nationals

Zimmermann pounded for three homers, Nats lose 5-2

August 02, 2015, 4:25pm

FLUSHING, N.Y. - Anthony Rendon wasted no time giving the Nationals offense a much-needed early spark. Rendon drilled a 98-mph heater from Mets starter Noah Syndergaard to straightaway center for a solo homer with one-out in the first. The umpires initially ruled that the ball stayed in the park, but after a brief crew chief review, the call was overturned and Rendon was awarded his first home run of the season. Update: Jordan Zimmermann breezed through the first two innings before issuing a...

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Marty Niland: Crazy deadline day for ex-Nat Michael Morse

August 02, 2015, 5:52pm

Nationals

Marty Niland: Crazy deadline day for ex-Nat Michael Morse

Baseball fans love the thrill of the trade deadline as players move from one team to another, sometimes in head-spinning fashion. One guy whose head may still be spinning from the flurry of deadline deals is former National Michael Morse, who was a member of three different teams, and went from East Coast to West Coast and then back east again, in a span of 48 hours. Here's how it all went down: Morse, who played for the Nationals from 2009-2012, started this season with the Miami Marlins....

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Jordan Zimmermann aims to avoid sweep (with lineups)

August 02, 2015, 1:07pm

Nationals

Jordan Zimmermann aims to avoid sweep (with lineups)

FLUSHING, N.Y. - The Nationals send Jordan Zimmermann to the mound looking to hold off the Mets in the National League East. Washington will need more offense to avoid the sweep after plating a combined three runs in the first two losses of the series. The Nats have scored two or fewer runs in five of their last six games. The Nationals have won six of Zimmermann's last seven starts dating back to June 24 with the right-hander pitching to a 2.62 ERA over the stretch. He has faced the Mets more...

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Nationals game blog: Pressure-packed finale in the Big Apple

August 02, 2015, 3:27pm

Nationals

FLUSHING, N.Y. - With 60 games left in the season, the Nationals hold a slim one-game lead over the Mets in the National League East heading into tonight's series finale. Washington has been on the wrong side of two narrowly contested one-run ballgames the last two days in playoff-type atmospheres. "I think it's great," said Jayson Werth after the second-largest crowd in Citi Field history showed up Saturday night. "It's been a long time since we've come to play the Mets and they've had...

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Composed and confident, rookie Joe Ross continues to impress

August 02, 2015, 7:06am

Nationals

Composed and confident, rookie Joe Ross continues to impress

FLUSHING, N.Y. - For the second time in less than two weeks, Nationals rookie right-hander Joe Ross went toe-to-toe with Mets ace Jacob deGrom, last year's National League Rookie of the Year. Ross was stingy, dominating eight of the nine batters in the Mets lineup. Lucas Duda, the lone exception, was the difference in the game. "He pitched well," Nationals manager Matt Williams said about Ross. "A couple of swings from Duda, other than that he pitched really well for us. He gave us a...

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Division lead down to one after Lucas Duda makes Nats pay on late gamble

August 01, 2015, 8:25pm

Nationals

Division lead down to one after Lucas Duda makes Nats pay on late gamble

FLUSHING, N.Y. - The second largest crowd in Citi Field history watched Mets first baseman Lucas Duda basically beat the Nationals single-handedly in New York's 3-2 come-from-behind win on Saturday night. After plating two early runs in the first off All-Star Jacob deGrom, the Nats bats went silent and the shoulders of rookie Joe Ross got heavier. Ross sped through the Mets order in the first three innings without yielding a hit. But in the fourth, Duda pulverized a sinker over the center...

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Lucas Duda, Mets take down Nats 3-2

August 01, 2015, 3:38pm

Nationals

FLUSHING, N.Y. - The Nationals were all over Mets ace Jacob deGrom out of the gates. Back-to-back one-out singles from Yunel Escobar and Bryce Harper gave the Nats runners at the corners. After Ryan Zimmerman drilled a ball right at Curtis Granderson, Jayson Werth worked a walk to load the bases. Ian Desmond then delivered a clutch two-out broken bat liner up the middle, which just squirted past Ruben Tejada. Escobar and Harper scored easily on the base knock. Wilson Ramos grounded out to end...

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Denard Span looking to "rev it up"

August 01, 2015, 4:02pm

Nationals

FLUSHING, N.Y. - Denard Span joined the Nationals this afternoon as his rehab progresses. The veteran center fielder picked up a bat for the first time since back spasms forced him to the 15-day disabled list on July 7. Span took around 30 swings off the tee in the indoor cage at Citi Field before going outside to throw. "I've been doing a lot of physical therapy," Span said. "A lot of, seems like elementary, tedious type exercises trying to strengthen up my core and my back muscles. I'll...

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It won't get easier for Nats' scuffling offense against deGrom tonight (with lineups)

August 01, 2015, 11:47am

Nationals

It won't get easier for Nats' scuffling offense against deGrom tonight (with lineups)

FLUSHING, N.Y. - After totaling two runs over 21 innings the last two days, it won't get any easier for the scuffling Nationals offense facing Mets ace Jacob deGrom this evening. The Nats went 15 innings between Ryan Zimmerman's solo homer early Thursday and Yunel Escobar's RBI single late Friday without scoring a run. In last night's 2-1 loss, the Nats struck out 16 times in the 12 frames. Looking for a boost to the lineup, Nationals manager Matt Williams has moved Bryce Harper up to third...

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Nationals game blog: Bryce Harper looks to spark Nats' offense early

August 01, 2015, 3:07pm

Nationals

FLUSHING, N.Y. - Nationals manager Matt Williams said he had a talk with Bryce Harper after last night's 11th-inning ejection. Williams chose not to expand on the conversation. Following the 2-1 loss, Williams repeatedly said of Harper, "he needs to stay in the baseball game." Williams moved Harper up to third in the lineup to maximize his opportunities against Mets starter Jacob deGrom. Harper is 3-for-10 with a double and a walk in his career against the right-handed ace. After a slow...

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Heavy work for Nats bullpen leaves concern

August 01, 2015, 6:49am

Nationals

Heavy work for Nats bullpen leaves concern

FLUSHING, N.Y. - After displaying improved control and command over the past month, Gio Gonzalez labored through his abbreviated start last night. Gonzalez walked four and let his pitch count balloon up to 105 pitches, forcing Nationals manager Matt Williams to yank the left-hander with two men on and two outs in the fifth. "I just put my team in a tough situation," Gonzalez said. "I gotta go deeper in the game. I kept falling behind on every hitter. No excuses. I should've done a better...

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Matt Williams on Bryce Harper: "He needs to stay in the baseball game"

July 31, 2015, 9:00pm

Nationals

Matt Williams on Bryce Harper: "He needs to stay in the baseball game"

FLUSHING, N.Y. - In a tie game with postseason implications in a playoff-type atmosphere, Bryce Harper, arguably the MVP of the National League, got himself ejected after striking out in the 11th inning. "He needs to stay in the baseball game," manager Matt Williams repeated three times, after the Nationals lost 2-1 on Wilmer Flores' walk-off homer in the 12th. Home plate umpire Jerry Meals was inconsistent throughout the game. Meals punched out Jayson Werth on a low and outside fastball to...

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Short- and long-term implications of Storen then Papelbon

July 31, 2015, 5:42am

Nationals

Short- and long-term implications of Storen then Papelbon

It certainly was intriguing television late Wednesday night when MASN cameras caught newly acquired closer Jonathan Papelbon and former closer-turned-set-up man Drew Storen sitting right next to each other in the Nats bullpen at Marlins Park. At first, they weren't speaking when the camera flashed to them. They were just sitting next to each other. Then, it appeared Papelbon was asking Storen a question. Storen responded and Papelbon nodded as if he understood. As the video continued, you saw...

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Mets win on Wilmer Flores walk-off homer in 12th (Bryce Harper ejected)

July 31, 2015, 4:38pm

Nationals

Mets win on Wilmer Flores walk-off homer in 12th (Bryce Harper ejected)

FLUSHING, N.Y. - The Nationals are still looking for their first base runner against Matt Harvey, who's perfect through five innings. The hard-throwing right-hander has struck out six of the 15 batters he has faced. Meanwhile, Gio Gonzalez is fighting control issues. The left-hander recorded the first two outs in the fourth before issuing back-to-back walks to Juan Uribe and Travis d'Arnaud. Wilmer Flores then battled Gonzalez, smacking a line drive past Ian Desmond on the seventh pitch of...

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After acquiring Jonathan Papelbon, Nats quiet as trade deadline passes

July 31, 2015, 5:43pm

Nationals

After acquiring Jonathan Papelbon, Nats quiet as trade deadline passes

FLUSHING, N.Y. - The Nationals were quiet as the trade deadline expired earlier this evening. General manager Mike Rizzo didn't wait until the end, making his splash on Tuesday in the controversial trade for veteran closer Jonathan Papelbon. "We thought improving the bullpen was something that we would like to do," Rizzo said. "We thought if there was room to improve ourselves, we were fortunate to come up with a deal that worked for us. (We) acquired a close down relief pitcher and we are...

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How do moves made at deadline affect division races?

July 31, 2015, 5:37pm

Nationals Orioles

How do moves made at deadline affect division races?

The baseball landscape has changed dramatically. So, let's answer questions about the shifting: Q: Which team made the biggest improvement in the National League East, the Nationals or Mets? A: The Mets added three bats in Yoenis Cespedes, Juan Uribe and Kelly Johnson, and an All-Star setup guy in Tyler Clippard, while the Nationals added closer Jonathan Papelbon. The Nationals are better, even though the Mets have re-energized the weakest run-producing lineup in the NL. The Nats' Drew Storen...

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Nationals lineup vs. Mets

July 31, 2015, 12:17pm

Nationals

On the eve of August, it becomes easy to claim each series is "critical" or "monumental" in terms of the playoff picture. But seriously, guys, this one is pretty big. At least in terms of shaping the divisional race. The Nationals enter tonight's game with a three-game lead in the National League East. The team right behind them? No big deal, just tonight's opponent. The Mets are right on the Nationals' heels, and with a three-game series in New York beginning tonight at 7, this weekend...

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Nationals game blog: Bryce Harper looks to break through against Matt Harvey

July 31, 2015, 2:49pm

Nationals

FLUSHING, N.Y. - Gio Gonzalez has dominated the Mets this season. In two wins, Gonzalez allowed only two runs while fanning 13 over 13 innings. The left-hander has been one of baseball's best pitchers in July, going 3-0 in four starts with a 1.88 ERA. Gonzalez squares off with Mets right-hander Matt Harvey in a rematch from July 20 when the Nats downed the Mets 7-2 in D.C. The Nats struck early against Harvey that night, plating five runs in the first three innings. The Nationals pitching...

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Ryan Zimmerman swinging a hot bat off DL

July 30, 2015, 6:13pm

Nationals

Ryan Zimmerman swinging a hot bat off DL

MIAMI - It wasn't the ideal way to win, but Ryan Zimmerman's second-inning solo home run was just enough to beat the Marlins yesterday after Max Scherzer, Drew Storen and Jonathan Papelbon stacked up for a shutout. Marlins starter and former National Dan Haren left a cutter out over the plate and Zimmerman rocketed it over the wall in left-center field, slamming off the sign of the Clevelander, Miami's infamous club in cavernous Marlins Park. "You never know here," Zimmerman said after the...

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Max Scherzer returns to dominant form in Nats' 1-0 victory

July 30, 2015, 2:58pm

Nationals

Max Scherzer returns to dominant form in Nats' 1-0 victory

MIAMI - Max Scherzer came out of his last start frustrated after surrendering a season-high three homers and losing a two-run lead in a loss to the Pirates. He vowed to get back to what was working for him when he was arguably the most dominant pitcher in baseball earlier this season. Scherzer's adjustments worked, as the ace held the Marlins scoreless over seven innings, yielding just three hits with six strikeouts in the Nationals' 1-0 win. "He was unbelievable," Wilson Ramos said. "He...