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Final quotes on the afternoon contest (Harper not in lineup for nightcap)

July 21, 2012, 1:59pm

Given what happened last night and what's still to come tonight, Edwin Jackson knew what he needed to do in Game 1 of the Nationals' doubleheader with the Braves. "Days like we had last night, it's pretty important that as a starter the next day, you can go as deep as you can to save the bullpen," Jackson said. "Those guys worked hard last night and they battled a lot. It was just one of those things where you want to come out today and you definitely want to go deep in the game." He...

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Just what the doctor ordered (Nats drop opener 4-0)

July 21, 2012, 10:55am

Nationals

Just what the doctor ordered (Nats drop opener 4-0)

After yesterday's 11-inning slopfest in which the Nationals used five relievers, they needed Edwin Jackson to eat innings and give them a chance to win Game 1 of today's doubleheader. Eat innings - check. Give the Nats a chance to win - check. Jackson has worked six fantastic frames so far today, allowing just one run on four hits. The righty has struck out eight and has benefited from a fantastic slider which has left Braves hitters flailing all afternoon. Unfortunately for Jackson and...

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Zimmerman, Strasburg discuss tough 11-inning loss

July 20, 2012, 9:30pm

Nationals

Zimmerman, Strasburg discuss tough 11-inning loss

Catcher Jesus Flores left tonight's game in the seventh inning with a stiff back. He said after the game that he should be fine for tomorrow's doubleheader. Also, Xavier Nady's rehab stint ended today with a 1-for-3 performance at Single-A Potomac. There's no official word from the Nationals yet, but it sounds like the team is planning on designating Nady for assignment. Now back to the shocking nine-run blown lead ... The game lasted 4 hours, 21 minutes. It saw the Braves come all the...

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Clippard admits he hasn't been "real sharp" lately after third blown save

July 20, 2012, 8:40pm

Nationals

Clippard admits he hasn't been "real sharp" lately after third blown save

Something is going on with Tyler Clippard and he knows it. In last three outings, he has surrendered seven runs in three innings. His third blown save of the season came in an historic collapse for the Nationals, who were leading 9-0 only to fall to the second-place Atlanta Braves 11-10 in 11 innings. With his team leading 9-8 on Friday night, Clippard was handed the ball to get three outs in the ninth. Getting three outs had been something he had pretty much mastered since his return to...

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A meltdown of epic proportions (Nats fall in 11 innings)

July 20, 2012, 6:48pm

Nationals

A meltdown of epic proportions (Nats fall in 11 innings)

What was a 9-0 Nationals lead entering the sixth turned into a 10-9 deficit. How the heck did this happen? The Nats were cruising over the Braves through five, smacking Atlanta pitchers around and putting up crooked numbers. Then Stephen Strasburg got ambushed in the sixth, allowing hits to four of the five hitters he faced and getting charged with four runs. In the eighth, the Braves hit up Drew Storen and Sean Burnett for four more. Storen, who manager Davey Johnson surprisingly went to...

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Which division opponent poses the biggest threat?

July 12, 2012, 11:45am

Nationals

Which division opponent poses the biggest threat?

It was announced this afternoon that Bryce Harper was named as the Nationals' team winner of the 2012 Heart and Hustle Award, given out by the Major League Baseball Players Alumni Association. The award honors active players who demonstrate a passion for the game and best embody the values, spirit and tradition of the game of baseball. What a shocker - Harper winning an award for demonstrating passion and hustle. If there was ever was an award that screamed out "Bryce Harper," it's this...

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Getting a little distance within the division

July 06, 2012, 10:11am

Nationals

Getting a little distance within the division

As Giants first baseman Brandon Belt failed to secure a low, skipping throw and Adam LaRoche crossed first base safely in the ninth inning of last night's game, plating the game-winning run for the Nationals, a group of ballplayers about 650 miles away let out a frustrated groan. According to reporters in Atlanta, Braves players watching the end of last night's Nationals game on a clubhouse TV made a loud, exasperated noise and dropped a few expletives when it became clear the Nats had...

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Strasburg leaves game due to "heat-related issues" (Nats lose 7-5)

June 30, 2012, 2:14pm

Nationals

Strasburg leaves game due to "heat-related issues" (Nats lose 7-5)

The 104-degree heat in Atlanta got the better of Stephen Strasburg today. The Nationals ace was pulled from today's game after just three innings due to what the team is calling "heat-related issues." Strasburg was really laboring this afternoon and clearly wasn't himself. He walked four hitters and needed 67 pitches to get through his three frames. The righty's final line: three innings, three runs, two hits, four walks and four strikeouts. Only 36 of his 67 pitches were for...

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Lineups with Strasburg on the mound

June 30, 2012, 9:41am

Nationals

The Nationals look to improve to 6-1 on the season against the Braves, and 5-0 at Turner Field, as they send Stephen Strasburg to the mound today. Here's manager Davey Johnson's lineup for today: 2B Danny Espinosa CF Bryce Harper 3B Ryan Zimmerman RF Michael Morse 1B Adam LaRoche SS Ian Desmond LF Tyler Moore C Jesus Flores P Stephen Strasburg For the Braves: CF Michael Bourn LF Martin Prado RF Jason Heyward 1B Freddie Freeman 2B Dan Uggla C Brian McCann SS Andrelton Simmons 3B...

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Bryce Harper hopes big hit will be big boost into Atlanta

June 29, 2012, 7:42am

Nationals

Bryce Harper hopes big hit will be big boost into Atlanta

The Nationals did not win the game, but they did get a key ninth-inning play from an important player that could open the door to a surge before the All-Star break. The Rockies ended up beating the Nationals 11-10 in 11 innings Thursday, but it would not have been that way had it not been for Bryce Harper. Throughout the series against Colorado, Harper wasn't getting much to hit or, he felt, many calls. "The whole series they were pitching me out and up," Harper said. "They didn't throw...

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Nats, Braves Sunday lineups

June 03, 2012, 6:41am

Nationals

Davey Johnson's Sunday lineup looks exactly same as Saturday's. Except Stephen Strasburg isn't pitching again. That'd just be weird and uncalled for. Gio Gonzalez takes the hill for the Nationals, looking to improve on his 7-1 record. Gonzalez went 5-0 in May. He'll try and carry that success into a new month and give the Nats a mini two-game sweep over the Braves. Here are the lineups for the two teams: For the Nationals LF Steve Lombardozzi CF Bryce Harper 3B Ryan Zimmerman 1B...

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Nats roll over Braves - again

June 02, 2012, 2:45pm

Nationals

I feel like we've seen this type of win once or twice this season. A Nationals starter goes deep into the game, delivering a dominating outing, the offense provides just enough run support and the bullpen closes it down. All the familiar pieces were there in the Nats' 2-0 win over the Braves this afternoon. Stephen Strasburg bounced back off three consecutive subpar outings (by his lofty standards) and tossed seven shutout frames, allowing just four hits without a walk and striking out...

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Locked in a pitchers' duel (Strasburg done after seven)

June 02, 2012, 1:41pm

Nationals

Locked in a pitchers' duel (Strasburg done after seven)

We've got a fantastic pitchers' duel here at Nats Park, with Stephen Strasburg and Brandon Beachy trading zeros and strikeouts. Beachy was the first to blink, allowing a solo home run to Jesus Flores leading off the fifth inning. It was the second homer of the season for Flores, and it gave the Nationals a 1-0 lead. Runs will be precious in this one, as both starting pitchers have been in a zone. Strasburg has needed just 70 pitches to get through his five innings, which is remarkable...

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Lombardozzi leading off, Morse hitting fifth

June 02, 2012, 11:04am

Nationals

Lombardozzi leading off, Morse hitting fifth

Steve Lombardozzi wasn't in the Nationals' lineup yesterday. But after rain washed out the opener of this three-game series with the Braves, Lombardozzi is back in the leadoff spot and playing left field for Davey Johnson today. Michael Morse will hit fifth today against Braves righty Brandon Beachy, with the left-handed-hitting Adam LaRoche staying in the cleanup spot. Strangely, the Braves will hit Beachy eighth today, with left fielder Jose Constanza batting ninth. Here are the lineups...

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Nationals-Braves game postponed due to severe weather (updated)

June 01, 2012, 2:48pm

Nationals

Tonight's game between the Nationals and Braves has been postponed due to severe weather in the area. Details on a makeup date have not yet been announced, but I will obviously pass them along as soon as I hear anything. Conditions in the area have been terrible tonight, and it's been raining nearly nonstop for the last couple hours. There have been tornado warnings nearby, as well. Update: Tonight's game will not be made up during this homestand, and will instead be pushed back later in...

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Back at home, with or without Morse

June 01, 2012, 5:31am

Nationals

Following a nine-game road trip which seemed - to me, at least - to last a lot longer than a week and a half, the Nationals are finally back in the nation's capital and in the comfort of their own clubhouse. The road trip might have ended, but the tough stretch of division opponents has not. The Nats will host the Braves for three games this weekend, then will welcome the Mets to town for a three-game set before heading up to Boston to kick off the next round of interleague play. We still...

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Nationals' NL East dominance a good sign for pennant run

May 27, 2012, 5:17am

Nationals

The Nationals have now won every series they have played against National League East opponents, currently 10-3 versus Atlanta (2-0), Philadelphia (4-2), Miami (2-0) and the N.Y. Mets (2-1). This is a good time to be playing well because the schedule is all within the division for two weeks. The Nationals are in the middle of 15 straight games against NL East combatants. After tonight's finale at Atlanta, they go to Miami for three games beginning Monday afternoon. Next week, the Nationals...

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Livan Hernandez is back in the NL East

March 30, 2012, 10:26am

Nationals

VIERA, Fla. - We might be seeing a lot of Livan Hernandez this year. The 37-year-old righty, who appeared certain to make the Astros' rotation entering spring, was released by Houston today, and then within a couple hours, Hernandez had signed with the Braves. CBSsports.com first reported Hernandez's signing with the Nationals' division rival. Hernandez allowed 10 earned runs in 16 Grapefruit League innings for Houston, although the bulk of that damage was allowed in one recent start. As...

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Strasburg lacking Strasburg-like stuff (Nats lose 6-5)

March 14, 2012, 3:41pm

Nationals

Strasburg lacking Strasburg-like stuff (Nats lose 6-5)

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. - The balls are flying out of Champion Stadium tonight, as the Nationals and Braves have combined to hit four home runs through four innings of play. Two have come off Nats' bats - a two-run shot from Chad Tracy and a solo blast by Jesus Flores - but the two that will draw the most attention were the homers hit off Nationals right Stephen Strasburg. Strasburg allowed four runs in his four innings of work, and surrendered longballs to Dan Uggla (a two-run shot in the...