Mark Zuckerman

Early Fourth of July fireworks at Nationals Park (Nats win 11-4)

July 04, 2017, 8:40am

The big show is later tonight on the National Mall, but there already have been some early fireworks on South Capitol Street today. (Sorry, I believe I was legally obligated to make that hacky joke.) The Mets have launched two home runs off Joe Ross, including JosÃ© Reyes' shot down the right field line on the day's third pitch. The Nationals have scored a pair of runs themselves, but took the more traditional tact of manufacturing those. Reyes pounced on Ross' 0-2 fastball, sending it...

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Werth rehabbing in West Palm Beach, will join affiliate soon

July 04, 2017, 6:37am

Nationals

Werth rehabbing in West Palm Beach, will join affiliate soon

Jayson Werth has progressed in his recovery from a badly bruised foot, heading to West Palm Beach, Fla., to work out with the Nationals' Gulf Coast League club. Werth has been out since fouling a pitch off the inside of his left foot June 3 in Oakland, unable to even put weight on the foot for several weeks. He finally was able to start baseball activities last week, playing catch and jogging before games at Nationals Park. Now he's working out at the Nationals' spring training complex, and...

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Game 84 lineups: Nats vs. Mets

July 04, 2017, 4:43am

Nationals

Good morning to you from the nation's capital, where the Nationals and Mets will celebrate the national pastime with the traditional 11:05 a.m. Independence Day ballgame. The early start time always catches visiting teams and media by surprise, but I've always found this to be a cool tradition, and I sense fans like it as well. What better way to spend your Fourth of July than with baseball early and plenty of time afterward for barbeques and fireworks? The Nats and Mets will be a bit...

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On Harper's homers, Taylor's table-setting and the Mets

July 02, 2017, 8:52pm

Nationals

On Harper's homers, Taylor's table-setting and the Mets

ST. LOUIS - More thoughts on Sunday night's 7-2 Nationals victory at Busch Stadium before heading home ... * Does any major league hitter enjoy playing on the big stage more than Bryce Harper? We've seen Harper go bonkers on opening day. We've seen him come through on Independence Day. We've seen him launch towering home runs in the postseason. And we saw him show off in front of a national television audience Sunday night. Harper homered in each of his first two at-bats, twice connecting...

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With another gem on big stage, Scherzer earns elite praise

July 02, 2017, 8:30pm

Nationals

With another gem on big stage, Scherzer earns elite praise

ST. LOUIS - Dusty Baker, in his five decades in baseball, has seen enough pitchers to be able to compile a short list of the very best of the best. He rattled off some of the names that came to mind tonight: Greg Maddux, Roger Clemens, Nolan Ryan, J.R. Richard, Clayton Kershaw. And Max Scherzer, who a bit earlier had wrapped up yet another of his utterly dominant starts, shutting out the Cardinals over seven innings to carry the Nationals to a 7-2 victory on Sunday Night Baseball. "Guys like...

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All-Stars Scherzer and Harper carry Nationals to 7-2 victory

July 02, 2017, 7:05pm

Nationals

ST. LOUIS - Bryce Harper and Max Scherzer are the Nationals' two brightest stars, and on the day each earned the fifth All-Star selection of his career, each shone bright on the national stage. Harper clobbered two early home runs and Scherzer tossed seven scoreless innings to carry the Nationals to a 7-2 victory over the Cardinals in tonight's nationally televised ballgame and avoid a weekend sweep at Busch Stadium. It was a classic performance on the big stage for both All-Stars, with...

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Harper homers twice, Scherzer piles up strikeouts (Nats win 7-2)

July 02, 2017, 5:12pm

Nationals

Harper homers twice, Scherzer piles up strikeouts (Nats win 7-2)

ST. LOUIS - Bryce Harper learned this afternoon he had received the most All-Star votes of any player in baseball, and now tonight is showing everybody why that was the case. Max Scherzer learned this afternoon he had received his fifth consecutive All-Star selection, and now tonight he is showing everybody why he deserves to start the Midsummer Classic. Harper has homered in each of his first two at-bats, providing the largest chunk of offense needed to supply the Nationals an early 5-0 lead...

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Nationals get five All-Stars, club record three starters

July 02, 2017, 3:46pm

Nationals

ST. LOUIS - There was a time, not all that long ago, when the thought of the Nationals having three players voted into the starting lineup of the All-Star Game was laughable. Even when they had talented players, the Nationals never had the kind of fan base in D.C. or the overall recognition of baseball fans around the world to merit the kind of overwhelming support needed to win All-Star voting. So pause for a moment right now and appreciate this fact: Three members (at least) of the National...

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Game 82 lineups: Nats at Cardinals

July 02, 2017, 12:23pm

Nationals

ST. LOUIS - The Nationals need a win tonight to avoid getting swept by the Cardinals and dropping their sixth game in the last eight days. The good news: They have Max Scherzer on the mound. The bad news: They'll be facing Carlos MartÃnez, with something less than their "A" lineup. Scherzer brings his league-best 2.06 ERA, 0.783 WHIP and 151 strikeouts to his hometown, looking to carry his dominant success from June into July. He has pitched quite well against the Cardinals during his...

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More on Saturday's agonizing loss in St. Louis

July 02, 2017, 5:02am

Nationals

More on Saturday's agonizing loss in St. Louis

ST. LOUIS - The focus of Saturday night's 2-1 loss to the Cardinals wound up being the final at-bat of the game, when Adrian Sanchez was rung up by Manny Gonzalez on a 3-2 pitch outside the strike zone to strand the bases loaded. But there's more worth dissecting from the game, so let's take a look back at some other developments ... * Gio Gonzalez pitched the best game of his season. Which is saying something, given how well the left-hander has pitched all season. Gonzalez was as sharp as...

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In long-awaited debut at-bat, Sanchez battles but gets burned

July 01, 2017, 7:46pm

Nationals

In long-awaited debut at-bat, Sanchez battles but gets burned

ST. LOUIS - Throughout a childhood spent learning the game in Venezuela, throughout a decade in the minors that included lengthy stops at every level of the Nationals farm system, throughout the better part of his first two nights as a major leaguer, Adrian Sanchez had ample time to think about the first at-bat of his career. Maybe it would come in a blowout. Maybe he'd actually get a chance to start a game. Maybe he'd be summoned to bat with the bases loaded and two out in the ninth inning...

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Nationals waste Gonzalez's gem, lose 2-1 to Cardinals

July 01, 2017, 6:10pm

Nationals

ST. LOUIS - The Nationals, owners of the majors' most productive lineup throughout the first half of the season, haven't exactly played the part so far this weekend. Held to one run in Friday night's blowout loss to the Cardinals, the Nationals did it again tonight. They avoided their first shutout of 2017 thanks to a two-out rally in the ninth, but they couldn't complete that rally and wound up wasting Gio Gonzalez's stellar start in a 2-1 loss at Busch Stadium. Gonzalez was brilliant,...

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Wacha outdueling Gonzalez early at Busch (Nats lose 2-1)

July 01, 2017, 4:34pm

Nationals

Wacha outdueling Gonzalez early at Busch (Nats lose 2-1)

ST. LOUIS - Gio Gonzalez is doing his part to put the Nationals in position to win (and perhaps earn himself a spot in the All-Star Game). But Michael Wacha is up to his usual tricks against the Nats, leaving Gonzalez in danger of yet another hard-luck loss. Wacha has tossed five scoreless innings to begin tonight's game at Busch Stadium, the Nationals having managed only three hits so far (none of them strung together). Anthony Rendon's double in the second and single in the fifth, and...

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Nats relieved to have SolÃs back; J. Turner is DFA

July 01, 2017, 2:23pm

Nationals

Nats relieved to have SolÃs back; J. Turner is DFA

ST. LOUIS - When Sammy SolÃs landed on the disabled list way back on April 19 with what he was told was some minor inflammation in his elbow, he assumed he'd be back pitching for the Nationals within two weeks. Then two weeks became two months, SolÃs forced to shut down for a period of time and then start a throwing program over from scratch after learning he actually had nerve irritation in his elbow. So forgive the left-hander for putting a wide smile on display this afternoon as he...

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Game 81 lineups: Nats at Cardinals (SolÃs off DL)

July 01, 2017, 11:34am

Nationals

Game 81 lineups: Nats at Cardinals (SolÃs off DL)

ST. LOUIS - We are just slightly more than 24 hours away from the announcement of this year's All-Star rosters, so in theory tonight presents the last opportunity for players to make their case for a trip to Miami and the Midsummer Classic. Which means this could be an especially big start for Gio Gonzalez. Gonzalez has put together All-Star credentials over the last three months; he's 7-2 with a 2.87 ERA and ranks in the top 10 in the National League in many pitching categories. One more...

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Harper gives Nationals a scare after taking errant throw off ankle

June 30, 2017, 8:42pm

Nationals

ST. LOUIS - It was just about the last thing anybody associated with the Nationals wanted to see at that moment: Bryce Harper falling to the ground in a heap in obvious pain after running down the first base line. Given the fact Adam Eaton tore up his knee on a very similar looking play two months ago, and given the fact Trea Turner fractured his wrist only 24 hours earlier, the sight of Harper on the ground in the top of the first inning Friday night elicited some of the worst feelings...

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Roark's latest ragged start leaves Nationals in a lurch

June 30, 2017, 8:26pm

Nationals

ST. LOUIS - The Nationals have spent the better part of the last three months trying to figure out what's wrong with Tanner Roark. How has one of the majors' most consistent starters since he debuted nearly four years ago has fallen apart in the first half of this season? And after yet another ragged outing in which the right-hander lasted only three innings and set the course for the Nationals' 8-1 loss to the Cardinals, they found themselves right back where they started. What's the...

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Nationals routed by Cardinals, 8-1, in weekend opener

June 30, 2017, 7:09pm

Nationals

ST. LOUIS - Bryce Harper gave the Nationals a scare, but turned out to be fine. Tanner Roark, however, has not been fine for a while, and that has become a major concern for the Nats. Roark struggled once again tonight, lasting only three innings and digging the Nationals into an early hole that only got deeper as an 8-1 loss to the Cardinals played out. Hoping to bounce back after three consecutive poor starts, Roark found no answers at Busch Stadium. He issued a career-high five walks,...

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After decade in minors, Sanchez gets the call (Nats lose 8-1)

June 30, 2017, 5:38pm

Nationals

After decade in minors, Sanchez gets the call (Nats lose 8-1)

ST. LOUIS - Adrian Sanchez was three innings into Thursday's game with Triple-A Syracuse when he was informed he was being pulled from the game. The 26-year-old infielder had no idea what was up, had no idea what had been learned in Washington only minutes earlier: Trea Turner had a fractured right wrist. The Nationals needed another infielder to get to St. Louis ASAP, and so it was that Sanchez - after a full decade in the organization - learned he was getting his first call to the major...

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With Turner sidelined, Nationals turn to several replacements

June 30, 2017, 3:35pm

Nationals

ST. LOUIS - The Nationals don't know yet exactly how long they're going to be without Trea Turner, but they know they're going to have to make do without their dynamic leadoff man and shortstop for a significant amount of time. And in their quest to make do, they're going to have to ask for multiple things from multiple players. "We've got to carry on," manager Dusty Baker said before tonight's series opener against the Cardinals. "You can't bring the injury back. We can talk about...