Strasburg first major league pitcher to reach 10-0 this season

Strasburg first major league pitcher to reach 10-0 this season
Right-hander Stephen Strasburg became Major League Baseball's first 10-game winner with seven strong innings in which he bounced back from a slow start to lift the Nationals past the Phillies 9-6. Strasburg allowed four runs before the fourth inning, highlighted by a Tommy Joseph two-run shot that lifted the Phillies to the early 4-0 lead. The Nationals answered with two runs in the bottom of the third. Strasburg then rolled the Phillies, giving up no runs and no hits the rest of the way. He...

Game 62 lineups: Nats vs. Phillies

Game 62 lineups: Nats vs. Phillies
Slowly but surely, the Nationals are building their resume, piling up wins at a rate faster than any other big league club than the Cubs. They've now won eight of their last 11, moving to a season-best 13 games over .500. They're getting contributions from up and down their lineup. Their pitching staff continues to be among the best in the majors. And their defensive play remains outstanding. So the Nats will try to keep the ball rolling today, with an early 12:05 p.m. start against the...

Mike Rizzo on selecting eight position players out of first 11 picks

Mike Rizzo on selecting eight position players out of first 11 picks
The Nationals selected nine Division I college baseball players out of their first 11 picks in the 2016 First-Year Player Draft. In that lot, eight were position players, including two catchers. In a rare move for the Nationals, only three of their top 11 selections were pitchers. But when asked about that development, Nationals president of baseball operations and general manager Mike Rizzo was not surprised. "The players that we took certainly fell to us where we felt we were very, very...

Espinosa, Drew spark offense in Nats' 9-6 comeback win

Espinosa, Drew spark offense in Nats' 9-6 comeback win
The Nationals pulled off another comeback win during what has become a confidence-building run for the offense. Down 4-0 early, the Nationals reeled off nine unanswered runs. They ended up beating the Phillies 9-6, behind seven extra base hits. The Nats have now scored nine or more runs in four of their last five games. The beneficiary of the offensive burst Friday night was right-hander Stephen Strasburg, who became the first 10-0 starter in the majors. Strasburg struck out 10 batters - his...

Phillies get to Strasburg early, Nats rally for 9-6 victory

Phillies get to Strasburg early, Nats rally for 9-6 victory
The Phillies grabbed the early lead in the second inning against Stephen Strasburg. Cody Asche's RBI single scored Carlos Ruiz. Tyler Goeddel added a bunt single that plated Freddy Galvis and the Phillies jumped out to a 2-0 advantage. In the third, Tommy Joseph homered to left-center with a man on and suddenly it was 4-0 Phillies. The Nationals answered in their half of the third. Jayson Werth's sharp line drive turned into a double to left field, scoring Danny Espinosa and Ben Revere,...

Baker to adjust Saturday personnel after quick turnaround

Baker to adjust Saturday personnel after quick turnaround
Manager Dusty Baker and the Nationals arrived home early this morning, and the manager didn't get back to his place until 5 a.m., making for a stressful back-to-back tonight in D.C. as the Nats open a home series against the Phillies. "They are tough," Baker said. "You wish baseball could do something about this. Baseball is trying to make the game more competitive and more parity, but this is going the complete opposite way. We are not the only ones. There are a bunch of teams. Today is...

Nationals select eight players on second day of First-Year Player Draft

Nationals select eight players on second day of First-Year Player Draft
The Washington Nationals selected eight players on the second day of Major League Baseball's 2016 First-Year Player Draft. Nationals President of Baseball Operations & General Manager Mike Rizzo and Assistant General Manager & Vice President of Scouting Operations Kris Kline made the joint announcement. The Nationals kicked off Friday's action by selecting prep left-handed pitcher Jesus Luzardo out of Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla., in the third round. Luzardo is rated as...

Nats select left-hander Jesus Luzardo (updated through 10th round)

Nats select left-hander Jesus Luzardo (updated through 10th round)
With the 94th pick in the third round of the First-Year Player Draft, the Nationals selected left-hander Jesus Luzardo out of Stoneman Douglas High School in Florida. The southpaw underwent successful Tommy John surgery in March, according to Baseball America. The surgery was performed by Dr. James Andrews. His fastball was around 90 to 93 mph and touched 97 mph. Luzardo, 18, is listed at 6-foot-1, 205 1bs., played for the Elite Squad Prime U17, was a first team All-American Perfect Game...

Carter Kieboom on Nats' selection: "Really a dream come true"

Carter Kieboom on Nats' selection: "Really a dream come true"
The Nationals' top selection in the 2016 First-Year Player Draft met with the media on a conference call Friday. Shortstop Carter Kieboom, the younger brother of Double-A catcher Spencer Kieboom, was selected with the 28th pick in the opening round on Thursday night. "To be selected by the Nationals, that's very special," said the 6-foot-2, 185 lb. Carter Kieboom. "I've never been able to play with my older brothers. Now to be given the opportunity to potentially to play with Spencer in a...

Game 61 lineups: Phillies at Nats

Game 61 lineups: Phillies at Nats
The Nationals finally return home to face the team they started their most recent road trip against, the Phillies. Friday night's opener begins a six-game homestand for the Nats before they embark on another long trip June 16-26. The Nationals went 5-5 on their first long road trip. This time, against the Phillies, Reds and White Sox, they tallied an impressive 6-3 mark. The Nats were swept in their last matchup against the Phillies at Nationals Park, but returned the favor last week at...

On Gonzalez's rough first inning, dominant six after that

On Gonzalez's rough first inning, dominant six after that
CHICAGO - If you didn't watch last night's game and merely glanced at Gio Gonzalez's pitching line - 7 IP, 5 H, 3 ER, 2 BB, 10 K, 116 pitches - after the fact, you most likely would emerge with positive emotions. The end result may have been fine, but the process that got Gonzalez there was a bit less satisfying, certainly for the left-hander, who gave up all three of his runs in the first inning before flipping a switch and dominating the rest of the way. "I've got to get on the ball...

Nationals select Carter Kieboom and Dane Dunning in first round (updated)

Nationals select Carter Kieboom and Dane Dunning in first round (updated)
The Nationals have been impressed with the growth and ability of catcher Spencer Kieboom. The fifth-round selection in 2012 was placed on the 40-man roster November 20, 2015, alongside left-hander Nick Lee and infielder Chris Bostick. Kieboom is currently a catcher at Double-A Harrisburg. And staying in the family to begin the 2016 First-Year Player Draft, the Nationals selected Spencer's little brother, shortstop Carter Kieboom, out of Walton (Ga.) high school. Carter was selected with the...

Opposite dugout: Phillies starting to fade after hot start

Opposite dugout: Phillies starting to fade after hot start
Manager: Pete Mackanin (2nd season) Record: 29-31 Last 10 games: 3-7 Who to watch: CF Odubel Herrera (.318/.422/.431), 3B Maikel Franco (10 HR, 32 RBIs), SS Freddy Galvis (6 HR, 22 RBIs), RHP Aaron Nola (5-4, 2.65 ERA), RHP Jeanmar Gomez (2.61 ERA with 19 saves) Season series vs. Nationals: 4-5 Pitching probables: June 10: RHP Jeremy Hellickson vs. RHP Stephen Strasburg, 7:05 p.m., MASN June 11: RHP Aaron Nola vs. RHP Tanner Roark, 12:05 p.m., MASN June 12: LHP Adam Morgan vs. RHP Joe Ross,...

Nats bats go silent after explosive start to the week

Nats bats go silent after explosive start to the week
CHICAGO - No, they weren't going to score 10 runs every night the rest of the season. But after reaching double digits in three straight games, the notion of the Nationals being held to one run and five total baserunners (two of them coming with two outs in the ninth inning) sounded pretty implausible entering tonight's series finale against the White Sox. By the time they trudged off the field following a 3-1 loss that was completed in a scant 2 hours, 21 minutes, that's exactly what the...

Nationals can't overcome early deficit, lose 3-1 to White Sox

Nationals can't overcome early deficit, lose 3-1 to White Sox
CHICAGO - A three-run first inning off Gio Gonzalez put the Nationals in an early hole. And even though the left-hander recovered nicely from that inauspicious first frame, his teammates couldn't duplicate their recent offensive exploits in their series finale against the White Sox, losing 3-1 to wrap up their longest road trip of the season. Miguel Gonzalez, the former Orioles right-hander now trying bounce back with the White Sox, carried a perfect game into the fifth inning and departed...

Miguel Gonzalez outdueling Gio Gonzalez early (Nats lose 3-1)

Miguel Gonzalez outdueling Gio Gonzalez early (Nats lose 3-1)
CHICAGO - Gio Gonzalez has been perfect since struggling in the first inning. But Miguel Gonzalez has been perfect from the moment he took the mound tonight, leaving the Nationals in trouble early in their series finale against the White Sox. The Nationals don't have a baserunner in four innings against Miguel Gonzalez, the former Orioles right-hander given an opportunity to start for the White Sox tonight after left-hander Carlos Rodon was scratched with neck and shoulder stiffness. There...

Nationals select third baseman Sheldon Neuse 58th overall in 2016 First-Year Player Draft

Nationals select third baseman Sheldon Neuse 58th overall in 2016 First-Year Player Draft
The Washington Nationals selected third baseman Sheldon Neuse out of the University of Oklahoma with the 58th-overall selection in the 2016 First-Year Player Draft. Nationals president of baseball operations and general manager Mike Rizzo and assistant general manager & vice president of scouting operations Kris Kline made the joint announcement. A 6-foot, 195-pound junior, Neuse hit .369 (73-for-198) with 15 doubles, five triples, 10 home runs, 48 RBIs, 39 walks, 12 stolen bases and 42...

Five-day layoff doesn't slow down productive Zimmerman

Five-day layoff doesn't slow down productive Zimmerman
CHICAGO - From a personal standpoint, Ryan Zimmerman couldn't have timed his paternity leave much better. Zimmerman's wife, Heather, gave birth to the couple's second daughter Thursday (an off-day for the Nationals). Then Zimmerman missed his team's three-game series in Cincinnati while officially on the paternity leave list. Then he got to take advantage of another off-day for the Nationals before rejoining them here Tuesday night for the opener of their interleague series against the...

Nationals select shortstop Carter Keiboom and right-hander Dane Dunning with first two selections in 2016 First-Year Player Draft

Nationals select shortstop Carter Keiboom and right-hander Dane Dunning with first two selections in 2016 First-Year Player Draft
The Washington Nationals selected prep shortstop Carter Kieboom out of Walton (GA) High School with the 28th-overall pick in the 2016 First-Year Player Draft and followed that selection with collegiate right-handed pitcher Dane Dunning out of the University of Florida with the 29th-overall selection. Nationals president of baseball operations and general manager Mike Rizzo and assistant general manager & vice president of scouting operations Kris Kline made the joint announcement. Kieboom,...

Game 60 lineups: Nats at White Sox

Game 60 lineups: Nats at White Sox
CHICAGO - The good news: It's warmer today than it was either of the previous two days, when temperatures never got out of the 60s. The bad news: It's raining. And it's not supposed to stop all night. What that means for the series finale between the Nationals and White Sox: This could be dicey. The problem is that the Nats don't return to Chicago again this season. So a postponement would require a special trip back here at some point. Which nobody ever wants to do. But the Nats also...