Even with trip to DL, Desmond savoring return to Nationals Park

Even with trip to DL, Desmond savoring return to Nationals Park
Ian Desmond has never been one to try to hide from his emotions, so he wasn't afraid to circle this weekend on his calendar and psyche himself up over the idea of returning to Nationals Park for the first time as a visiting player. And when the 31-year-old former-National-now-Rockie arrived at the park this afternoon and walked through the hallways he called home for seven seasons, he couldn't help but feel the emotions stir up inside of him. The only thing missing: an opportunity to actually...

Stevenson's first career hit comes in unconventional fashion

Stevenson's first career hit comes in unconventional fashion
Any child who has ever picked up a bat has dreamed of recording his or her first big league hit. And anybody fortunate enough to become a professional ballplayer starts dreaming of that moment in more realistic terms, wondering when, how and against whom it will occur. Andrew Stevenson is no different than any other young ballplayer. He had envisioned what his first major league hit would look like. And this ... was not it. "No," he said. "It was off a position player. But it still goes down...

Zimmerman's 237th homer one to remember for D.C. baseball

Zimmerman's 237th homer one to remember for D.C. baseball
A big part of the Nats' home run barrage on Thursday was Ryan Zimmerman. And that makes a lot sense. Zimmerman took his rightful place in Nationals baseball lore with two homers, the second one getting him to 237 in his career ,which equals the all-time home run record in Washington baseball history set by former Senators slugger Frank Howard. Howard played for the Dodgers, Tigers and Senators ffrom 1958-73. He hit 382 career homers, 237 in Washington. He was the Rookie of the Year in 1960 and...

Game 101 lineups: Nats vs. Rockies (game rained out)

Game 101 lineups: Nats vs. Rockies (game rained out)
You've probably seen the forecast here, not only for tonight but for most of the day tomorrow. If you haven't, it's not good. That creates a problem for the Nationals and Rockies, who don't face each other again after this weekend and need to do everything humanly possible to play three games before either club leaves town. As always, you'll know when we know. Tonight's series opener between a division leader and a wild card leader features Tanner Roark on the mound for the Nationals,...

Opposite dugout: Rockies hope potent offense carries them to postseason

Opposite dugout: Rockies hope potent offense carries them to postseason
Manager: Bud Black (1st season) Record: 58-45 Last 10 games: 6-4 Who to watch: 2B DJ LeMahieu (.312), 3B Nolan Arenado (.313 with 23 HR, 89 RBIs), 1B Mark Reynolds (22 HR, 70 RBIs), CF Charlie Blackmon (.326/.379/.609), LHP Kyle Freeland (10-7, 3.64 ERA), RHP Greg Holland (31 saves, 1.72 ERA) Season series vs. Nationals: 1-3 Pitching probables: July 28: RHP German Márquez vs. RHP Tanner Roark, 7:05 p.m., MASN July 29: LHP Kyle Freeland vs. RHP Erick Fedde, 7:05 p.m., MASN July 30: RHP Jon...

David Huzzard: Stop pointless debates and enjoy what's happening on the field

David Huzzard: Stop pointless debates and enjoy what's happening on the field
When I was growing up, Washington D.C., was the murder capital of the world and currently the Nationals are murdering baseballs at an alarming rate. The third inning of yesterday's game saw a quintuple homicide committed at Nats Park. But as with anything that's fun, there are always people that want to ruin it. Seriously, go to your Twitter right now and type in something you think is fun and declare your joy for it, and I'm sure one of the first responses will be someone looking to rain on...

Some historical perspective on the Nationals' five-homer inning

Some historical perspective on the Nationals' five-homer inning
The Nationals are the sixth team in big league history to hit five home runs in an inning. They did it in the third inning of a 15-2 win against the Brewers on Thursday at Nationals Park. Brian Goodwin started the string followed by Wilmer Difo, Bryce Harper, Ryan Zimmerman and Anthony Rendon. The historic perspective: * The last team to hit five home runs in an inning was the Brewers in 2006 in Milwaukee. They did it against the Reds. Orioles shortstop J.J. Hardy was one of the five. The other...

A home run barrage the likes of which D.C. has never seen

A home run barrage the likes of which D.C. has never seen
Ryan Zimmerman isn't one to get caught up in a moment, so it's understandable he would say he felt no pressure when he stepped into the batter's box in the bottom of the third inning today, in spite of what Brian Goodwin, Wilmer Difo and Bryce Harper had just done before him. But for Zimmerman to claim he still didn't realize what happened after he rounded the bases and returned to the home dugout ... that can't be. He really didn't know? "I honestly didn't," Zimmerman insisted. "I...

Strasburg will keep throwing during DL stint

Strasburg will keep throwing during DL stint
The Nationals placed Stephen Strasburg on the 10-day disabled list this morning, a move they continue to say is one of precaution and one they hope will only sideline the right-hander for one start. Nothing changed in Strasburg's diagnosis over the last 48 hours, according to Dusty Baker. The organization wanted to be cautious all along and made adjustments to Erick Fedde's pitching schedule so their top prospect would be available to replace Strasburg in the big league rotation...

Nats launch eight home runs in 15-2 drubbing of Brewers

Nats launch eight home runs in 15-2 drubbing of Brewers
When it was over, when this two-inning explosion of offensive might was complete and the crowd of 32,118 had a moment to catch its breath and consider what exactly it had just witnessed, all that was left to do was tally up the numbers and marvel at how ludicrous it all was. In the third and fourth innings this afternoon, the Nationals sent 21 batters to the plate. They wound up with 13 runs, 13 hits, seven homers, three doubles, three singles, three walks, one stolen base. And a pigeon in the...

Happy birthday to me: Scherzer reaches 200 strikeouts in 15-2 win

Happy birthday to me: Scherzer reaches 200 strikeouts in 15-2 win
It helps to have an offense that can score runs. But when you also have Max Scherzer, it's a day in the park. Scherzer went six innings and allowed only one run as the offense crushed eight homers as the Nationals ran away from the Brewers 15-2. Not too bad for a 33rd birthday. "Yeah, what a birthday gift," Scherzer said. "I said coming in here I wanted to get a win and a knock. So the guys showed up today put an ungodly amount of runs up there. Fifteen runs - oh, man, what a pitcher's...

Nats' homer count reaches eight in 15-2 rout of Brewers

Nats' homer count reaches eight in 15-2 rout of Brewers
Dusty Baker wants his team to play better in day games. Having your star home run hitter crank one out of the park in the first inning helps. Facing Brewers starter Michael Blazek, Bryce Harper launched a two-run shot over the right-center field wall to give the Nats a 2-0 lead in the first inning. It marked the first time in the series the Nationals scored first. Brian Goodwin had doubled in front of Harper. Harper's hitting streak is now at 19 games, a career high and the longest this season...

Some shaky moments, but Gonzalez delivered when needed

Some shaky moments, but Gonzalez delivered when needed
Five batters into Wednesday night's game, Gio Gonzalez had served up the longest home run in Nationals Park history, allowed a double and then that same player to steal third without any attempt to throw him out, and allowed a run to score on a strikeout. Sounds like the recipe for a disastrous outing, right? Not exactly. Despite a shaky top of the first, Gonzalez quickly rebounded and wound up going seven strong innings. He didn't earn the win, but he kept the Nationals in position to come...

Game 100 lineups: Nats vs. Brewers (with roster moves)

Game 100 lineups: Nats vs. Brewers (with roster moves)
The Nationals have recalled left-hander Sammy Solis from Triple-A Syracuse and placed right-hander Stephen Strasburg on the 10-day disabled list with a right elbow nerve impingement, retroactive to July 24. Strasburg would be eligible to return Aug. 4 at Chicago against the Cubs. It is interesting to note, however, that Strasburg was placed on the disabled list with an elbow nerve impingement. Previously the Nationals had termed it a forearm injury. Elbow injuries in pitchers, especially those...

Baker confirms Strasburg heading to DL, Fedde to be called up Thursday

Baker confirms Strasburg heading to DL, Fedde to be called up Thursday
The Nationals are calling up right-hander Erick Fedde to start in place of Stephen Strasburg on Saturday against the Rockies. Manager Dusty Baker confirmed that Strasburg will go on the disabled list Thursday, retroactive to July 23. In his last start Sunday at Arizona, Strasburg finished only two innings and left, citing "achiness" in his arm. Nationals head athletic trainer Paul Lessard described it Tuesday as a nerve impingement in his arm that has since been alleviated. "Yes. (Fedde) is...

Nationals recall left-hander Sammy Solis from Triple-A Syracuse

Nationals recall left-hander Sammy Solis from Triple-A Syracuse
The Washington Nationals recalled left-handed pitcher Sammy Solis from Triple-A Syracuse on Thursday and placed right-handed pitcher Stephen Strasburg on the 10-day disabled list, retroactive to July 24, with a right elbow nerve impingement. Nationals President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcement. Solis, 28, returns to the Nationals' Major League roster after six games with Triple-A Syracuse. The left-handed reliever went 1-2 with a 4.50 ERA in six...

Wildly eventful bottom of the eighth leads Nationals to victory

Wildly eventful bottom of the eighth leads Nationals to victory
They had, as Ryan Zimmerman put it, "played 15 innings of terrible baseball over the last day and a half," leaving themselves in the precarious position of losing two straight to the Brewers without so much as scoring a run. But then Daniel Murphy lofted a seventh-inning pitch from Jimmy Nelson over the right field fence, and now at least the Nationals were on the board, trailing Milwaukee by only one run. And then - well, let's just say the bottom of the eighth tonight on South Capitol...

Source: Fedde to be promoted to Nationals this weekend

Source: Fedde to be promoted to Nationals this weekend
The Nationals are planning to promote right-hander Erick Fedde this weekend, putting their top pitching prospect on track to make his major league debut and perhaps give Stephen Strasburg more time to rest his arm. Fedde's promotion from Triple-A Syracuse, confirmed by a source familiar with the club's decision, comes as the Nationals take a cautious approach with Strasburg's forearm. Though Strasburg has been able to throw on flat ground the last two days, the nerve impingement that caused...

Brewers jump out to lead again, Harper tossed (Nats win 8-5)

Brewers jump out to lead again, Harper tossed (Nats win 8-5)
A loud homer off the bat of Domingo Santana, which landed in the last row in front of the concourse near left-center field, gave the Brewers a 1-0 lead in the top of the first. It appeared to bouncing around the concourse and traveled 476 feet according to StatCast, which would be the longest home run in Nationals Park history. Former Nationals slugger Michael Morse's drive of 465 feet was the longest previous homer on July 20, 2012, based on the previously used ESPN home run data, which is...

2018 All-Star Game logo, date and details revealed

2018 All-Star Game logo, date and details revealed
Washington officially was on the clock as host of the 2018 All-Star Game the moment this year's Midsummer Classic in Miami ended two weeks ago. But what's a big event without a logo or a press conference with important people sitting at the dais? So consider today the unofficial start of an 11 1/2-month countdown to an event many people in this town have anticipated for decades. "It's been 49 years since we had an All-Star Game here in Washington," Major League Baseball commissioner Rob...