Josh Land

About last night: Watch the Orioles' eighth-inning slugfest

September 12, 2015, 7:45am

Orioles

So ... about that eighth inning. The Orioles returned home from a 3-3 road trip to face a postseason-bound Royals team in a rematch of the 2014 ALCS. With his team trailing 6-4 mid-eighth, Jonathan Schoop led off the bottom of the frame with a double. Pinch-hitter Steve Clevenger reached on an error, and after a J.J. Hardy strikeout, Gerardo Parra singled to load the bases. And up stepped Nolan Reimold. On a 2-0 count, Royals reliever Kelvin Herrera grooved a 95-mph fastball that Reimold...

Tags:

Casey Janssen's rut continues, Yunel Escobar's bat remains hot

September 12, 2015, 5:03am

Nationals

Casey Janssen's rut continues, Yunel Escobar's bat remains hot

Aside from the blockbuster signing of former Cy Young winner Max Scherzer, infielder Yunel Escobar and right-hander Casey Janssen were the two key pieces Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo added during the offseason. Both factored prominently in another botched play in the seventh inning last night, which enabled the Marlins to score the eventual game-winning run, leading to a 2-1 win over the Nats. Janssen fell behind to J.T. Realmuto to start the frame and then grooved another 89 mph...

Tags:

casey janssen chris johnson mike rizzo nationals nationals pastime yunel escobar featured_sidebar frontstory_nationals3

Sluggish start to critical road trip for Nats in 2-1 loss

September 11, 2015, 7:03pm

Nationals

Sluggish start to critical road trip for Nats in 2-1 loss

After suffering a devastating sweep at the hands of the Mets, the Nationals desperately needed a strong start to their six-game road trip. That didn't happen with the offense coming out of the gates sluggish and, once again, the bullpen stumbling late as the Nats lost 2-1. The Mets won their second straight over the Braves, so the Nationals fall 8 1/2 games back in the National League with their fourth straight defeat. A one-out walk to Martin Prado led to the only run against Nationals...

Tags:

bryce harper chris johnson gio gonzalez ian desmond matt williams nationals nationals pastime yunel escobar casey janssen featured_sidebar frontstory_nationals3

Nats fall 2-1, drop fourth straight

September 11, 2015, 4:39pm

Nationals

Marlins left-hander Jarred Cosart walked Jayson Werth and Bryce Harper in the first inning, but the Nationals stranded both when Yunel Escobar popped out and Ian Desmond struck out to end the inning. Gio Gonzalez was rolling through the first three innings until he issued a one-out walk to Martin Prado in the fourth. Justin Bour followed with a single to right, advancing Prado to third. With runners at the corners, Marcell Ozuna hit a slow bouncing ball to Desmond, who could only get the force...

Tags:

bryce harper chris johnson gio gonzalez ian desmond nationals nationals pastime featured_sidebar yunel escobar frontstory_nationals3

Nationals game blog: Nats looking for Gio Gonzalez to be the stopper

September 11, 2015, 2:45pm

Nationals

The Nationals send Gio Gonzalez to the mound tonight to face his hometown Marlins. The left-hander is 10-7 with a 3.96 ERA in 26 starts this season. He's coming off one of his best outings, holding the Braves scoreless over six innings in an 8-2 win last Saturday. Gonzalez was rocked in his only start against the Marlins this year, surrendering six runs on 10 hits in a 6-2 loss in Miami on April 26. Jayson Werth continues to thrive in the leadoff spot. In 20 games at the top of the order,...

Tags:

chris johnson ian desmond michael a. taylor nationals nationals pastime frontstory_nationals1 gio gonzalez

Ryan Zimmerman still out as Nats open series in Miami (with lineups)

September 11, 2015, 12:17pm

Nationals

Ryan Zimmerman still out as Nats open series in Miami (with lineups)

The Nationals will open a three-game series in Miami without Ryan Zimmerman, who injured his left oblique during an at-bat in last weekend's series against the Braves. Zimmerman has missed three of the past four games including the final two against the Mets. Tyler Moore starts at first base against Marlins left-hander Jarred Cosart. Moore hasn't seen game action since he started for Zimmerman last Sunday. He is 1-for-7 with a double and an RBI since rejoining the Nats from the disabled list...

Tags:

chris johnson gio gonzalez michael a. taylor nationals nationals pastime ryan zimmerman tyler moore yunel escobar frontstory_nationals3

Nationals recall right-hander Taylor Jordan

September 11, 2015, 11:00am

Nationals

The Washington Nationals recalled right-handed pitcher Taylor Jordan from Triple-A Syracuse on Friday. President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcement. Jordan, 26, finished his Triple-A season with a 5-6 record and a 2.95 ERA in 19 starts for the Syracuse Chiefs. The right-hander struck out 61 International League batters, walked 21, and held opponents to a .235 batting average against. He allowed just four home runs in 103.2 innings of work. Jordan has...

Tags:

Nationals Nationals News Release

Matthew Taylor: Another birthday to be celebrated at Camden Yards

September 11, 2015, 6:23am

Orioles

Matthew Taylor: Another birthday to be celebrated at Camden Yards

Have you ever celebrated a birthday at the ballpark? I'll be part of a celebration for my niece's birthday this evening at Camden Yards. She's turning 12 and decided that she wants to go to the baseball game with her family to mark the occasion. Smart girl. Happy birthday, Emily! My father surprised me with a birthday trip to the ballpark on the day I turned 17. Camden Yards was about to open its gates for the first time and the team held a dress rehearsal in the form of an exhibition game...

Tags:

guest blogger guestblogger matthew taylor orioles orioles buzz

Patrick Reddington: Nationals prospect Erick Fedde making strides after Tommy John surgery

September 11, 2015, 6:04am

Nationals

The reports from general manager Mike Rizzo and assistant general manager and vice president of scouting operations Kris Kline after they selected Erick Fedde out of UNLV with the 18th overall pick of the 2014 Draft were glowing to say the least. "He's a plus-stuff guy," Rizzo told reporters. "We've scouted him intensely over the last three years. He's got two plus plus pitches and his third pitch, the changeup, is on the come. We think that's going to be an above-average pitch. Big...

Tags:

erick fedde guest blogger guestblogger nationals nationals buzz patrick reddington

No relief in sight for Nats bullpen

September 11, 2015, 5:14am

Nationals

After a day off in Miami to regroup, the Nationals prepare to take on the Marlins with just 23 games remaining in the season. While the Nats were resting, the Mets were extending their commanding lead in the National League East to 7 1/2 games after beating the Braves 7-2. What has made these last five losses - two to the Cardinals, three to the Mets - tough to swallow is that the Nationals held the lead heading into the seventh in four of the five games and were tied in the other. However,...

Tags:

casey janssen chris johnson drew storen joe ross matt williams nationals nationals pastime stephen strasburg featured_sidebar jonathan papelbon frontstory_nationals2

Too many times, Bryce Harper has been a one-man gang this season

September 10, 2015, 5:48am

Nationals

Too many times, Bryce Harper has been a one-man gang this season

The theme of Bryce Harper displaying another dominant performance but the Nationals falling short once again played out in last night's dismal 5-3 loss to the Mets. Harper jumpstarted the Nationals offense early, ripping Jacob deGrom's heater over the wall in right for a two-out solo home run. According to ESPN Stats & Info, the 97.3 mph fastball was the fastest pitch Harper has ever homered against. After the Mets tied it up in the second, Harper answered back with a leadoff double...

Tags:

bryce harper chris johnson nationals nationals pastime featured_sidebar ian desmond matt williams frontstory_nationals2

David Huzzard: If Matt Williams is fired, who should replace him?

September 10, 2015, 4:51am

Nationals

David Huzzard: If Matt Williams is fired, who should replace him?

Matt Williams is going to be fired and it isn't because he won't use his closer in the ninth inning of a tied road game or that he uses cue cards from the sports guy clichÃ© machine in his postgame press conferences. No, it's because he has no feel for the game. There is a bit of luck involved in every decision a manager makes and when making moves in recent weeks, Matt Williams has had no luck, but he can't recognize when his pitcher is tiring or still going strong or when the opposing...

Tags:

david huzzard guestblogger matt williams nationals nationals buzz

Nats wasted opportunities to seize division at trade deadline

September 09, 2015, 8:23pm

Nationals

Nats wasted opportunities to seize division at trade deadline

The National League East was won at the trade deadline, plain and simple. Three hours before first pitch at Citi Field on July 31, the non-waiver trade deadline expired. At that moment, the Nationals held a three-game division advantage over the Mets leading up to the start of a pivotal series. After tonight's crushing 5-3 loss, the Nationals have somehow dropped seven games behind the Mets barely five weeks later. The Mets offense was abysmal in the first four months of the season, ranking...

Tags:

bryce harper chris johnson drew storen jayson werth matt williams nationals nationals pastime stephen strasburg featured_sidebar frontstory_nationals3

Zach Wilt: Royals return to Baltimore

September 09, 2015, 7:51pm

Orioles

The harsh reality is that there isn't much hope for the postseason making a return to Birdland this season. FanGraphs.com has the Orioles' playoff chances down to 0.1 percent, and an October berth would require climbing over six teams in the American League wild card standings. Being back 7 1/2 games with only 23 remaining would make that an incredibly difficult task. As the attention of fans in Baltimore shifts over to the team across the street that kicks off their season on Sunday, the...

Tags:

guest blogger guestblogger orioles orioles buzz royals zach wilt

After another late collapse, Nats fall seven games back with 5-3 loss

September 09, 2015, 3:41pm

Nationals

After another late collapse, Nats fall seven games back with 5-3 loss

Stephen Strasburg returned to the mound for the first time since upper back tightness knocked him out of a start against the Marlins on Aug. 30. The right-hander needed just 10 pitches to get through the first, coaxing two popouts and an easy fly ball to center to waste an infield single from Yoenis Cespedes. With two outs in the first, Bryce Harper belted a 97 mph heater from Mets starter Jacob deGrom over the wall in right for his 35th homer of the year. It was Harper's first hit of this...

Tags:

bryce harper chris johnson nationals nationals pastime stephen strasburg frontstory_nationals3

Matt Williams responds to critical fan reaction

September 09, 2015, 2:01pm

Nationals

Matt Williams responds to critical fan reaction

Nationals manager Matt Williams walked into the press conference room at Nationals Park earlier today, the same room he was booed out of after finishing his postgame remarks following last night's unfathomable 8-7 loss to the Mets. Last night, fans inside the Presidents Club pressed up against the window watching Williams attempt to explain how his team managed to blow a six-run lead in a must-win game. As Williams left the stage, angry patrons voiced their displeasure with the...

Tags:

chris johnson matt williams nationals nationals pastime featured_sidebar frontstory_nationals3

Zimmerman, Escobar and Taylor won't start in key series finale

September 09, 2015, 11:52am

Nationals

Zimmerman, Escobar and Taylor won't start in key series finale

The Nationals will attempt to avoid a costly sweep and keep their season afloat without first baseman Ryan Zimmerman, third baseman Yunel Escobar and center fielder Michael A. Taylor in tonight's starting lineup. Zimmerman tweaked his left oblique during a swing on Monday and also continues to be bothered by soreness in his left foot. Clint Robinson, who was 2-for-3 with an RBI and run scored last night, will again start for Zimmerman at first base. Taylor has been bothered by a sore right...

Tags:

chris johnson jacob degrom michael a. taylor nationals nationals pastime ryan zimmerman stephen strasburg yunel escobar featured_sidebar frontstory_nationals3

Hitting the Books with Gary Thorne: "Animal Farm"

September 09, 2015, 7:26am

Few books have garnered the accolades that describe "Animal Farm" by George Orwell. As the years pass, the truth of this book grows; the history of mankind confirms the book's insights and humans join the farm, just as the farm joined humans when the book was published. The 70th anniversary of the publication of "Animal Farm" was last month. The story is as important today as when first printed. Unless mankind changes, the book will resonant for centuries to come. Joe McIlvaine picked this...

Tags:

anjanette wiggins enoch pratt free library gary thorne hitting the books joe mcilvaine

Rachel Levitin: Reminiscing the Nats' early days at RFK Stadium

September 09, 2015, 5:38am

Nationals

Rachel Levitin: Reminiscing the Nats' early days at RFK Stadium

This isn't going to be popular opinion, but I find myself reminiscing of Nationals baseball in the early days at RFK Stadium as of late. RFK was by no means the "right" place to put a brand new baseball team within a city that, up to 2005, hadn't had baseball for so long that they got used to that fact and seemed relatively underwhelmed when it returned to the District of Columbia. What RFK had going for it was that it was grungy, run-down and gritty enough to adopt the Nats and give them a...

Tags:

guest blogger guestblogger nationals nationals buzz rachel levitin

Trainwreck: Starring the Nats bullpen

September 08, 2015, 11:09pm

Nationals

In a season filled with many regrets and excuses, the Nationals can direct your attention to several reasons why they are nearing the end of the road. One problem that's so glaring it's blinding is the collapse of the bullpen. Try to digest this: The Nationals were in position to erase the Mets' 6 1/2-game lead in only nine games. The Nats led entering the sixth inning in all four losses over the last nine days. Twice they took multiple-run leads to the seventh and once to the eighth. After...