nationals

Murphy makes the Mets pay again with pair of homers

June 29, 2016, 8:06pm

Daniel Murphy won't ever say it, at least not publicly, so Max Scherzer was left to explain how his attention-deflecting teammate feels about his performance against the Mets this season. "It's just obvious that he wants to beat 'em up," Scherzer said. "It's obvious. Everybody wants to. When you face your former team, you obviously want to get the best of them. For him to come out here and really slug against them, it puts a smile on all of our faces because we know what he's going...

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Daniel Murphy with Nats has been biggest plus in race for division crown

June 30, 2016, 4:36am

Nationals

Daniel Murphy with Nats has been biggest plus in race for division crown

Of all the changes to the Nationals this season, such as the bullpen or the resurgence of Wilson Ramos, the biggest positive change is the addition of second baseman Daniel Murphy. And in no other series is that difference more profound than when Murphy does his damage against the team he guided to the World Series in 2015. Murphy launched seven homers and 11 RBIs in winning the National League Championship Series MVP honors for the Mets last year. Against his former team, Murphy has been off...

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David Huzzard: The Marlins are now the Nats' biggest threat

June 30, 2016, 4:49am

Nationals

David Huzzard: The Marlins are now the Nats' biggest threat

All this time, we, Nats fans, have been focused on the Mets, and after a horrific road trip by the Nationals and a sweep of New York, there is a new contender. It would have been nice if the sweep of the Mets reset the terrible occurrence of the road trip, but it instead gave rise to a new threat: the Miami Marlins. There is only a half-game difference between the Marlins and Mets in the standings, but the Fish are in second when they weren't expected to even be contending for the division....

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Even in June, Nats recognize significance of Mets sweep

June 29, 2016, 7:38pm

Nationals

Even in June, Nats recognize significance of Mets sweep

It's the last week of June and the season isn't quite halfway complete yet, so there's only so much significance that can be applied to a three-game series at this point. The Nationals didn't make a profound statement this week. There's too much time left for that script to be flipped, as everyone in Washington painfully found out one year ago. Then again, it's not like anyone inside the home clubhouse tonight was complaining about a 4-2 victory that completed a series sweep of the...

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Opposite dugout: Reds continue to scuffle in tough NL Central

June 29, 2016, 6:37pm

Nationals

Opposite dugout: Reds continue to scuffle in tough NL Central

Manager: Bryan Price (3rd season) Record: 29-50 Last 10 games: 2-8 Who to watch: RF Jay Bruce (.279, 17 HR, 59 RBIs), SS Zack Cozart (.266, 11 HR, 32 RBIs), CF Billy Hamilton (19 stolen bases, 51 hits), RHP Blake Wood (5-1, 3.29 ERA), RHP Anthony DeSclafani (2-0, 1.52 ERA) Season series vs. Nationals: 2-1 Pitching probables: June 30: LHP Brandon Finnegan vs. LHP Gio Gonzalez, 7:05 p.m., MASNJuly 1: RHP Anthony DeSclafani vs. RHP Tanner Roark, 6:05 p.m., MASNJuly 2: RHP Dan Straily vs. RHP...

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Nats ride Scherzer, Murphy to 4-2 win and sweep of Mets

June 29, 2016, 6:02pm

Nationals

Nats ride Scherzer, Murphy to 4-2 win and sweep of Mets

The Nationals already had this key series won after back-to-back victories the last two nights. But they weren't satisfied with that, so tonight they went for the jugular and succeeded, riding another dominant performance from Max Scherzer and a pair of Daniel Murphy homers to a 4-2 win and a series sweep of the Mets. Scherzer allowed just two hits over 7 1/3 sparkling innings, retiring 18 batters in a row at one point and striking out 10 to lead the way. Murphy accounted for three of the...

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Nats sign Latos to minor league deal, Papelbon throws sim game

June 29, 2016, 2:10pm

Nationals

Nats sign Latos to minor league deal, Papelbon throws sim game

Seeking some insurance in case a need for experienced pitching arises down the road, the Nationals have come to terms with journeyman Mat Latos on a minor league contract. Latos' deal won't be official until he passes a physical, according to a club source, but once that happens, he'll report to the Nationals' minor league complex in Viera, Fla., and attempt to work his way back after a tumultuous stretch that has seen him employed by five different franchises in the last 365 days. The...

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Scherzer sharp early vs. depleted Mets (Nationals win 4-2)

June 29, 2016, 4:17pm

Nationals

Max Scherzer has dominated a depleted Mets lineup before. He won't be duplicating his end-of-season no-hitter tonight, but the Nationals ace is dealing and looking as sharp as he has in his previous historic starts. Scherzer has tossed three scoreless innings so far, striking out six as he attempts to lead the Nats to a series sweep over New York. Daniel Murphy's solo homer - his third against his former team already this season - gave the Nationals an early 1-0 lead, and Jayson Werth added a...

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Game 79 lineups: Nats at Mets

June 29, 2016, 11:19am

Nationals

Three days ago, the Nationals were mired in a seven-game losing streak, unable to drive in a run in a key spot, with a daunting series against the Mets looming. Since then, they have won three games in a row (one over the Brewers, two over the Mets) and tonight they have a chance to sweep their chief division rivals and expand their lead over them to six games. Quite a turn of events, huh? In order to pull it off, Max Scherzer will need to put together a strong start tonight. Or at the very...

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Ramos still hitting, Harper homers and bullpen delivers

June 28, 2016, 9:51pm

Nationals

Ramos still hitting, Harper homers and bullpen delivers

Lucas Giolito got most of the attention last night and deservedly so, despite the odd nature of his rain-shortened, major league debut. But there were some other noteworthy developments during the Nationals' 5-0 victory over the Mets, so let's give some of those their due ... * Wilson Ramos continues to hit as well as any hitter in baseball. With a 2-for-4 night that included a two-run double, the Nats catcher extended his current hitting streak to 11 games, during which he's batting .383...

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Rain can't spoil Giolito's long-awaited major league debut

June 28, 2016, 9:30pm

Nationals

Rain can't spoil Giolito's long-awaited major league debut

Like every kid who grows up with a baseball in one hand, a bat in the other and the imagination to believe anything is possible, Lucas Giolito had played out his major league debut in his own mind plenty of times. But did he ever envision that debut being interrupted twice by rain, the second delay dragging on long enough to prevent him from re-taking the mound despite his effectiveness? "Not once," the 21-year-old said with a laugh. "I never saw rain in the forecast at all. I thought it...

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Charlie Fliegel: Where would Ben Revere be most productive?

June 29, 2016, 5:12am

Nationals

Charlie Fliegel: Where would Ben Revere be most productive?

Ben Revere had a really good day on Monday, going 4-for-5. Maybe it's a sign that he's returning to form. Then again, he didn't get a hit last night. But even if he is getting back to his old self, he still can be a divisive player. That's because he's the kind of hitter that is ideal for a sabermetric vs. traditionalist head-butting. As a speedster who (usually) hits for a high batting average, he is an old school dream at leadoff. On the other hand, he has an unimpressive OBP and sees...

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Lucas Giolito's debut cut short by rain in Nats' 5-0 win

June 28, 2016, 8:15pm

Nationals

Lucas Giolito's debut cut short by rain in Nats' 5-0 win

Given all the hype and hoopla that surrounded tonight's Mets-Nationals game featuring the major league debut of top prospect Lucas Giolito, the first word that comes to mind to sum up the night for the right-hander is bummer. Not because of his performance, far from it. No, it was a bummer because of the 55-minute delay before the game started and then the 1-hour, 25-minute rain delay that cut Giolito's debut short in the fourth inning. Sadly, the rookie didn't get a decision in a 5-0...

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Giolito dealing with Mets, rain (Nationals win 5-0)

June 28, 2016, 4:55pm

Nationals

The biggest threat to Lucas Giolito so far in his major league debut hasn't been the Mets lineup. It's the weather. A heavy cell of storms delayed the first pitch of Giolito's career for 55 minutes tonight. Now the Nationals rookie is trying to record as many outs as he can before the next cell hits. With ominous clouds hovering above Nationals Park, Giolito is pitching like a seasoned pro, not a 21-year-old just promoted from Double-A. He has tossed three scoreless innings to begin his...

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Strasburg's MRI shows "nothing serious" (we're underway)

June 28, 2016, 1:47pm

Nationals

Strasburg's MRI shows "nothing serious" (we're underway)

The Nationals remain optimistic that the injury that landed Stephen Strasburg on the disabled list isn't serious and that the right-hander will be able to return to their rotation soon after getting a positive report from medical tests administered over the last two days. Results of Strasburg's MRI confirmed the Nationals' initial diagnosis of a strained upper back, encouraging news for the club. "Nothing serious," manager Dusty Baker said. "As we had hoped it wasn't." Strasburg was...

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Game 78 lineups: Nats vs. Mets

June 28, 2016, 11:10am

Nationals

There's nothing quite like a major league debut. Every single one of them, no matter how hyped, is a big deal, literally a once-in-a-lifetime moment for a young man who gets to realize his dream. There are, of course, debuts that are bigger than others, and tonight we will be witnessing one of those when Lucas Giolito takes the mound shortly after 7 p.m. The 21-year-old right-hander may not be pitching tonight with as much hoopla surrounding him as Stephen Strasburg had six years ago, but he...

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Dusty Baker on Wilson Ramos: "He is my field general"

June 28, 2016, 3:01pm

Nationals

Dusty Baker on Wilson Ramos: "He is my field general"

Much is being said about Lucas Giolito's highly anticipated major league debut tonight at Nationals Park. Giolito is the Nationals' top prospect, he has a big presence on the mound, he's got a powerful fastball and a killer curveball. Every move he makes tonight will be carefully watched and analyzed by media and fans alike. But there's also a second part to Giolito's debut, one that might be getting overlooked a bit as all eyes focus on the 21-year-old: his batterymate, Wilson Ramos....

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Nats confident Giolito can handle pressure of tonight's debut

June 27, 2016, 8:41pm

Nationals

Nats confident Giolito can handle pressure of tonight's debut

The Nationals have seen their share of players take the field for much-hyped, big league debuts during their first 12 seasons of existence. Stephen Strasburg's inaugural appearance in 2010, of course, tops the list, but Bryce Harper's arrival in 2012 stands right alongside it. And more than just die-hard fans recognized the significance of the first games in the careers of top prospects like Jordan Zimmermann, Anthony Rendon, Trea Turner, Ian Desmond, Drew Storen and (once-upon-a-time) Ryan...

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Nationals select contract of right-hander Lucas Giolito

June 28, 2016, 11:29am

Nationals

The Washington Nationals selected the contract of right-handed pitcher Lucas Giolito from Double-A Harrisburg on Tuesday and optioned right-hander Rafael Martin to Triple-A Syracuse. Additionally, right-handed pitcher Taylor Jordan was granted his release. Nationals President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcements. Arguably the top pitching prospect in the game, Giolito joins the Nationals for the first Major League assignment of his career. The promising...

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How the Nats turned a four-run deficit into a seven-run victory

June 27, 2016, 8:10pm

Nationals

How the Nats turned a four-run deficit into a seven-run victory

They were down four runs already to their chief division rivals, their starting pitcher getting rocked and an imposing flamethrower on the mound for the opposition who had pitched his way out of a bases-loaded, no-out jam in the bottom of the first. Given the way things had been going for the Nationals over the last week or so, you could forgive them if they were a bit demoralized at this particular moment, trailing Noah Syndergaard and the Mets in uninspired fashion. To listen to them describe...