nationals

Scherzer in trouble after walks, grand slam (Nats lose 6-2)

May 27, 2016, 4:15pm

Home runs have been Max Scherzer's biggest bugaboo since late last summer. Walks? Not so much. But add a bunch of free passes to yet another bomb surrendered by Scherzer, and the Nationals ace really finds himself in trouble. The Cardinals pounced on Scherzer during a five-run top of the third tonight, the big blast coming via Stephen Piscotty's first career grand slam, taking control of this Friday matchup on South Capitol Street. The home run - the 15th Scherzer has surrendered in 69 1/3...

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With regular reps, Werth finally becoming comfortable in left field

May 27, 2016, 1:53pm

Nationals

With regular reps, Werth finally becoming comfortable in left field

It was a really nice play. Not a spectacular one that ends up on endless highlight-reel shows. Just a really nice play that leaves fans applauding. Jayson Werth's catch last night of Stephen Piscotty's second-inning sinking liner to left-center, requiring a lot of ground covered and then a slide to complete the maneuver, was the best defensive play of the Nationals' 2-1 victory over the Cardinals. It also represented merely the latest in a string of really nice plays Werth has made over the...

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Scherzer allows grand slam, Cardinals down Nats 6-2

May 27, 2016, 5:35pm

Nationals

Scherzer allows grand slam, Cardinals down Nats 6-2

Last Sunday in Miami, Nationals right-hander Max Scherzer pitched well in an 8-2 victory over the Marlins. After that game, Scherzer said he felt like he might be rounding into "midseason form." Friday night against the Cardinals was a different story. Scherzer's season-long issue of allowing home runs continued. But this time, it was a major home run that changed the complexion of the game. With the bases loaded and a 1-0 lead in the top of the third, Stephen Piscotty launched a grand slam...

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Baker likes his team, but wants them to get a little "meaner"

May 27, 2016, 1:12pm

Nationals

Baker likes his team, but wants them to get a little "meaner"

The Nationals went 16-7 in April and are 13-12 in May with five games remaining before June 1. Manager Dusty Baker has said in the past if you can win at least 15 games per month, you are on a pace to have a good shot at the postseason. "It doesn't guarantee you anything, but it puts you in a pretty good position," Baker said. "It gives you some motivation and drive to achieve something. In baseball, if you just always look at the big picture on things ... the big picture seems like it's...

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Papelbon impresses after long layoff, Rivero impresses in big spot

May 26, 2016, 8:08pm

Nationals

Papelbon impresses after long layoff, Rivero impresses in big spot

Jonathan Papelbon hadn't emerged out of the bullpen gate, Ric Flair's voice booming over the PA system, in a long time. It had been six days, in fact, since Papelbon last appeared in a game, 12 days since he had done it at Nationals Park. And now here the veteran closer was, asked to protect a 2-1 lead against the heart of the Cardinals lineup, cold as ice after the long layoff. Which didn't prove to be a problem at all. Papelbon retired the side in short order last night, inducing two...

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Reflecting on 1,700 wins for Dusty Baker as a manager, and counting

May 26, 2016, 7:37pm

Nationals

Reflecting on 1,700 wins for Dusty Baker as a manager, and counting

Manager Dusty Baker now has 1,700 wins to go with his No. 17 ranking all-time. Baker reached 1,700 wins as a Major League manager as the Nationals dropped the Cardinals 2-1 on Thursday night at Nationals Park. Baker trails Giants manager Bruce Bochy by 32 wins for No. 16 marker on the all-time list. After the win Thursday, Baker reflected on getting to 1,700. "It just means I've been around a long time, number one," Baker said. "And number two, it's sort of ironic that my first victory in...

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Game 49 lineups: Nats vs. Cardinals

May 27, 2016, 11:10am

Nationals

You wouldn't necessarily think it, given the number of potent left-handed bats in their regular lineup, but the Nationals actually are more productive when facing left-handed pitchers than right-handed ones this season. They enter play tonight with an .812 team OPS against lefties, fifth-best in baseball. It helps that the Nationals' two best lefty hitters (Bryce Harper and Daniel Murphy) fare quite well against southpaws. And then, of course, it helps that right-handed hitters like Ryan...

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Phillies have been biggest surprise in competitive NL East

May 27, 2016, 12:09pm

Nationals

Phillies have been biggest surprise in competitive NL East

As Memorial Day arrives, the Nationals lead the National League East because of their excellent starting pitching and improved bullpen. That's not unexpected. But how about the Phillies? The team that lost 99 games last season has started the first two months as a contender because of their rotation and bullpen. They are proving that a team doesn't need to score a lot of runs when pitching dominates. Anyone see the Phillies coming? Like the Nationals, the Mets are winning even though they...

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Ross snaps losing streak with gritty 2-1 win over Cardinals

May 26, 2016, 7:06pm

Nationals

Ross snaps losing streak with gritty 2-1 win over Cardinals

The May blues are over for Joe Ross. Thursday night, the Nationals bounced back from an early deficit to down the Cardinals 2-1, snapping Ross' personal four-game skid. Ross allowed a fourth inning solo shot to Cardinals shortstop Aledmys Diaz and then nothing else to notch his fourth win of the season and first since April 30, also against St. Louis. The biggest matchup for Ross came in the seventh inning. Despite arriving close to the century mark in pitches thrown, Ross pitched around a...

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Harper, Espinosa snap out of funks with towering homers

May 26, 2016, 7:33pm

Nationals

Harper, Espinosa snap out of funks with towering homers

When Bryce Harper stepped to the plate in the bottom of the sixth inning tonight for his third at-bat of the game, something was noticeably missing: His batting gloves. Harper occasionally decides to hit without them, so the sight of the struggling Nationals slugger gripping the bat with his bare hands perhaps left many thinking he purposely was trying to shake things up, trying to find anything that might change his luck. And so, of course, when Harper proceeded to crush a baseball 434 feet...

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Rookie's homer off Ross gives Cards early lead (Nats win 2-1)

May 26, 2016, 4:18pm

Nationals

Rookie's homer off Ross gives Cards early lead (Nats win 2-1)

Joe Ross has pitched effectively so far against the Cardinals, just as he did when he faced this same team four weeks ago. Mike Leake also has pitched effectively so far against the Nationals, unlike he did the last time he saw this lineup. Aledmys Diaz's leadoff homer in the top of the fourth gave St. Louis a 1-0 lead, the lone run to cross the plate so far in tonight's series opener at Nationals Park. Ross already owns one win over the Cardinals this season, having held them to one run in...

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Espinosa and Harper homer in 2-1 win over Cardinals

May 26, 2016, 5:35pm

Nationals

Espinosa and Harper homer in 2-1 win over Cardinals

Shortstop Danny Espinosa delivered the game-changing play on offense for the Nationals in a 2-1 victory over the Cardinals on Thursday. With the game even at 1-1 in the seventh, Espinosa launched a Mike Leake fastball over the right field fence giving the Nationals their first lead of the game. Espinosa arrived into the game hitting .199. It was Espinosa's second homer this season and third of his career against Leake. He now has eight homers against St. Louis in his career. Those 45 hours of...

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Dusty Baker encouraged by Nats' handling of losses

May 26, 2016, 2:15pm

Nationals

Dusty Baker encouraged by Nats' handling of losses

He has seen his team get off to a rousing start, taking advantage of some weak April competition. And he has seen his team battle its way through a much tougher May, with nearly every opponent presenting a significant challenge. The end result of all that for Dusty Baker's Nationals? A 28-19 record entering tonight's series opener against the Cardinals and a 1/2-game lead over the Mets in the NL East. And a recognition that there's still plenty of room for improvement. "We've got work to...

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Baker on treating Leake like one of his own: If my son was over there I'd try to beat him too"

May 26, 2016, 1:29pm

Nationals

Baker on treating Leake like one of his own: If my son was over there I'd try to beat him too"

Manager Dusty Baker said he wanted to give second baseman Daniel Murphy a day off and it worked out well for tonight's game. Cardinals slugger Matt Carpenter is also out because he is on paternity leave. "Murph has been more than I think anybody dreamed that he would be. He's been on base an awful lot," Baker said. "I told you that we had to watch to keep his legs strong because he's always in a squat. This is a day to get his legs worked on and get everything back strong till next day...

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As expected, Nats and Mets wrap up first six games all even

May 26, 2016, 6:39am

Nationals

As expected, Nats and Mets wrap up first six games all even

It was expected that the Nationals and Mets could go down to the wire battling for the National League East crown. After six matchups so far this season, nothing has changed. The Mets shut out the Nationals 2-0 in the Wednesday matinee before a sellout crowd of 37,800 at Nationals Park. The season series is now even at 3-3. The teams have 13 meetings remaining, with the next series in D.C. beginning June 27. "It makes us about even," manager Dusty Baker said after the loss. "We were half a...

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Game 48 lineups: Nats vs. Cardinals

May 26, 2016, 11:07am

Nationals

It was four weeks ago when the Nationals embarked on what looked like one of the toughest road trips they've ever faced, the first leg of a prolonged stretch of games against mostly tough competition. That trip began in St. Louis, previously a house of horrors for this team. But the Nats flipped the script, sweeping the Cardinals for the first time in their history and kicking off that tough stretch in impressive fashion. Now the Cardinals come to D.C. for a four-game weekend series in what...

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Opposite dugout: Cardinals still trying to figure things out

May 26, 2016, 6:10am

Nationals

Opposite dugout: Cardinals still trying to figure things out

Manager: Mike Matheny (5th season) Record: 24-23 Last 10 games: 5-5 Who to watch: SS Aledmys Diaz (.331, 24 RBIs), 3B Matt Carpenter (9 HR, 32 RBIs), RF Stephen Piscotty (.328, 5 HR, 26 RBI), RHP Trevor Rosenthal (8 saves, 2.25 ERA) Season series vs. Nationals: 0-3 Pitching probables: May 26: RHP Mike Leake vs. RHP Joe Ross, 7:05 p.m., MASNMay 27: LHP Jaime Garcia vs. RHP Max Scherzer, 7:05 p.m., MASNMay 28: RHP Adam Wainwright vs. LHP Gio Gonzalez, 7:15 p.m., FOXMay 28: RHP Michael Wacha...

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Mets get to Roark early (Mets win 2-0)

May 25, 2016, 9:31am

Nationals

The Mets put David Wright back in the lineup and he delivered quickly. In the top of the first, Wright took a Tanner Roark 0-1 offering and drove it over the left field wall. The Mets lead 1-0. Roark allowed a single and a walk in the second. Before the Mets took the field for defense in the bottom of the first, Matt Reynolds entered the game at shortstop. Mets shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera was listed as the starter, but did not play because of back spasms. Mets left-hander Steven Matz got out of...

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Matz's command made it difficult on Nats in 2-0 setback

May 25, 2016, 1:12pm

Nationals

Matz's command made it difficult on Nats in 2-0 setback

Left-hander Steven Matz was as advertised as the Mets dropped the Nationals 2-0 to win the series in D.C. Matz is now 6-0 in his career in road starts after tossing eight innings of shutout baseball. In his first ever meeting against the Nats, he dominated. The Nationals mustered only four hits off of Matz. Manager Dusty Baker said one key was Matz seemed to gain strength as the game progressed. "He was throwing as hard in the eighth as he was in the first," Baker said. "He threw a heck of a...

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David Huzzard: The baseball world dislikes Bryce Harper, and D.C. should love it

May 19, 2016, 5:10am

Nationals

David Huzzard: The baseball world dislikes Bryce Harper, and D.C. should love it

As has happened on several occasions, I was told last night that Bryce Harper is a jerk. It turns out that this guy's nephew once road in an elevator in Crystal City. I've never met a person who I'd judge on their elevator behavior of eyes forward, hands at side, saying as little as possible and trying desperately to hold in the District Taco they just ate. This isn't the first time a stranger or acquaintance has informed me that Harper is a jerk. They see the Nationals hat and it's close...