nationals

Braves swept out of town by Nats' relentless pitching attack

June 25, 2015, 4:23pm

The Nationals' starting rotation seems to be settling into a groove, which has to be a scary thought for the rest of the National League. Doug Fister was the latest to spin a gem, as the Nationals shut out the Braves 7-0 and earn a sweep of the three-game series. Fister blanked Atlanta for seven innings, helping the Nationals set a new franchise record of 41 1/3 consecutive scoreless innings for the starting pitchers. The streak began in the second inning of rookie Joe Ross' start on Friday,...

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Williams insists it's just a day off for Harper and Rendon

June 25, 2015, 11:32am

Nationals

Williams insists it's just a day off for Harper and Rendon

The Nationals will face the Braves in this afternoon's series finale without right fielder Bryce Harper and second baseman Anthony Rendon. Harper pulled up limp after mashing a one-out double in the 11th inning last night. Nationals manager Matt Williams and head athletic trainer Lee Kuntz went out to check on Harper, who told them his right leg cramped up. Harper convinced Williams he was good enough to remain in the game and score the game-winning run - which he did moments later on Ian...

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Fister, Nats sweep Braves with 7-0 shutout

June 25, 2015, 12:31pm

Nationals

Fister, Nats sweep Braves with 7-0 shutout

Denard Span roped a single to right to start the game and when Nick Markakis muffed the ball, Span took second. For Markakis, the gaffe broke a 398-game errorless streak, the longest by an outfielder in Major League Baseball history. Span advanced to third on Danny Espinosa's sacrifice bunt and then scored easily on Yunel Escobar's groundout to second. Doug Fister has given up one hit with one strikeout through two innings. Update: Wilson Ramos ripped a leadoff double to left-center field in...

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Williams on selection of Giolito and Turner to Futures Game

June 25, 2015, 10:23am

Nationals

Williams on selection of Giolito and Turner to Futures Game

Two Nationals prospects - right-hander Lucas Giolito and shortstop Trea Turner - have been selected to play in the 2015 SiriusXM All-Star Futures Game, which will be played at 3 p.m. on Sunday, July 12 at Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati. "I think it's a great opportunity for both of them to get a chance to be on a national stage and show their talent," said Nationals manager Matt Williams. "I think they are both very talented young players and they're improving quickly. It's good....

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Longtime Oriole Nick Markakis is enjoying his transition to the National League

June 25, 2015, 12:55pm

Nationals Orioles

Longtime Oriole Nick Markakis is enjoying his transition to the National League

After nine seasons with the Orioles, outfielder Nick Markakis is running into all kinds of firsts with the Atlanta Braves, none more challenging than facing two of the baseball's best lefties - Clayton Kershaw and Madison Bumgarner - for the first time on the same road trip. Markakis, a left-handed batter, had a single and double against Kershaw, the Dodgers' three-time National League Cy Young Award winner. A few days later, Markakis went 0-for-3 with two fly balls and a grounder against...

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Harper, Rendon missing from Nats lineup for Braves finale (updated)

June 25, 2015, 9:04am

Nationals

Harper, Rendon missing from Nats lineup for Braves finale (updated)

If the Nationals are going to complete their sweep of the Braves, they'll have to do so without right fielder Bryce Harper and second baseman Anthony Rendon, both of whom are out of today's starting lineup. No official word yet on what's up with either Harper or Rendon. Harper appeared to be in some discomfort when he reached second base on his 11th-inning leadoff double in last night's extra-inning win, but waved off manager Matt Williams and head athletic training Lee Kuntz, who came out...

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An emotional Ian Desmond provides walk-off win

June 24, 2015, 7:20pm

Nationals

An emotional Ian Desmond provides walk-off win

On an emotional night, Ian Desmond delivered a walk-off sacrifice fly in the bottom of the 11th inning, scoring Bryce Harper to give the Nationals their fifth straight win in a 2-1 triumph over the Braves. It's been a season full of ups and downs for Desmond, who is likely to be playing his last year with the Washington Nationals, the only professional organization he has known. But news of the passing of Kimberly Knorr, wife of Nationals bench coach Randy Knorr, on Tuesday extended far deeper...

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Jordan Zimmermann latest Nats starter to go scoreless

June 25, 2015, 4:39am

Nationals

Jordan Zimmermann latest Nats starter to go scoreless

Entering this year, the Nationals were expected to cruise through the regular season and into October on the shoulders of their imposing starting rotation. But injuries to right-handers Doug Fister and Stephen Strasburg and inconsistent pitching from lefty Gio Gonzalez interfered with the expected success that most assumed would simply be a foregone conclusion. Even Jordan Zimmermann ran into a rut, losing his previous three starts coming into last night, with an ERA of 7.63 over the...

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Bryce Harper appeared to cramp up after double to start rally, status unknown for Thursday

June 24, 2015, 6:43pm

Nationals

Bryce Harper appeared to cramp up after double to start rally, status unknown for Thursday

Right fielder Bryce Harper scored the winning run as the Nationals dropped the Braves 2-1 in 11 innings. He started the rally with a double. But the big concern after the game was the way he went into second base awkwardly on his right leg. It appeared at first that maybe he had reinjured his left hamstring. Manager Matt Williams said during post game that it was not the hamstring, but instead it was pain in his right leg. "It was a cramp when he went into second," Williams said. "Standing...

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Prospects Giolito, Turner selected to All-Star Futures Game

June 25, 2015, 8:47am

Nationals

Prospects Giolito, Turner selected to All-Star Futures Game

Right-handed pitcher Lucas Giolito and infielder Trea Turner have been selected to represent the Washington Nationals in the 2015 SiriusXM All-Star Futures Game, which will be played at 3:00 p.m. (ET) on Sunday, July 12th at Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati, Ohio. Major League Baseball made the announcement today on MLB Network. Giolito, 20, is considered by many, including industry experts Baseball America and MLB.com, as the top pitching prospect in all of baseball. He is the...

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David Huzzard: Another possible reunion to consider

June 24, 2015, 5:21pm

Nationals

David Huzzard: Another possible reunion to consider

With the addition of David Carpenter, the return of Casey Janssen from the disabled list and Tanner Roark transferring out of the rotation, the Nationals bullpen might have found some stability. An upgrade would still be a good idea, but it isn't of the urgency that it seemed just a couple weeks ago. On the other hand, the Nationals bench is still depleted due to injuries to starting position players. Danny Espinosa, Clint Robinson, Michael Taylor, and Tyler Moore are now needed for...

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Nats win 2-1 in 11th on Desmond's sacrifice fly scoring Harper

June 24, 2015, 3:12pm

Nationals

Nats win 2-1 in 11th on Desmond's sacrifice fly scoring Harper

The Braves have base hits in five of seven innings against Nationals starter Jordan Zimmermann, but nothing to show for them. Zimmermann has thrown 76 pitches through seven scoreless frames with no walks and two strikeouts. Anthony Rendon gave the Nationals their only baserunner against Braves starter Shelby Miller on a single in the fourth. Otherwise, Miller has completely shut down the Nats with four strikeouts through six innings. Ian Desmond committed his 16th error of the season on a...

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From utility to everyday starter: Versatile Espinosa and Robinson step up

June 24, 2015, 12:48pm

Nationals

From utility to everyday starter: Versatile Espinosa and Robinson step up

Injuries, as with most teams, can take their toll on even the most talented teams and derail promising seasons. Fortunately for the Nationals, they have several players that can play in the infield and outfield and still hit and help bridge the gap until a starter returns. With injuries to players like Denard Span, Jayson Werth, Ryan Zimmerman and Anthony Rendon, Danny Espinosa and Clint Robinson are two examples of players that have stepped up and been successful transitioning from pinch-hit...

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Williams makes All-Star case for Escobar; light practice for Zimmerman

June 24, 2015, 1:13pm

Nationals

Williams makes All-Star case for Escobar; light practice for Zimmerman

After sitting out last night and missing two of the last four games, shortstop Ian Desmond returns to the lineup as the Nationals look to claim their second straight series win tonight. "I just wanted to give him a rest and let him clear out and get back at it," Nationals manager Matt Williams said. "So he did a lot of work in the cage yesterday. He did all the defensive drills early that we did yesterday. So he's ready to go. Back in there." Desmond, who owns hitting streaks of 10 and 13...

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Zimmermann aims to find winning ways (with lineups)

June 24, 2015, 10:44am

Nationals

Zimmermann aims to find winning ways (with lineups)

Jordan Zimmermann takes the mound in the midst of a personal three-game losing streak. Over the uncharacteristic stretch, Zimmermann has been tagged for 13 runs in 15 1/3 innings (7.86 ERA) and opponents have batted .386 against him. The 29-year-old right-hander is 5-2 with a 3.15 ERA in 12 career starts against Atlanta. The Nationals have won both of Zimmermann's outings versus the Braves this season. Ian Desmond returns to the Nationals lineup this evening. He continues to struggle through...

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Span on Taylor and Carpenter; P-Nats play in high Single-A All-Star game

June 24, 2015, 9:15am

Nationals

Span on Taylor and Carpenter; P-Nats play in high Single-A All-Star game

The California All-Stars dropped the Carolina All-Stars 9-2 Tuesday night from LoanMart Field in Rancho Cucamonga, Calif. High Single-A Potomac Nationals right-hander Nick Pivetta took the loss after allowing two runs on two hits in one inning of work. P-Nats catcher Spencer Kieboom went 0-for-2 and had two passed balls. He also grounded into a double play. California put up three runs in the fourth and sixth frames to put the game out of reach. Brett Phillips, Cody Bellinger and Brandon...

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Nats beat Braves 3-1 with top of order contributing just like last season

June 23, 2015, 8:19pm

Nationals

Nats beat Braves 3-1 with top of order contributing just like last season

The Nationals offense waited over two hours and a half inning to finally get a shot at Braves left-hander Alex Wood. They jumped on him quickly thanks to the one-two punch of Denard Span and Anthony Rendon. In the first, Span doubled and Rendon brought him home with a RBI single for a 1-0 lead. In the third, Span had a RBI single to make it 2-0. Rendon followed with another base hit. Rendon finished 4-for-4. The Nationals went on to win the opener of the series, 3-1. Manager Matt Williams said...

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Strasburg comfortable and in command in Nats' 3-1 win

June 23, 2015, 8:57pm

Nationals

Strasburg comfortable and in command in Nats' 3-1 win

Stephen Strasburg returned to the mound to throw five scoreless innings as the Nationals beat the Braves 3-1 in the series opener. Strasburg, who was activated from the 15-day disabled list late Tuesday afternoon, was aggressive with his fastball all night, striking out six on high heaters while scattering four hits with one walk. "I wanted to go out there and just execute pitches and just pitch my game," Strasburg said. "I think that's something that talking to a lot of guys in the...

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Five scoreless from Strasburg helps Nats to 3-1 win

June 23, 2015, 4:52pm

Nationals

Five scoreless from Strasburg helps Nats to 3-1 win

After a 2 hour and 12 minute rain delay, Stephen Strasburg finally took the mound for his much awaited first start after returning from the 15-day disabled list earlier today. Braves second baseman Jace Peterson greeted Strasburg with a shot to straightaway center that Denard Span was able to run down on the warning track. Strasburg then struck out center fielder Cameron Maybin on a 97 mph heater. Right fielder Nick Markakis followed with a base knock up the middle before Strasburg got A.J...

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Bryce Harper tops in NL All-Star voting and bares all in upcoming Body Issue

June 23, 2015, 12:32pm

Nationals

Bryce Harper tops in NL All-Star voting and bares all in upcoming Body Issue

The marketing of Bryce Harper? You better get in line. News broke Monday that Nationals right fielder will be featured in the upcoming ESPN The Magazine Body Issue. On Tuesday during pregame with the media, Harper said he was thrilled to be included in the offseason shoot and it was actually something he had hoped to be asked to do. "Very excited, very happy to be a part of that," Harper said. "It's something I dreamed about since I was younger. It's very cool thing for athletes to show...