Josh Land

Weekend sweep sets stage for showdown with Mets

September 06, 2015, 2:57pm

The Nationals took care of business, sweeping the reeling Braves with this afternoon's 8-4 win and setting the stage for a three-game showdown with the division-leading Mets. Jayson Werth, Bryce Harper and Anthony Rendon all homered and Michael A. Taylor returned to the starting lineup with a two-run double to get the Nats on the board early. With all of their offensive damage done in the first four innings and the Nationals comfortably ahead late, the only drama left was watching to see...

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Jayson Werth, Bryce Harper and Anthony Rendon smack homers as Nats roll 8-4

September 06, 2015, 10:29am

Nationals

Jayson Werth, Bryce Harper and Anthony Rendon smack homers as Nats roll 8-4

Nick Markakis roped a double to center to lead off the game. After a walk to Freddie Freeman, Nick Swisher delivered a two-out RBI single to right off Joe Ross. The Nationals responded in the second when Yunel Escobar started the frame with a base knock to left. Escobar advanced to second after Braves starter Manny Banuelos walked Ian Desmond. Michael A. Taylor followed with a double belted down the left field line, scoring both Escobar and Desmond to give the Nats the lead. With two outs,...

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Taylor returns, Ross looks to command (with lineups)

September 06, 2015, 7:16am

Nationals

Taylor returns, Ross looks to command (with lineups)

Michael A. Taylor returns to the starting lineup for the first time since missing Tuesday. Taylor has been battling a swelling in his bruised right knee resulting from a collision with the center field wall at Nationals Park on Aug. 27. The rookie did make an important appearance in Friday's game, smacking his first pinch-hit homer in walk-off fashion to drop the Braves 5-2. Taylor, 24, is slashing .240/.288/.392 with 14 homers, 15 stolen bases and 58 RBIs in his first full season in the...

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Jayson Werth leading the way down the stretch

September 05, 2015, 8:37pm

Nationals

Jayson Werth leading the way down the stretch

As they have for many Nationals, injuries interfered with Jayson Werth's year. The 36-year-old never fully recovered from offseason AC joint surgery in his right shoulder when he began the season a week late. He scuffled through the first month with his batting average mostly below .200 until a fastball darted inside and fractured his left wrist on May 15 in San Diego. Werth's broken wrist robbed the 13-year veteran of 61 games in the middle of the season. When he finally returned to the Nats...

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Bryce Harper ignites offense in Nats' fourth straight win

September 05, 2015, 7:39pm

Nationals

Bryce Harper ignites offense in Nats' fourth straight win

In a season where the legend of Bryce Harper has become reality, the young slugger continues to reach new milestones. Harper's third-inning two-run homer was the 500th hit of his career and, after doubling to start the fifth, the 22-year-old scored his 100th run this year as the Nationals pounded the Braves 8-2. The Mets shut out the Marlins 7-0 to maintain their five-game lead in the National League East. New York travels to D.C. for an important three-game series beginning Monday. Harper...

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Gio Gonzalez dominates, Bryce Harper homers (Nats win 8-2)

September 05, 2015, 4:21pm

Nationals

Gio Gonzalez dominates, Bryce Harper homers (Nats win 8-2)

The Nationals received a gift in the third and they took full advantage of it. Ian Desmond lifted a routine fly ball to center to start the inning. Cameron Maybin never saw it, barely taking a few steps forward with his arms extended. Left fielder Nick Swisher raced over, but was too late and Desmond reached on a double. After Wilson Ramos grounded out and Gio Gonzalez struck out, Desmond scored when Shelby Miller uncorked a wild pitch and the Nats lead 1-0. Jayson Werth then hit a ground rule...

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Nationals game blog: Offense thriving with Jayson Werth leading off

September 05, 2015, 3:10pm

Nationals

The Nationals look for their fourth straight win on the heels of last night's thrilling 5-2 comeback victory. After blasting the game-winning three-run walk-off homer, Michael A. Taylor in not in tonight's starting lineup for the fourth straight game as he continues be bothered by a bruised right knee. Nationals manager Matt Williams indicated that Taylor's condition has improved and the rookie is once again available off the bench. Ryan Zimmerman continued his hot hitting continued last...

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Aaron Barrett remains positive after Tommy John surgery

September 05, 2015, 2:17pm

Nationals

Aaron Barrett remains positive after Tommy John surgery

Nationals right-hander Aaron Barrett rejoined his teammates in the clubhouse this afternoon for the first time since undergoing successful Tommy John surgery on Thursday. "After I got the opinions from the three doctors that I saw, the consensus was that I needed to get it done," Barrett said. "I was kind of just weighing my options to make sure because this is an important decision, not only for right now but obviously for my career, too. So it was a tough decision, but once I got the final...

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Gio Gonzalez looks to continue Nats' winning streak (with lineups)

September 05, 2015, 11:47am

Nationals

Gio Gonzalez looks to continue Nats' winning streak (with lineups)

The Nationals send Gio Gonzalez to the mound tonight aiming for their fourth win a row. After struggling for three straight starts, the left-hander showed improvement on Monday, limiting the Cardinals to three runs on five hits over six innings in an 8-5 loss. Gonzalez yielded two runs over seven innings in a 9-2 win over the Braves on May 8 at Nationals Park. But he's only 3-8 with a 4.93 ERA in 12 career starts against Atlanta. Despite his sterling 2.56 ERA, Braves right-hander Shelby Miller...

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Rookie Michael A. Taylor continues to thrive in the clutch

September 05, 2015, 6:24am

Nationals

Rookie Michael A. Taylor continues to thrive in the clutch

Michael A. Taylor seeing much playing time this season wasn't expected. In fact, even after an impressive Grapefruit League season, there was speculation that the rookie might be better suited for another season of development in the minors rather than sitting on the bench for the Nationals. But when Denard Span and Jayson Werth weren't ready to start the season, Taylor was not only the opening day center fielder but also the leadoff man. Except for a quick early stint at Triple-A Syracuse...

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Michael A. Taylor's dramatic walk-off homer sends Nats surging

September 04, 2015, 8:43pm

Nationals

Michael A. Taylor's dramatic walk-off homer sends Nats surging

Not long ago, Bryce Harper bluntly delivered a message that was echoed by several teammates - the Nationals didn't care about the Mets. Throw that out the window as players and coaches delayed showers and meals to sit intently watching as the first-place Mets battled the Marlins in extra innings. When the Marlins delivered the game-winning run in the 11th, the Nationals clubhouse erupted. It's still a five-game National League East lead for New York, but the Nationals will take it especially...

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Michael A. Taylor comes through in clutch once again

September 04, 2015, 8:41pm

Nationals

Michael A. Taylor comes through in clutch once again

Calm, cool and collected, rookie Michael A. Taylor stepped into the batter's box at Nationals Park for his first at-bat of the game, coming in the 10th inning of a 2-2 game. While the Nationals had jumped out to an early lead in the first thanks to a home run by Bryce Harper, the Braves battled back to tie the game in the second and eventually grab a 2-1 lead in the eighth. Rally time? #TomahawkFlop pic.twitter.com/UcQh5HMSvh -- Nationals on MASN (@masnNationals) September 5, 2015 Down to...

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Michael A. Taylor smacks walk-off homer in 5-2 win

September 04, 2015, 3:33pm

Nationals

Michael A. Taylor smacks walk-off homer in 5-2 win

Tanner Roark worked through an eventful first inning. Cameron Maybin slapped a one-out single to left and then Roark picked him off. Freddie Freeman followed with a double, drilled off the wall in right. Then Roark hit A.J. Pierzynski before getting Adonis Garcia to ground out to end the frame. After allowing Bryce Harper to score four times on four walks last night, the Braves decided to challenge the Nats slugger tonight. Facing a full count with two outs, Harper pulverized a fastball from...

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After brief delay, Trea Turner collects first major league hit

September 04, 2015, 2:47pm

Nationals

After brief delay, Trea Turner collects first major league hit

Trea Turner entered last night's rout in seventh inning, taking over at shortstop with the Nationals leading by 13 runs at the time. Since making his highly anticipated major league debut on Aug. 21, the 22-year-old was hitless in nine at-bats. With one out in the bottom of the frame, the speedy Turner raced down the first base line after slapping a bouncing ball to the right side. Braves second baseman Jace Peterson fielded the ball but struggled to get it out of his glove, and when he...

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Nationals recall Tanner Roark

September 04, 2015, 12:39pm

Nationals

The Washington Nationals recalled right-handed pitcher Tanner Roark from Triple-A Syracuse on Friday. President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcement. Roark, 28, returns to the Nationals starting rotation after making two Minor League starts for the Single-A Potomac Nationals and the Double-A Harrisburg Senators. He recorded a 1.50 ERA (1 ER/6.0 IP) while striking out seven and surrendering just five hits across the two starts. On August 26 vs. Frederick...

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Tanner Roark set for a start (with lineups)

September 04, 2015, 12:14pm

Nationals

Tanner Roark set for a start (with lineups)

Tanner Roark returns from his short stint in the minors to make his first start for the Nationals since taking a loss to the Phillies on June 28. Working mostly out of the bullpen this year, Roark is 3-1 with a 5.61 ERA as a starter. His ERA is slightly misleading because eight of his earned runs came in his abbreviated start in Philadelphia. Nationals manager Matt Williams anticipates getting five innings or around 85 pitches out of Roark tonight. Michael A. Taylor will miss his third straight...

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Patrick Reddington: Have Nats put themselves in too big a hole?

September 04, 2015, 6:52am

Nationals

Patrick Reddington: Have Nats put themselves in too big a hole?

Coming off a division title and a postseason run that ended in a disappointing loss to the St. Louis Cardinals in the NLDS, the 2013 Washington Nationals had high expectations. A disappointing start, an 11-16 July and a 48-47 first half put them in a hole, however, which eventually proved too much to recover from despite finishing strong, going 32-16 over the final 48 games. The Nationals finished ten games out in the National League East and four games out in the wild card standings. "I...

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Just a walk - or four - in the park for Bryce Harper

September 04, 2015, 5:16am

Nationals

Just a walk - or four - in the park for Bryce Harper

Imagine this: Buying tickets to a Nationals game to bring your family to see the great Bryce Harper hit towering, majestic homers, but instead, you don't even get to see a single violent thrash of the bat from the young slugger. That's precisely what happened Thursday night when Harper, in four plate appearances, displayed unmatched discipline by not swinging at any of the 20 pitches thrown to him. The result: 16 balls, four strikes, four walks, four runs scored and even one RBI. "I mean,...

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Nats gain ground with 15-1 drubbing

September 03, 2015, 7:36pm

Nationals

The Nationals returned home knowing they needed to dominate the struggling Braves over the next four games to set the stage for a monstrous series with the Mets. For tonight anyway, the plan far exceeded any expectations as the Nationals smacked 18 hits in a 15-1 rout. The assault began when right-hander Matt Wisler wanted no part of Bryce Harper - a Braves theme on the night - when he issued a two-out walk in the first. Apparently, Wisler and Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez preferred to deal...

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Ryan Zimmerman leads offensive attack again, Nats win 15-1

September 03, 2015, 4:28pm

Nationals

Ryan Zimmerman leads offensive attack again, Nats win 15-1

Jordan Zimmermann uncharacteristically issued walks to Nick Markakis and Freddie Freeman in the first before working out of the jam when A.J. Pierzynski lined to Anthony Rendon for an inning-ending double play. Braves right-hander Matt Wisler paid for a two-out walk to Bryce Harper in the bottom of the frame. Ryan Zimmerman stepped to the plate to a standing ovation at Nationals Park and then smacked a double off the wall in right-center. Clint Robinson delivered Harper to Zimmerman to the...