Josh Land

Zimmerman and Zimmermann provide Nats security in 2-1 win

April 08, 2015, 8:05pm

A two-run homer from first baseman Ryan Zimmerman in the first turned out to be all the offense Nationals starter Jordan Zimmermann would get and need in a 2-1 victory over the Mets in the second game of the season-opening three-game series. Zimmermann ran into some trouble in the second when the Mets strung together three consecutive singles, leading to their only run. He altered his approach a bit and retired 11 straight batters before Mets first baseman Lucas Duda singled in the sixth. "I...

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Ryan Zimmerman goes yard, Nats win 2-1

April 08, 2015, 4:44pm

Nationals

After a 56-minute rain delay, Nationals right-hander Jordan Zimmermann took the mound and promptly struck out Mets right fielder Curtis Granderson to start the game. Zimmermann would make quick work of the Mets in the first on a cold, dreary night at Nats Park. For the second straight game, the Nats put a runner on base in the first inning against the Mets. This time it was second baseman Yunel Escobar coming up with a single through the hole for his first hit as a Nat. After right fielder...

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Matt of Matt's Bats: The Nationals through the eyes of a 10-year-old

April 08, 2015, 4:31pm

Nationals

Hello, Nationals fans! Aren't you happy baseball is back? My name is Matt, a 10-year-old kid from the D.C. suburbs. I am a huge Nats fan, so I am so excited to be writing for MASNsports.com this season. I wanted to take this opportunity to introduce myself to the readers who may not know me. In July 2012, I started a blog called Matt's Bats, which you can find here. I started writing Matt's Bats because I became a huge fan of baseball after going to my first Nationals game in 2009. When I...

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Werth nearing return, while Span heads back to Florida (game starts after delay)

April 08, 2015, 1:42pm

Nationals

Werth nearing return, while Span heads back to Florida (game starts after delay)

Left fielder Jayson Werth is closing in on a return to the Nationals after recovering from right shoulder surgery, which took place in January. Manager Matt Williams brought over a right-hander and a left-hander from Single-A Potomac to throw five innings of simulated at-bats for Werth and center fielder Denard Span the past two days at Nationals Park. "It's not like playing in a game, but at least we get a chance to give them some live pitches where they don't know what's coming," said...

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Zimmermann begins contract year in superb pitching matchup (with lineups)

April 08, 2015, 11:40am

Nationals

Zimmermann begins contract year in superb pitching matchup (with lineups)

Right-hander Jordan Zimmermann returns to the mound at Nationals Park for the first time since last year's spectacular performance - but disappointing result - in the second game of the National League Division Series. Tonight's start against the Mets could be his last season debut in a Nationals uniform, as he's in the final year in his contract. It doesn't get any easier for the Nats offense tonight when the Mets send reigning NL Rookie of the Year Jacob deGrom to the hill in the second...

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Although Birds fly north, club maintains year-round presence in Sarasota

April 08, 2015, 9:19am

Orioles

Although Birds fly north, club maintains year-round presence in Sarasota

The regular season has begun, meaning the Orioles have made their way out of their spring home in sunny Sarasota. While the players are leaving Florida, the club will continue to have a very strong presence at Ed Smith Stadium, the spring home of the Orioles, and beyond the gates. The O's impact began in the seats. Many fans were able to escape the cold Maryland weather to enjoy sunny Sarasota and Ed Smith Stadium. A total of 112,258 fans attended the O's 15 home games this spring, for an...

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Domenic Vadala: Fondly recalling my earliest baseball memories

April 08, 2015, 6:11am

Orioles

Domenic Vadala: Fondly recalling my earliest baseball memories

Greetings, O's fans, and welcome back to another season of Orioles baseball! On behalf Birds Watcher, I'd like to thank you, the readers, as well as the powers that be at MASNsports.com, for having me back as a guest blogger this year. Baseball is unlike any other sport in that opening day is a massive celebration, and that party welcoming the sport back to the front pages of our minds seems to last for the better part of April. And for me, that raises an interesting point. The return of...

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Rachel Levitin: Considering Ryan Zimmerman's legacy

April 08, 2015, 5:33am

Nationals

Rachel Levitin: Considering Ryan Zimmerman's legacy

When baseball moved back to Washington, D.C., a decade ago, I also moved to town right around the same time. My dad used to joke with me back then, saying, "Good thing D.C. got a baseball team! They must've known you'd be coming!" He was kidding, of course, but I liked to think that it was somewhat true. The 18-year-old kid headed off to college needed some comfort moving to a new city and knowing that there'd be baseball to watch across town was extremely helpful since I was struggling to...

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"Dynamic" Taylor featured in leading role early

April 08, 2015, 4:24am

Nationals

"Dynamic" Taylor featured in leading role early

Nationals center fielder Michael A. Taylor was in a pressure-packed situation late Monday afternoon. Not only was the 23-year-old starting in his first opening day game of his major league career, but manager Matt Williams had him placed at the top of the order. "I was really excited," said Taylor. "I wasn't too nervous. I felt pretty comfortable out there. It was exciting. The stadium was loud, the fans were up. It was nice." Taylor dug in the box staring out at 18-year veteran Bartolo...

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Fans encouraged to show off must-see moments with MLB's THIS campaign

April 07, 2015, 1:33pm

Nationals

Fans encouraged to show off must-see moments with MLB's THIS campaign

Local and national media alike had been talking about Stephen Strasburg for a long time. The hard-throwing right-hander was set to make his major league debut against the Pirates. And he did not disappoint. He struck out 14 Bucs over seven innings en route to his first win. THIS electric stuff was even greater than what many expected. While celebrating the Nationals' 10th season, new commissioner Rob Manfred headed to D.C. to announce the exciting news that Nats Park will host the 2018...

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Orioles reinstate infielder Chris Davis, option catcher Steve Clevenger to Triple-A Norfolk

April 07, 2015, 11:41am

Orioles

The Orioles today announced that they have reinstated infielder Chris Davis from the Restricted List following a 25-game suspension and optioned catcher Steve Clevenger to Triple-A Norfolk. Davis, 29, hit .196/.300/.404 with 26 home runs and 72 RBI before serving a 25-game suspension from MLB beginning on September 12, 2014 after testing positive for an amphetamine. Over seven Major League seasons, Davis has batted .253/.322/.493 with 156 homers and 432 RBI, including setting the Orioles...

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MLB encouraging fans to showcase must-see moments with THIS campaign

April 07, 2015, 11:16am

Orioles

MLB encouraging fans to showcase must-see moments with THIS campaign

Orioles fans will never forget THIS moment of the American League Division Series: In Game 2, pinch-hitter Delmon Young strolled to the plate in front of a national stage. The bases were loaded with one out in the eighth inning, and the O's trailed the Tigers 6-4. Then, on the first pitch he saw, Young smacked a three-run, go-ahead double to give the O's a 7-6 lead and the eventual win. Orioles fans went crazy, the stadium erupted and the hit was talked about for days. How could fans forget...

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Matt Kremnitzer: On Orioles roster, expect the unexpected

April 07, 2015, 6:17am

Orioles

You already know the Orioles will need help from familiar names like Manny Machado, Matt Wieters and Chris Davis after Nelson Cruz and Nick Markakis departed via free agency. National writers and reporters repeated that line of thinking often during the preseason, and it isn't wrong. But things rarely go as expected, and the Orioles are likely going to need more than that over the course of a long season. It's also a bit simplistic - of course the O's could use strong performances from their...

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Nationals offense still wasting stellar pitching

April 07, 2015, 4:39am

Nationals

Most of the sold out crowd at Nationals Park yesterday must have thought they were experiencing dÃ©jÃ vu. Though the stakes were nowhere near as high, the results were eerily similar to last year's National League Division Series. In fact you could have just cut and pasted a headline from last year's playoffs atop the opening day story: Nats pitching dazzles, while bats remain dormant. The Nationals only produced nine runs and 26 hits in 45 innings of postseason baseball against the...

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Errors undo Scherzer's spectacular debut

April 06, 2015, 5:12pm

Nationals

Errors undo Scherzer's spectacular debut

Whispers began traveling throughout the ballpark of the possibility for history in the making as Nationals starter Max Scherzer secured his second out in the sixth inning with the scoreboard still reading zero in the hit column for the Mets. With the Nats clinging to a 1-0 lead, Scherzer surrendered his second walk of the day to Mets right fielder Curtis Granderson, the only two stains on an impeccable pitching line until that point. What happened next immediately changed the attitude of the...

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Desmond's errors cost Scherzer lead (Nats fall 3-1)

April 06, 2015, 1:12pm

Nationals

Desmond's errors cost Scherzer lead (Nats fall 3-1)

Nationals right-hander Max Scherzer is breezing through his first opening day start of his career. The only blemish is a leadoff walk to Mets right fielder Curtis Granderson to start the game. Otherwise, Scherzer has been unhittable, pitching five scoreless innings with five strikeouts. Right fielder Bryce Harper reintroduced himself to Mets starter Bartolo Colon with a monstrous solo blast to deep right-center field to lead off the fourth. It's Harper's third opening day homer of his career,...

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2018 All-Star Game is coming to Nationals Park

April 06, 2015, 9:39am

Nationals

Major League Baseball commissioner Rob Manfred announced a short time ago that Nationals Park will host the 2018 All-Star Game. "I am pleased the Nationals will have the opportunity to host the Midsummer Classic for the first time since Major League Baseball returned to the nation's capital in 2005," Manfred said in a statement. "The best sporting event of the summer, which will be held one decade after the opening of Nationals Park, will add a new chapter to the long and distinguished...

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Scherzer, Taylor playing prominent roles on opening day (with lineups)

April 06, 2015, 8:02am

Nationals

Scherzer, Taylor playing prominent roles on opening day (with lineups)

Nationals manager Matt Williams sends new ace Max Scherzer to the mound today to set the tone against the New York Mets. It will be the former American League Cy Young Award winner's first opening day start. "I mean, this is fun," said Scherzer. "I can't wait for the season to start. Spring training's so long for us. It's very monotonous for us. So for us to actually get out there and play real baseball and have it count, we're all looking forward to it. We haven't done anything to...

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O's select the contract of catcher Ryan Lavarnway; designate right-hander Ryan Webb for assignment

April 06, 2015, 7:42am

Orioles

O's select the contract of catcher Ryan Lavarnway; designate right-hander Ryan Webb for assignment

The Orioles today announced that they have selected the contract of catcher Ryan Lavarnway and designated right-hander Ryan Webb for assignment. Lavarnway, 27, batted .283/.389/.370 in 62 games for Triple-A Pawtucket in 2014. In 301 major league plate appearances since 2011, Lavarnway has batted .201/.249/.315 with five home runs. In 570 career minor league games, Lavarnway has batted .283/.375/.479 with 92 home runs and 382 RBI. Webb, 29, went 3-3 with a 3.83 ERA (49.1IP, 21ER) in 51 games...

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Opposite dugout: Upstart Mets hoping arms lead club to improved campaign

April 06, 2015, 7:16am

Nationals

Opposite dugout: Upstart Mets hoping arms lead club to improved campaign

Manager: Terry Collins, fifth year 2014 record: 79-83 Who to watch (2014 stats): 1B Lucas Duda (.253/.349/.481, 30 HR, 92 RBIs); 2B Daniel Murphy (.289/.332/.403, 37 doubles, 9 HR, 57 RBIs); RHP Jacob deGrom (9-6, 2.69 ERA, 1.14 WHIP); RHP Matt Harvey (DNP, Tommy John surgery) Season series vs. Nats (2014): 4-15, 52 runs scored, 95 runs allowed Pitching probables April 6: RHP Bartolo Colon vs. RHP Max Scherzer, 4 p.m., MASN April 8: RHP Jacob deGrom vs. RHP Jordan Zimmermann, 7 p.m., MASN2...