nationals

The good, and the not-so-good, from a Nationals victory

April 07, 2017, 4:31pm

PHILADELPHIA - Four games into his team's season, Dusty Baker hasn't had a whole lot of opportunity to relax and enjoy managing a first place club. His Nationals may be 3-1, but all four games have been tense, down-to-the-wire affairs, perhaps none more than today's contest at Citizens Bank Park. It didn't have to be that way. The Nats led by seven runs after five innings and were well on their way to giving Baker some well-deserved R&R. And then ... well, that seven-run lead somehow...

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Nats go deep early, hang on late for 7-6 win over Phillies

April 07, 2017, 2:44pm

Nationals

Nats go deep early, hang on late for 7-6 win over Phillies

PHILADELPHIA - Bryce Harper, Daniel Murphy and Jayson Werth all launched multi-run homers, and Max Scherzer dominated the Phillies once again at Citizens Bank Park. But what should've been an easy Nationals victory this afternoon instead turned into near-disaster before Blake Treinen hung on for dear life to wrap up a 7-6 victory. An announced crowd of 45,121 braved wind chills in the 30s for the Phillies' home opener, only to suffer through a shellacking for five innings at the hands of the...

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Nats early offense: lots of homers, not a lot of two-out hits

April 07, 2017, 9:53am

Nationals

Nats early offense: lots of homers, not a lot of two-out hits

PHILADELPHIA - The good news about the Nationals lineup so far this season: They've hit six home runs in three games, third-most in the majors. The bad news about the Nationals lineup so far this season: They've scored 13 total runs in those three games, tied for 12th in the majors. That's in only three games, of course, so be careful not to read too much into it. But manager Dusty Baker already is harping on the importance of hitting with runners in scoring position, a skill he believes is...

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Opposite dugout: Rebuilding Phillies could pose a pesky problem

April 05, 2017, 6:16pm

Nationals

Opposite dugout: Rebuilding Phillies could pose a pesky problem

Manager: Pete Mackanin (4th season) Record: 1-2 Last 10 games: 1-2 Who to watch: 3B Maikel Franco (25 HR, 88 RBIs), 2B CÃ©sar HernÃ¡ndez (.294/.371/.393 with 17 SB), CF OdÃºbel Herrera (.296 with 15 HR, 25 SB), 1B Tommy Joseph (21 HR), SS Freddy Galvis (21 HR), RHP Jeremy Hellickson (12-10, 3.71 ERA), RHP Jeanmar GÃ³mez (43 saves) Season series vs. Nationals: First meeting (5-14 in 2016) Pitching probables: April 7: RHP Max Scherzer (20-7, 2.96 ERA) vs. RHP Vince Velasquez (8-6, 4.12...

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Harper and Murphy go deep, Scherzer cruising (Nats win 7-6)

April 07, 2017, 12:28pm

Nationals

Harper and Murphy go deep, Scherzer cruising (Nats win 7-6)

PHILADELPHIA - Earlier this afternoon, noting how five of his team's six home runs to start this season have come with nobody on base, Dusty Baker joked that "homers are fine, but multi-run homers are better." Members of the Nationals lineup must've been eavesdropping, because they're putting that practice to work in today's game against the Phillies. Bryce Harper and Daniel Murphy each have launched two-run homers early, giving the Nats a 4-0 lead on a frigid opening day at Citizens Bank...

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Game 4 lineups: Nats at Phillies

April 07, 2017, 7:39am

Nationals

PHILADELPHIA - Hello from Citizens Bank Park, where a couple of sleepy teams will take the field today for the home opener. The Nationals rolled into town around 1 a.m. following their twice-delayed 10-inning loss to the Marlins. The Phillies, meanwhile, flew in from Cincinnati last night following their loss to the Reds. So it'll be a quick turnaround for today's 3:05 p.m. first pitch. The Nationals will get a boost from the sight of Max Scherzer on the mound for the first time this season....

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Gonzalez continues consistent pitching into regular season with quality start

April 06, 2017, 7:15pm

Nationals

Gonzalez continues consistent pitching into regular season with quality start

Nationals left-hander Gio Gonzalez put together a tremendous quality start (no decision) in a rain-delayed 4-3 10-inning loss to the Marlins Thursday night. Working with a quick tempo, Gonzalez got ahead of Marlins hitters all day, not allowing a run over six innings. He was able to scatter seven hits, striking out seven and showing tremendous command; his only walk was intentional in the sixth. Manager Dusty Baker was impressed with how Gonzalez was able to not allow the Marlins to ever...

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Hot start: Zimmerman treating April like it's August

April 07, 2017, 4:56am

Nationals

Hot start: Zimmerman treating April like it's August

Ryan Zimmerman is doing it again. This time he reached down and drove a ball to the deepest part of the park - vintage of his walk-off home run against the Braves to win the inaugural game at Nats Park. Another line drive laser that went 402 feet, bounced off the grass on the berm in center field and was finally reviewed as a homer. Remember when he hit that home run in Game 2 against the Marlins to right-center? That's an indication he has his swing back to where it was. But this center field...

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After adjusted spring prep, Scherzer ready for season debut

April 06, 2017, 1:39pm

Nationals

After adjusted spring prep, Scherzer ready for season debut

PHILADELPHIA - You wouldn't think there's anything special about Max Scherzer taking the mound later today at Citizens Bank Park, his first start of the season. That's no real accomplishment, right? "It's a major accomplishment," Scherzer insisted. Well, yes, considering what it took to ensure the Nationals ace would be ready to pitch a big league game in the first week of the season. "You've got to remember, the first time I picked up a baseball was the first day of spring," he said....

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David Huzzard: The dilemma of picking MVP between Harper and Turner

April 06, 2017, 3:28pm

Nationals

David Huzzard: The dilemma of picking MVP between Harper and Turner

I have a bit of a dilemma. It isn't a bad dilemma. It is a situation Nationals fans would be agreeable to and one many would call me an overly bright-eyed optimist for predicting, and it is this: I can't decide who to pick for National League MVP, Bryce Harper or Trea Turner. From all indications, Harper is poised to have a season much like 2015 and Turner is ready to pick up where he left off in 2016. That makes it a hard choice. Is it the shortstop who is likely to hit 20 homers and steal...

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Nationals relievers cope with first blown lead of 2017

April 06, 2017, 7:00pm

Nationals

During the first week of the season, when everything is magnified, it's easy to fall into the trap of drawing long-term conclusions on both positive and negative developments. Two games into their season, the Nationals bullpen looked like a strength, their new closer up to the challenge. Three games into their season, that same bullpen looks like a weakness, the new closer unable to deliver when he really needs to deliver. Truth be told, neither answer is fair at this ridiculously early...

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Eaton launches first D.C. homer (Nats fall 4-3 in 10)

April 06, 2017, 2:34pm

Nationals

Eaton launches first D.C. homer (Nats fall 4-3 in 10)

Adam Eaton spent his first two days with the Nationals getting on base just about every chance he got. He opened his third day in D.C. showing everybody he also knows how to circle the bases. Eaton launched his first home run with his new team this afternoon, sending a solo shot over the out-of-town scoreboard in right-center field to give the Nats a quick 1-0 lead over the Marlins in their rain-delayed series finale. The center fielder, acquired from the White Sox over the winter for three...

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Bullpen struggles send Nats to first loss of season, 4-3 in 10

April 06, 2017, 5:54pm

Nationals

Bullpen struggles send Nats to first loss of season, 4-3 in 10

A marathon game that included more than two hours of rain delays, back-and-forth bullpen blow-ups and then extra innings ended with a first for the Nationals this season: a loss. Justin Bour's two-out double off Joe Blanton in the top of the 10th brought J.T. Realmuto all the way around from first to score the run that gave the Marlins a wild 4-3 victory at Nationals Park, a frustrating end to a frustratingly long day and night at the ballpark for the previously unbeaten home club. Despite...

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Scherzer on Roark, Baker on bullpen and minor league rainouts

April 06, 2017, 10:39am

Nationals

Scherzer on Roark, Baker on bullpen and minor league rainouts

Right-hander Max Scherzer is relieved that the knuckle injury he suffered at the end of last season is fully recovered and he is feeling 100 percent as he prepares to make his season debut tomorrow afternoon in Philadelphia. Wednesday night, starter Tanner Roark (1-0) got roughed up early but managed to pitch six innings in a 6-4 win over the Marlins. It was only the third start for Roark with the Nationals since March 5 because of his involvement in the World Baseball Classic and Friday's...

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Nats planning to start Guthrie on Saturday in Philadelphia

April 06, 2017, 11:33am

Nationals

Nats planning to start Guthrie on Saturday in Philadelphia

Though the Nationals haven't announced anything yet, Jeremy Guthrie is lined up to start Saturday's game against the Phillies, completing a remarkable journey back to the big leagues as a member of one of baseball's best rotations. The club announced Max Scherzer as the starter for Friday afternoon's game at Citizens Bank Park, with Stephen Strasburg pitching Sunday's series finale (and thus getting an extra day of rest after his opening day start Monday). Saturday's starter is "TBA"...

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Game 3 lineups: Nats vs. Marlins

April 06, 2017, 8:06am

Nationals

I know what you're thinking: There's no way they can play baseball in D.C. today. Well, that may prove to be true, but I don't think we're going to get definitive word on that for a while. Because as hard as it is raining right now, and as much as it's expected to continue raining this afternoon, it is expected to stop at some point, perhaps sometime around or shortly after scheduled first pitch at 4:05 p.m. So in other words, stay tuned. If they do play, the Nationals will be going for...

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Despite lineup not completely in tune, Nats are 2-0

April 05, 2017, 8:10pm

Nationals

Despite lineup not completely in tune, Nats are 2-0

The lineup is not clicking on all cylinders, yet the Nationals are 2-0, courtesy of two comeback wins over the Marlins. On Monday, the Nationals got a pinch-hit two-run homer from Adam Lind in a 4-2 win. On Wednesday, the Nationals plated four runs in the fourth inning to top the Marlins 6-4. But even with 11 hits on the board in Game 2, there was Trea Turner and Anthony Rendon going 0-for-4. Even with Daniel Murphy going 2-for-4 with a run scored and an RBI, manager Dusty Baker admits his...

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An eventful debut for Enny Romero out of Nats bullpen

April 05, 2017, 8:16pm

Nationals

An eventful debut for Enny Romero out of Nats bullpen

Enny Romero's first pitch as a National didn't go quite where he wanted it to go. Nor did it produce the kind of reaction he or anyone else in the park Wednesday night could have foreseen. Summoned by manager Dusty Baker to pitch the seventh inning with his team up four runs, Romero threw his very first pitch inside to Derek Dietrich, striking the Marlins third baseman in the elbow with a 98 mph fastball. Dietrich, who was one of two Miami batters hit by starter Tanner Roark earlier in the...

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Rusty Roark still finds a way to pitch Nationals to victory

April 05, 2017, 7:49pm

Nationals

Two innings into his season debut, Tanner Roark might well have been forced into changing his goals for the night. His pitch count at 46, his command unusually off, he could have gone into survival mode and hoped simply to reach the fifth inning without the game getting out of hand. Fast-forward an hour or so, and there was Roark walking off the mound to a hearty ovation from the crowd at Nationals Park, having retired 13 of the last 14 batters he faced and having turned what could have been a...

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Healthy Zimmerman connecting early with solo home run

April 05, 2017, 7:28pm

Nationals

Healthy Zimmerman connecting early with solo home run

First baseman Ryan Zimmerman delivered a big time solo homer early in Wednesday's game, when not much was going right for the Nationals offense, already trailing 2-0 to the Marlins. Miami starter Dan Straily had recorded four consecutive outs to begin the game. But with one out in the second inning, Zimmerman lined a solo shot over the right-center field fence to get the Nationals rolling. The Nats would go on to score five more runs, highlighted by a four-run fourth inning, in a 6-4 comeback...