Mark Zuckerman

Ramos' clutch hit lifts Nationals to 2-1 win, sweep in Philly

August 31, 2016, 5:58pm

PHILADELPHIA - Gio Gonzalez turned in one of his best starts of the season, Jayson Werth homered once again at Citizens Bank Park and Wilson Ramos delivered yet another clutch hit to lead the Nationals to a 2-1 victory tonight and a series sweep over the Phillies. Ramos' two-out RBI single to right in the top of the seventh broke a 1-1 deadlock and gave the Nationals the lead for good, the latest big hit in a big spot from the All-Star catcher. After falling behind in the count 0-2, Ramos...

301 Hits

Comments

Tags:

Werth becomes team's fifth 20-homer hitter (Nats win 2-1)

August 31, 2016, 3:39pm

Nationals

Werth becomes team's fifth 20-homer hitter (Nats win 2-1)

PHILADELPHIA - Thanks to yet another Jayson Werth home run at Citizens Bank Park, the Nationals have themselves yet another 20-homer guy on the roster. Werth launched a titanic blast to straightaway center field in the top of the first tonight, sending Phillies left-hander Adam Morgan's pitch over the batter's eye and into a camera well. The drive, which measured 453 feet according to Statcast, was Werth's fourth homer in his last six games and his 20th of the season. That means the...

280 Hits

Comments

Tags:

home runs jayson werth mark zuckerman nationals nationals pastime philadelphia phillies frontstory_nationals1

Turner gets rare day off, now prepares for home stretch

August 31, 2016, 2:18pm

Nationals

Turner gets rare day off, now prepares for home stretch

PHILADELPHIA - When Trea Turner led off for the Nationals on July 30 in San Francisco, little did he know it would be more than a month before he would get his next day off. Not that the rookie is complaining about all the playing time he has been getting ever since. "No, I usually never have (days off), because even when I don't start I usually pinch-hit or pinch-run, at least in Triple-A I did a lot," he said. "I don't know what the case is today, but I don't ever really count on a day...

243 Hits

Comments

Tags:

dusty baker mark zuckerman nationals nationals pastime trea turner featured_sidebar frontstory_nationals3

Game 133 lineups: Nats at Phillies

August 31, 2016, 11:36am

Nationals

PHILADELPHIA - The end of the Nationals' stretch of 20 games in 20 days has arrived, with one more game to play tonight against the Phillies before they'll enjoy their first off-day since Aug. 11. This has been a long, difficult stretch for many players, perhaps none more so than Trea Turner, who has started 29 consecutive games. That streak ends tonight, though, with Turner given a well-deserved night off. It'll be Michael A. Taylor getting the start in center field and leading off, with...

412 Hits

Comments

Tags:

gio gonzalez lineups mark zuckerman michael a. taylor nationals nationals pastime philadelphia phillies trea turner frontstory_nationals1

Marathon stretch finally ending for weary Nationals

August 30, 2016, 7:58pm

Nationals

PHILADELPHIA - It began way back on Aug. 12, with a weekend series against the Braves at Nationals Park. Bryce Harper was still on the bench, nursing a nagging neck injury. Ryan Zimmerman was still on the disabled list, a full week away from returning to the active roster. Stephen Strasburg was healthy. Trea Turner was hitting only .286. Jayson Werth still had six games left in his streak of consecutive games reaching base. Marc Rzepczynski was an Oakland Athletic. Koda Glover was a Syracuse...

282 Hits

Comments

Tags:

bryce harper dusty baker mark zuckerman nationals nationals pastime trea turner featured_sidebar frontstory_nationals3

Scherzer makes everyone dream of something special again

August 30, 2016, 7:22pm

Nationals

Scherzer makes everyone dream of something special again

PHILADELPHIA - This is what it has come to, what Max Scherzer has done to our longstanding sense of baseball and how typically not to get too excited too soon about the possibility of history. Two innings into tonight's 3-2 Nationals victory at Citizens Bank Park, only two measly innings into this one, you couldn't help but think to yourself: Scherzer might just throw a no-hitter. That's not the kind of thought you're supposed to have after two innings. Or, if you do, you're supposed to...

281 Hits

Comments

Tags:

bryce harper dusty baker mark zuckerman max scherzer nationals nationals pastime philadelphia phillies wilson ramos featured_sidebar frontstory_nationals3

Nationals ride another Scherzer gem to 3-2 victory in Philly

August 30, 2016, 5:50pm

Nationals

PHILADELPHIA - Stop us if you've heard this one before: Max Scherzer carried a no-hitter into the sixth inning tonight at Citizens Bank Park, only to have it broken up on a double down the right field line by Freddy Galvis. It happened last summer. And it happened again tonight, with the pesky Phillies shortstop spoiling another one of Scherzer's attempts to make history with the same kind of hit in the same inning. Of more importance to Scherzer, the Nationals won both times, including...

250 Hits

Comments

Tags:

bryce harper mark melancon mark zuckerman max scherzer nationals nationals pastime philadelphia phillies wilson ramos frontstory_nationals3

Scherzer's strikeout total continues to soar (Nationals win 3-2)

August 30, 2016, 4:03pm

Nationals

PHILADELPHIA - There's still a long way to go, and who knows what could happen between now and season's end. But if Max Scherzer can keep doing what he's been doing up to this point, he's going to wind up in some elite company. Especially in the strikeout department. Scherzer entered tonight's game against the Phillies with a league-leading 227 strikeouts in 182 innings. And after striking out six more batters in the first three innings, he now has left himself on pace to end the regular...

223 Hits

Comments

Tags:

mark zuckerman max scherzer nationals nationals pastime philadelphia phillies frontstory_nationals3

Rehab updates on Drew and Strasburg

August 30, 2016, 2:11pm

Nationals

PHILADELPHIA - The Nationals have understood all along that Stephen Drew's recovery from an inner ear ailment would have no set timetable. The veteran infielder would simply start to feel well enough at some point to resume playing. By all accounts, he's nearing that point. Drew has ramped up his baseball activities over the last two days, taking batting practice and fielding grounders with the rest of his Nationals teammates. His mood and energy level also have been noticeably different to...

287 Hits

Comments

Tags:

dusty baker mark zuckerman nationals nationals pastime philadelphia phillies stephen drew stephen strasburg featured_sidebar frontstory_nationals3

Game 132 lineups: Nats at Phillies

August 30, 2016, 11:31am

Nationals

PHILADELPHIA - Max Scherzer has faced the Phillies seven times over the last two years. In those seven starts, he's 5-0 with a 1.94 ERA, 55 strikeouts and 10 walks. Needless to say, the Nationals have fair reason to expect more good things tonight when Scherzer takes the mound at Citizens Bank Park. Dusty Baker has his entire regular lineup out there for the second game of this series. That includes Ryan Zimmerman, who sat out last night's game after working extensively in the cage earlier in...

260 Hits

Comments

Tags:

lineups mark zuckerman max scherzer nationals nationals pastime philadelphia phillies ryan zimmerman frontstory_nationals3

Robinson making the most of his rare opportunities

August 30, 2016, 4:47am

Nationals

Robinson making the most of his rare opportunities

PHILADELPHIA - Dusty Baker constantly talks about how hard it is for players to be productive off the bench in the big leagues, how the lack of consistent at-bats makes it difficult to find a rhythm, even when there are rare opportunities to start games and step to the plate four or five times in one night. Which perhaps makes Clint Robinson's performance of late all the more impressive. Robinson hasn't seen a whole lot of action lately, not with the Nationals trying to give Ryan Zimmerman as...

220 Hits

Comments

Tags:

clint robinson mark zuckerman nationals nationals pastime philadelphia phillies featured_sidebar frontstory_nationals3

Roark is dominant yet again in Nats' win over Phillies

August 29, 2016, 7:41pm

Nationals

Roark is dominant yet again in Nats' win over Phillies

PHILADELPHIA - Ask a bunch of people around baseball - players, coaches, managers, executives, scouts, media members - for a list of the best pitchers in the National League, and you're likely to get several recurring names: Kershaw, Arrieta, Scherzer, Strasburg, Bumgarner, Cueto, Lester, Syndergaard, Fernandez. All, of course, are excellent pitchers, all deserving of the recognition they receive. But how many voters are including Tanner Roark on their list? "If they're not," Jayson Werth...

253 Hits

Comments

Tags:

mark zuckerman nationals nationals pastime philadelphia phillies tanner roark featured_sidebar bryce harper clint robinson daniel murphy jayson werth marc rzepczynski mark melancon max scherzer stephen strasburg frontstory_nationals3

Nationals ride early offense, then Roark to 4-0 win in Philly

August 29, 2016, 6:05pm

Nationals

PHILADELPHIA - While their offense remains very much in hit-or-miss mode, the Nationals at least know they can still count on Tanner Roark to deliver a big-time start when they most need one. The Nationals scored two quick runs off the Phillies tonight, then sat back and watched as Roark and the bullpen took care of the rest, tossing a combined shutout during what became a 4-0 victory by night's end at Citizens Bank Park. Roark handled the first seven of those shutout innings, never entirely...

202 Hits

Comments

Tags:

jayson werth mark zuckerman nationals nationals pastime philadelphia phillies tanner roark anthony rendon bryce harper clint robinson marc rzepczynski mark melancon max scherzer stephen strasburg trea turner frontstory_nationals3

Zimmerman gets day off to work in cage (Nationals win 4-0)

August 29, 2016, 4:28pm

Nationals

PHILADELPHIA - Dusty Baker planned to give Ryan Zimmerman his share of days off down the stretch, regardless of the veteran's performance. So the fact Zimmerman was not in the Nationals lineup for tonight's series opener against the Phillies wasn't a shock. Baker, though, didn't want Zimmerman to take the day off altogether. No, the two spent considerable time (along with other members of the coaching staff) in the batting tunnel at Citizens Bank Park earlier in the afternoon working on...

210 Hits

Comments

Tags:

jayson werth mark zuckerman nationals nationals pastime philadelphia phillies ryan zimmerman tanner roark anthony rendon bryce harper frontstory_nationals3

Strasburg, Ross progressing toward September returns

August 29, 2016, 2:31pm

Nationals

Strasburg, Ross progressing toward September returns

PHILADELPHIA - It has taken a while, and it has included a few more bumps than they would have liked, but the Nationals have reached the final leg of their 20-games-in-20-days stretch. That also means they've almost reached September and the home stretch of a season they hope to continue well into October. Make no mistake, the Nationals are well aware of all this. "You start checking off the months until the season goes by. Now, we're down to one-sixth of the season," manager Dusty Baker...

206 Hits

Comments

Tags:

dusty baker joe ross mark zuckerman nationals nationals pastime stephen strasburg aj cole lucas giolito mat latos featured_sidebar frontstory_nationals3

Game 131 lineups: Nats at Phils (Taylor up, Giolito optioned)

August 29, 2016, 11:36am

Nationals

Game 131 lineups: Nats at Phils (Taylor up, Giolito optioned)

PHILADELPHIA - Hello from Citizens Bank Park, where the Nationals wrap up this 20-games-in-20-days stretch with one final series against the Phillies. And there's plenty going on here already. The Nats have made a roster move: Michael A. Taylor was recalled and Lucas Giolito was optioned to Triple-A Syracuse. That gives the team a full bench again. With an off-day Thursday, the club can afford to go with four starting pitchers for the moment. And remember, players who are sent down at the end...

237 Hits

Comments

Tags:

lineups lucas giolito mark zuckerman nationals nationals pastime philadelphia phillies stephen strasburg tanner roark clint robinson michael a taylor ryan zimmerman frontstory_nationals3

Gonzalez on win No. 100, Harper and Werth on surging lineup

August 26, 2016, 7:29pm

Nationals

Gonzalez on win No. 100, Harper and Werth on surging lineup

Rain in Colorado prevented it from happening in his first attempt. Then an erratic performance in Atlanta prevented it from happening in his next attempt. Fortunately for Gio Gonzalez, the third time was the charm in his pursuit of 100 career wins, thanks to one of the left-hander's better starts in a while and some much-appreciated run support from his teammates during an 8-5 victory over the Rockies. "I'm just happy it came," said Gonzalez, who has notched 62 of those wins while wearing a...

317 Hits

Comments

Tags:

bryce harper colorado rockies gio gonzalez jayson werth mark zuckerman nationals nationals pastime trea turner featured_sidebar frontstory_nationals2

Lineup gives Gonzalez plenty of support for 100th career win

August 26, 2016, 5:25pm

Nationals

Lineup gives Gonzalez plenty of support for 100th career win

Gio Gonzalez kept giving back the leads his teammates provided, but the Nationals kept providing enough run support until the left-hander settled down and then handed the game over to his bullpen, which finished off an 8-5 victory over the Rockies. Gonzalez, who allowed two runs and four hits over six innings, earned his 100th career win. Jayson Werth and Daniel Murphy homered for the Nationals, who won their second straight after a four-game losing streak. Werth got the Nationals on the board...

249 Hits

Comments

Tags:

bryce harper colorado rockies daniel murphy gio gonzalez jayson werth frontfeatured_nationals mark zuckerman nationals nationals pastime

Howard calls induction into Nats Ring of Honor "a real thrill"

August 26, 2016, 2:55pm

Nationals

Howard calls induction into Nats Ring of Honor "a real thrill"

For a generation of Washington baseball fans, there always has been no bigger figure in this town than Frank Howard. And that's only in part because of Hondo's 6-foot-7 frame. Howard has long been remembered as by far the best to ever play for the expansion version of the Senators that called D.C. home from 1961-71. He wasn't good enough to merit serious consideration for the Hall of Fame, but he was good enough to merit a statue outside Nationals Park, alongside permanent Cooperstown...

235 Hits

Comments

Tags:

frank howard mark zuckerman nationals nationals pastime ring of honor washington senators featured_sidebar frontstory_nationals3

Barrett determined to make full recovery from "traumatic" injury

August 26, 2016, 1:27pm

Nationals

Barrett determined to make full recovery from "traumatic" injury

The road to recovery from Tommy John surgery is long and lonely, and tests the mind just as much as it tests the reconstructed elbow of a pitcher. Aaron Barrett was far down that road in late July, a full 11 months removed from his surgery and fully confident he'd be ready to pitch in a big league game for the Nationals after only one more month of rehab. Barrett was standing on a mound on one of the practice fields in Viera, Fla., on July 22, 10 pitches into a scheduled 20-pitch simulated...