nationals

Nats ride home runs again for early lead (Nats win 7-4)

June 17, 2017, 12:45pm

NEW YORK - The Nationals' big bats do it again with an early strike. Trea Turner led off the game with a solo homer over the left field wall to stake the Nats to a 1-0 lead. It was his seventh longball and third leadoff homer of the season. The blast came on a 1-0 offering from Mets starter Seth Lugo, and was Turner's fifth leadoff homer of his career. In the second, Lugo struck out Adam Lind and Michael A. Taylor. But Jose Lobaton slammed a solo homer in the second level in right field,...

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Game 68 lineups: Nats at Mets

June 17, 2017, 8:39am

Nationals

NEW YORK - Right-hander Stephen Strasburg looks to provide the Nationals with a series win at Citi Field in today's late afternoon matchup. Strasburg has a 7-4 record with a 2.64 ERA against the Mets in 13 career starts. Despite winning the first five games this season against the Mets at Citi Field, Friday's winning pitcher Max Scherzer is taking nothing for granted in the National League East race. "It doesn't matter," Scherzer said of the 10-plus-game lead over the Mets. "They're too...

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Nats' instant offense too much for Mets to handle

June 16, 2017, 7:50pm

Nationals

Nats' instant offense too much for Mets to handle

NEW YORK - Back-to-back homers opened the scoring for the Nationals on their way to a 7-2 win over the Mets at Citi Field on Friday night. Matt Wieters and Michael A. Taylor went back-to-back off Mets left-hander Steven Matz to lead off the third, and the Nats led 2-0. Anthony Rendon smacked a two-run shot off of Matz in the sixth. Bryce Harper and Ryan Zimmerman contributed RBI singles in a three-run ninth inning. The back-to-back homers marked the sixth time this season the Nationals had...

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Scherzer shakes off early command issues, rolls to another 10-K win

June 16, 2017, 7:28pm

Nationals

Scherzer shakes off early command issues, rolls to another 10-K win

NEW YORK - Max Scherzer continued his almost unbeatable consistency tonight with eight strong innings in a 7-2 victory over the Mets at Citi Field. Scherzer allowed only a late solo homer from JosÃ© Reyes and three other hits, striking out 10 for the fifth consecutive start to improve to 8-4. Scherzer reached a season-high 118 pitches, 84 for strikes, and benefited from a career-high-tying three groundball double plays to erase big scoring opportunities for the Mets. The Nationals opened the...

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Baker on Jackson, SolÃs and Scherzer

June 16, 2017, 2:11pm

Nationals

NEW YORK - The Nationals signed veteran right-hander Edwin Jackson to a minor league contract and assigned him to Triple-A Syracuse. Jackson adds experienced depth to the pitching in the system. He pitched for the Nationals in 2012, going 10-11 with a 4.76 ERA in 31 starts. He had 168 strikeouts, 58 walks and recorded one complete game. Since then, he has pitched for the Cubs, Braves, Marlins, Padres and Orioles. The Orioles designated him for assignment five days ago. The Nats signed him...

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Back-to-back homers help Scherzer early (Nats win 7-2)

June 16, 2017, 3:53pm

Nationals

Back-to-back homers help Scherzer early (Nats win 7-2)

NEW YORK - After a quiet first two innings, the Nats ignited the offense again with the long ball in the third. Matt Wieters and Michael A. Taylor hit back-to-back homers off of left-hander Steven Matz. Wieters hit his sixth of the season over the left-center field wall. Taylor hit his eighth, an opposite-field jobber over the right field wall near the foul pole. It marked the sixth time this season the Nats have gone back-to-back - the last time June 13 against the Braves, when Ryan Zimmerman...

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Game 67 lineups: Nats at Mets

June 16, 2017, 11:48am

Nationals

NEW YORK - The Nationals are well ahead in the National League East due in large part to their ability to win on the road. Their 22-12 (.647) record on the road puts the Nats second only to the Rockies (25-13, .658) in the National League. Their 40-26 (.606) overall record is currently fourth-best in the National League behind the Rockies (43-26, .623), Dodgers (41-26, .612) and Diamondbacks (41-26, .612). "It's fun going on the road and playing," said Bryce Harper. "That's when you know...

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Murphy good against the Mets again, so what else is new?

June 16, 2017, 7:14am

Nationals

Murphy good against the Mets again, so what else is new?

NEW YORK - Daniel Murphy returned to Citi Field again in his second season with the Nationals and delivered again. Murphy had a two-run triple that highlighted a five-run fifth inning outburst as the Nats won for the fourth time in a row in Flushing this season. The boo birds cascaded down on Murphy during his first few at-bat intros, similar to the treatment Bryce Harper receives on the road. It really can be received as a sign of respect for Murphy, who was the National League Championship...

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Bryce Harper's line-drive homer to begin game was one to remember

June 15, 2017, 7:33pm

Nationals

Bryce Harper's line-drive homer to begin game was one to remember

NEW YORK - Bryce Harper went 1-for-4 in the Nationals' 8-3 lid-lifting win over the Mets at Citi field. But that one hit. Goodness gracious. Manager Dusty Baker said that home run from Harper was one to remember. "Yeah, that wasn't a moonshot," Baker said. "That was like a Hank Aaron shot. That was like a high line drive. It didn't (take) any time. As soon as he hit it, you knew that ball was out. So it just shows you, like Hank used to say, it's not far, it's how many. And he hit the...

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Wieters and Murphy calm Gonzalez, offense takes over in 8-3 win

June 15, 2017, 7:16pm

Nationals

Wieters and Murphy calm Gonzalez, offense takes over in 8-3 win

NEW YORK - The offense and Gio Gonzalez have been consistent this season as the Nationals built a big lead against the Mets and the rest of the National League East. Both constants were evident Thursday as the Nats took down the Mets 8-3 in the opener of a four-game series, winning for the fourth straight time at Citi Field. The Nats' five-run fifth inning - highlighted by a two-run triple from Daniel Murphy and a two-run homer from Michael A. Taylor - chased Mets starter Robert...

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David Huzzard: What will a closer cost the Nationals?

June 15, 2017, 6:14pm

Nationals

Believe it or not, the Nationals don't have the worst bullpen in the majors. That isn't to forgive or forget just how bad the bullpen has been and how many leads they've blown, or that with even a league-average bullpen the Mets' recent hot streak wouldn't matter one bit. It is simply a fact. The Nats don't have the worst bullpen in the majors and it is going to cause them major issues when the trade deadline comes around. By ERA, the Twins have the worst bullpen in the majors at 5.39....

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Harper's early home run helps Gonzalez (Nats win 8-3)

June 15, 2017, 3:46pm

Nationals

Harper's early home run helps Gonzalez (Nats win 8-3)

NEW YORK - Left-hander Gio Gonzalez is 9-1 with a 1.62 ERA in 14 lifetime starts at Citi Field. The ERA is the lowest by any opposing pitcher ever at the Mets' home. Gonzalez's 87 strikeouts are the most on any opponent's home field in his career. The Mets went three up, three down in the first. In the second, the Mets' T.J. Rivera connected on a one-out single. But Gonzalez got Lucas Duda to ground out right in front of home plate and RenÃ© Rivera flew out to center field. The Nationals...

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Updates on Grace, Solis, Blanton and Mets series

June 15, 2017, 2:49pm

Nationals

Updates on Grace, Solis, Blanton and Mets series

NEW YORK - Manager Dusty Baker said the main reason the Nationals sent right-hander Trevor Gott back to Triple-A Syracuse today and brought up left-hander Matt Grace was the taxing outings Gott had to endure over the past two games. "The bullpen move was precipitated by the fact (Gott) had gone two innings yesterday and threw 50 and he had thrown the day before, and actually went longer than we wanted him to," Baker said. "But I told you yesterday was about bullpen preservation after about...

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Weekend series in New York suddenly looms large for Nationals

June 15, 2017, 4:15am

Nationals

The Nationals have led the National League East division for all but three days this season, every day since April 16. And they've led the division by at least seven games every day since May 13. That's about as comfortable as it gets this early in the baseball calendar. And yet this weekend the Nationals find themselves facing a sudden and surprising big series in New York. The Mets, who have been beset with injuries and all other sorts of calamities in the season's first 2 1/2 months,...

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Game 66 lineups: Nationals at Mets

June 15, 2017, 11:45am

Nationals

NEW YORK - Greetings from the Big Apple! The Nationals arrive in Flushing losers of five of their last seven, while the Mets have won five their last six. The Nats' lead over the Mets stands at 8 1/2 games. Left-hander Gio Gonzalez looks to improve on his outstanding start to the season - he's already 5-1 with a 2.91 ERA. Gonzalez beat the Mets 3-1 here April 22, 3-1. He went 6 1/3 innings, allowing only one run on two hits with three walks and six strikeouts. The Mets counter with...

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Nationals recall Matt Grace from Triple-A Syracuse, option Trevor Gott

June 15, 2017, 11:35am

Nationals

The Washington Nationals recalled left-handed pitcher Matt Grace from Triple-A Syracuse on Thursday and optioned right-handed pitcher Trevor Gott to Triple-A Syracuse. Nationals President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcement. Grace, 28, returns to the Nationals for his fifth Major League assignment of the 2017 season. He has appeared in 6.2 innings across seven relief appearances, allowing three earned runs on six hits. The left-hander has a 3.71 ERA in...

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Opposite dugout: Injuries have hurt Mets in quest to challenge for NL East lead

June 14, 2017, 10:42am

Nationals

Opposite dugout: Injuries have hurt Mets in quest to challenge for NL East lead

Manager: Terry Collins (7th season) Record: 30-34 Last 10 games: 6-4 Who to watch: 3B Wilmer Flores (.313), LF Yoenis CÃ©spedes (.307/.391/.653 with 7 HR, 15 RBIs), CF Michael Conforto (.292/.410/.589 with 14 HR, 36 RBIs), RF Jay Bruce (17 HR, 45 RBIs), RHP Jacob deGrom (5-3, 4.33 ERA), RHP Addison Reed (2.62 ERA, 11 saves) Season series vs. Nationals: 2-4 Pitching probables: June 15: LHP Gio Gonzalez vs. RHP Robert Gsellman, 7:10 p.m., MASN June 16: RHP Max Scherzer vs. LHP Steven Matz,...

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After dominant road trip, Nationals slog through 2-5 homestand

June 14, 2017, 4:24pm

Nationals

They came home one week ago, flying high after a 7-2 trip through California, and then, despite the lack of an off-day to recuperate, blew out the Orioles in a makeup game. What wasn't there to like about the Nationals at that moment? All along, though, Dusty Baker knew this was going to be an especially difficult stretch of the season for his team. Because of that makeup game, the Nationals found themselves needing to play 20 games in 20 days, never a manager's preference. So Baker couldn't...

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Nationals conclude 2017 MLB First-Year Player Draft

June 14, 2017, 4:59pm

Nationals

The Washington Nationals concluded Major League Baseball's 2017 First-Year Player Draft by selecting 30 players on Wednesday. Nationals President of Baseball Operations & General Manager Mike Rizzo and Assistant General Manager & Vice President of Scouting Operations Kris Kline made the joint announcement. Over the three-day draft, the Nationals selected a total of 40 players: 12 right-handed pitchers, eight left-handed pitchers, seven outfielders, nine infielders and four catchers. Of...

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Today's draftees include Baker's son, Cousins' cousin (Nats lose 13-2)

June 14, 2017, 12:25pm

Nationals

Today's draftees include Baker's son, Cousins' cousin (Nats lose 13-2)

On the final day of the 2017 First-Year Player Draft, the Nationals took a couple of kids with awfully recognizable last names. The Nationals drafted both Darren Baker (Dusty's son) and Jake Cousins (Kirk's cousin) amid their flurry of third-day picks that spanned 30 rounds. Darren Baker, 18, is an infielder who hit .396 with a .476 on-base percentage at Jesuit High School in suburban Sacramento, Calif. He has already committed to play for the University of California and is expected to...