...

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Comeback bid comes up short

May 17, 2012, 6:07pm

Nationals

Down 4-0 in the sixth inning and getting no-hit, the Nationals woke up and pounded out three runs to make it a ballgame and chase Pirates starter James McDonald. They just couldn't do quite enough to get over that final hump to even things up or take the lead. The Nats missed out on a couple late opportunities, leaving a runner stranded at third to end the sixth, then stranding runners at second and third in the seventh, and they fell to the Pirates 5-3. Washington hitters struck out 14...

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There goes the no-hitter... and the shutout

May 17, 2012, 5:13pm

Nationals

There goes the no-hitter... and the shutout

Remember when James McDonald had a no-hitter through five innings? That seems so long ago. McDonald, who had a perfect game through four innings and had struck out 10 through five, had a disastrous sixth inning, allowing three runs on four hits. He got pulled from the game with two outs in the sixth, ending an outing which had started in dominating fashion. Jesus Flores was the one to get it all rolling for the Nationals, with his leadoff double in the sixth breaking up McDonald's no-no and...