nationals

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

August 26, 2016, 7:29pm

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...

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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...

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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...

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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...

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Lobaton's unique skill set provides perfect change of pace for Nats hurlers

August 26, 2016, 5:25am

Nationals Orioles

Lobaton's unique skill set provides perfect change of pace for Nats hurlers

Right-hander Max Scherzer returned to form Thursday night in the Nationals' 4-0 victory over the Orioles. Scherzer recorded at least 10 strikeouts for the 11th time this season to improve to 14-7. His 227 strikeouts this season lead the major leagues. One element of yesterday's win that was different than most of his previous starts this season was his batterymate. Backup catcher Jose Lobaton replaced starter Wilson Ramos. Manager Dusty Baker said before the game he wanted to give Ramos a day...

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Game 128 lineups: Nats vs. Rockies

August 26, 2016, 11:13am

Nationals

After the excitement and drama of the four-day, two-city Beltways Series, the Nationals get back to business this weekend with the Rockies in town. Max Scherzer saved the bullpen last night with his dominant eight-inning performance. But in order to keep that bullpen from getting burned up again, Gio Gonzalez will need to follow up his rotation mate with a strong start of his own tonight. Gonzalez will be working with Jose Lobaton, a pairing that has enjoyed plenty of success in the past. That...

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Rzepczynski thrilled to join Nationals after whirlwind day

August 25, 2016, 7:51pm

Nationals

Marc Rzepczynski was taking a nap in Northern California when he was startled to find out he'd just been traded from the Athletics to the Nationals. Not upset, mind you, because he was suddenly heading from a last-place club to a first-place club for the final six weeks of a pennant race. But the veteran left-hander's life was suddenly being uprooted, and his new team needed him on the other side of the country ASAP. "I was actually taking a nap when this happened," Rzepczynski said. "We...

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Scherzer shows he's "the guy" in latest dominant performance

August 25, 2016, 7:18pm

Nationals Orioles

Scherzer shows he's "the guy" in latest dominant performance

Jose Lobaton doesn't get very many opportunities to catch Max Scherzer. He's only been behind the plate with the Nationals' $210 million right-hander eight times in two seasons. But, boy, does he savor those opportunities, especially when they come in particularly big games like tonight's 4-0 win over the Orioles. "He's in the moment," Lobaton said. "He wants to show that he's the guy. I love that. I love that." Scherzer most definitely was "the guy" tonight. With his team mired in...

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Opposite dugout: Rockies offense trying to carry club to first .500 finish since 2010

August 25, 2016, 1:02pm

Nationals

Opposite dugout: Rockies offense trying to carry club to first .500 finish since 2010

Manager: Walt Weiss (4th season) Record: 60-67 Last 10 games: 4-6 Who to watch: 3B Nolan Arenado (.286/.356/.567 with 34 HR, 108 RBIs), 2B DJ LeMahieu (.344 /.416/.501 with 10 HR, 50 RBIs), CF Charlie Blackmon (.318/.378/.531 with 21 HR, 60 RBIs), RF Carlos Gonzalez (.313/.361/.544 with 23 HR, 80 RBIs), LHP Jorge De La Rosa (8-7, 5.07 ERA), LHP Boone Logan (3.11 ERA with 22 holds) Season series vs. Nationals: 2-1 Pitching probables: Aug. 26: RHP Jeff Hoffman vs. LHP Gio Gonzalez, 7:05 p.m.,...

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Scherzer returns to vintage form in Nats' shutout of Orioles

August 25, 2016, 5:47pm

Nationals Orioles

Scherzer returns to vintage form in Nats' shutout of Orioles

The Nationals were desperate to end their four-game losing streak on Thursday. In order to accomplish that task, they needed a solid outing from their ace right-hander Max Scherzer. Scherzer delivered. It was vintage Max. Allowing only two hits over seven innings, Scherzer and the Nationals finally got to the Orioles 4-0. Scherzer allowed no runs on two hits with no walks and 10 strikeouts to improve to 14-7. Scherzer has recorded 11 10-plus strikeout games this season and now has 47 for his...

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Harper hitting his stride at plate crucial for Nats to get rolling again

August 25, 2016, 7:10pm

Nationals

Harper hitting his stride at plate crucial for Nats to get rolling again

The Nationals downed the Orioles 4-0 to end their four-game losing streak behind eight shutout innings from Max Scherzer. Right fielder Bryce Harper perfectly placed a two-run double down the left field line to highlight a three-run eighth inning, adding crucial insurance to a 1-0 lead. After watching the Orioles put up 18 runs in their last two games against the Nats, Harper knew that 1-0 would not hold up against a team with that kind of firepower. So the three runs in the eighth provided a...

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Scherzer piling up strikeouts again (Nationals win 4-0)

August 25, 2016, 3:53pm

Nationals Orioles

Scherzer piling up strikeouts again (Nationals win 4-0)

Max Scherzer strikes out a lot of batters but gives up lots of homers. The Orioles lineup strikes out a lot but hits a lot of homers. Which makes for an intriguing matchup tonight in the finale of the Beltway Series at Nationals Park. One that so far is being dominated by Scherzer. The Nationals ace has retired the first nine Baltimore batters he's faced, striking out six of them. He's done this on a scant 35 pitches. As is so often the case, Scherzer offers up ample evidence early what kind...

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Rzepczynski available to pitch tonight, Lopez optioned to Triple-A

August 25, 2016, 2:02pm

Nationals Orioles

Rzepczynski available to pitch tonight, Lopez optioned to Triple-A

Marc Rzepczynski has arrived in Washington. And apparently traffic was light enough getting into town from Dulles that the newly acquired reliever has made it to Nationals Park in time to be eligible for tonight's game. "There's a chance," manager Dusty Baker said earlier this afternoon, perhaps underestimating how difficult it typically is to make that 30-mile drive into town during rush hour. Turns out Baker's optimism was warranted, though, and so Rzepczynski will be at his disposal out...

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Baker says Strasburg's elbow soreness in different location from Tommy John surgery

August 25, 2016, 1:57pm

Nationals

Baker says Strasburg's elbow soreness in different location from Tommy John surgery

Nationals manager Dusty Baker went out to watch Joe Ross (right shoulder inflammation, July 3) and Reynaldo Lopez through their bullpen sessions. While out there, he got to see right-hander Stephen Strasburg (right elbow soreness, August 21) throw the baseball, too. "It was coming out pretty easy," Baker noted. "I asked him how he felt afterwards. He said he felt pretty good. I had seen his spin rate was different or less, and he sort of laughed about it. As long as it's spinning in the...

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Game 127 lineups: Nats vs. Orioles

August 25, 2016, 11:09am

Nationals Orioles

The Nationals didn't expect to find themselves in this position, needing to beat the Orioles tonight to avoid a four-game sweep, but here they are nonetheless. They'll ask Max Scherzer to stop the bleeding and give this team the dominant start it so desperately needs. No word yet if the newly acquired Marc Rzepczynski - I'm getting good at spelling his name without having to check first - will be here in time to be activate for tonight's game. At this point, the Nats haven't announced a...

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Harper designs cap for Harper's Heroes, charity seeking cure for leukemia

August 25, 2016, 4:36am

Nationals

Harper designs cap for Harper's Heroes, charity seeking cure for leukemia

Nationals right fielder Bryce Harper co-announced with the New Era Cap Company a new cap that he helped to design for Harper's Heroes, a charitable organization created to raise awareness and benefit the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. On Wednesday, Bill Adams, vice president of U.S. Sales for New Era, Nationals president of baseball operations and general manager Mike Rizzo and Harper made the joint announcement that the newly designed Harper's Heroes baseball cap will be available...

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Nats acquire lefty Rzepczynski from A's for infielder Schrock

August 25, 2016, 7:44am

Nationals

Nats acquire lefty Rzepczynski from A's for infielder Schrock

Desperate for left-handed relief after Felipe Rivero was traded, Sammy Solis was injured and Oliver Perez was ineffective, the Nationals have acquired veteran Marc Rzepczynski from the Athletics for minor league infielder Max Schrock. The trade also includes cash coming from the A's to the Nationals to cover some of the roughly $600,000 Rzepczynski is still owed this season. Rzepczynski - his name is pronounced "zep-CHIN-skee" but he also goes by the nickname "Scrabble" - owns a 3.87 ERA...

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Turner matches franchise record with 8-for-8 streak

August 24, 2016, 8:44pm

Nationals Orioles

Turner matches franchise record with 8-for-8 streak

Trea Turner knew he had gone 8-for-8 over the last two nights - "I mean, if you don't, you're lying," he said. "Everyone thinks about it." - but he didn't know he had tied a franchise record in the process. Not until Turner went back to watch video of his final at-bat of Wednesday night's game, his ninth-inning strikeout, did he see a graphic on the screen pointing out he needed one more hit to break the record set previously by the Expos' Andre Dawson in 1983 and the Nationals'...

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Nationals acquire left-hander Marc Rzepczynski

August 25, 2016, 7:12am

Nationals

The Washington Nationals acquired left-handed pitcher Marc Rzepczynski and cash considerations from the Oakland Athletics on Thursday in exchange for Minor League infielder Max Schrock. Nationals president of baseball operations and general manager Mike Rizzo made the announcement. Rzepczynski, 30, comes to the Nationals with a 1-0 record and a 3.00 ERA in 56 appearances out of Oakland's bullpen this season. An eight-year major league veteran, Rzepczynski has also enjoyed big league time with...

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David Huzzard: Nats will be ready come October

August 25, 2016, 5:23am

Nationals

David Huzzard: Nats will be ready come October

The Nationals' current four-game losing streak feels like the longest losing streak of the season. It isn't. That happened back in June when they lost seven in a row. This probably feels like a longer losing streak because the Nationals played so poorly against the Braves in order to test just how bad they were. The Nats found out that the Braves are very bad. The Orioles aren't a bad team, and so playing poorly against them has had much more disastrous results. Each loss by the Nationals...