nationals

Poor fundamentals doom Nats in 4-1 loss

April 23, 2015, 12:19pm

Cardinals third baseman Matt Carpenter jumped on the first pitch of the game from Nationals starter Max Scherzer and roped a double off the wall in right-center field. He advanced to third base on right fielder Jason Heyward's soft single to left and scored the game's first run when Scherzer uncorked a wild pitch. Scherzer was able to work out of the inning, getting two strikeouts. Update: Shortstop Danny Espinosa missed a homer by about two feet when he ripped a double off the right field...

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Nats, Scherzer aiming for series win vs. Cardinals (with lineups)

April 23, 2015, 9:16am

Nationals

Nats, Scherzer aiming for series win vs. Cardinals (with lineups)

The Nationals will send right-hander Max Scherzer to the hill this afternoon to try and take the rubber game of a three-game set against the Cardinals. Scherzer is 1-1 with a 0.83 ERA in his first three starts in a Nats uniform. Left fielder Jayson Werth is out of the starting lineup, with Clint Robinson getting the nod in left and hitting fifth. The Nats are hoping the matchup of Robinson's left-handed power bat and right-hander Michael Wacha starting for the Cardinals will translate into...

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Cardinals make Fister, Treinen pay for mistakes in 7-5 loss

April 22, 2015, 7:52pm

Nationals

Cardinals make Fister, Treinen pay for mistakes in 7-5 loss

The Nationals dug themselves an early hole tonight, battled to even the score and then wasted a gritty comeback in a 7-5 loss to the Cardinals. The evening got off to a rough beginning for right-hander Doug Fister after Cardinals third baseman Matt Carpenter belted a changeup over the right field wall for a leadoff homer. Fister couldn't escape the longball in the second, either, after second baseman Kolten Wong deposited another Fister offering into the stands in right. By the time the Nats...

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For Blake Treinen, eight has been too much

April 23, 2015, 7:28am

Nationals

For Blake Treinen, eight has been too much

Injuries have forced new roles for several Nationals all over the field in the first month of the season. Former starter Blake Treinen has transitioned into the bullpen, and with right-hander Casey Janssen down, he's been asked to take over the pressure-packed eighth-inning role. Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo made a bold but debatable move in the offseason when he traded away dependable setup man Tyler Clippard in order to acquire infielder Yunel Escobar. The nine-year veteran has...

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Nats give up three homers in 7-5 loss to Cardinals

April 22, 2015, 3:38pm

Nationals

Nats give up three homers in 7-5 loss to Cardinals

Nationals right-hander Doug Fister had never given up a leadoff home run in his previous 154 career starts. That streak ended tonight when Cardinals third baseman Matt Carpenter launched a Fister offering over the right field wall to give the Cardinals a quick 1-0 lead. The Nats got a two-out double from left fielder Jayson Werth in the second, but Cardinals starter John Lackey struck out right fielder Bryce Harper to end the first. Harper's strikeouts continue to pile up, as that was his 21st...

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Matt Grace's "whirlwind" day ends with scoreless frame in major league debut

April 22, 2015, 7:22pm

Nationals

Matt Grace's "whirlwind" day ends with scoreless frame in major league debut

Early in the day, left-handed reliever Matt Grace was suited up and ready to go for Triple-A Syracuse in its game versus Rochester. Then he got the call that he was headed to D.C. to join the Nationals because left-hander Felipe Rivero had to be placed on the disabled list due to a gastrointestinal issue. Grace then hurried to catch a flight to D.C., only to be delayed before taking off from Syracuse. "Kind of a whirlwind. I was in Syracuse, game's about to start," Grace said. "Kind of...

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Rendon heads to Double-A Harrisburg for rehab on Friday (Nats trade Cedeno)

April 22, 2015, 1:22pm

Nationals

Rendon heads to Double-A Harrisburg for rehab on Friday (Nats trade Cedeno)

Nationals third baseman Anthony Rendon successfully completed five innings in his second extended spring game in Viera, Fla., today. He was 0-for-1 with two walks. Before yesterday, Rendon had not seen game action since spraining his left knee in a Grapefruit League contest on March 9. Manager Matt Williams revealed the plan for Rendon this afternoon. The 24-year-old will fly to D.C. tomorrow morning and work out with the team at Nationals Park prior to the final game against the Cardinals....

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Fister looks to keep Nats rolling (with lineups)

April 22, 2015, 11:40am

Nationals

Fister looks to keep Nats rolling (with lineups)

Right-hander Doug Fister takes the mound for his third start of the season boasting a sparkling 0.69 ERA. Fister took the loss last June in his only game against the Cardinals, allowing four runs on seven hits in six innings. He'll look ti become the first Nationals starter to reach two wins on the season against St. Louis tonight. Center fielder Denard Span had his first multi-hit game of the season last night, going 2-for-5 with two singles. Span has hit safely in both games since returning...

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Lefty Matt Grace recalled, Felipe Rivero heads to DL

April 22, 2015, 2:50pm

Nationals

Lefty Matt Grace recalled, Felipe Rivero heads to DL

The Nationals have recalled lefty Matt Grace from Triple-A Syracuse and placed left-hander Felipe Rivero on the 15-day disabled list, retroactive to April 18, with a gastrointentinal bleed. Grace, 26, is set to become the third Nats reliever to make his major league debut this season, following right-hander Rafael Martin and Rivero. He was one of the final cuts this spring after not allowing a run in 7 1/3 innings. "He's got a good sinker, good changeup and working on a slider, but the ball...

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Nationals recall left-hander Matt Grace, place left-hander Felipe Rivero on DL

April 22, 2015, 2:37pm

Nationals

The Washington Nationals recalled left-handed pitcher Matt Grace from Triple-A Syracuse on Wednesday and placed left-handed pitcher Felipe Rivero on the 15-day disabled list, retroactive to April 18, with a GI bleed. President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcement. Grace joins the Nationals for the first Major League assignment of his career. The 26-year-old, who utilizes a heavy fastball/slider combination to help him induce ground balls at a high rate,...

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Nationals' lineup versatility has been early bright spot for Williams

April 22, 2015, 2:07pm

Nationals

Nationals manager Matt Williams has had to juggle his lineup again this year, fighting his way through the first two weeks of the season. Left fielder Jayson Werth has returned from shoulder surgery. Center fielder Denard Span is back for core muscle surgery. Third baseman Anthony Rendon is set to start his rehab assignment Friday for Double-A Harrisburg after missing time with a left knee injury. New infield additions Dan Uggla and Yunel Escobar, coupled with young outfielder Michael A. Taylor...

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So far, dynamic Yunel Escobar is a big hit

April 22, 2015, 5:52am

Nationals

So far, dynamic Yunel Escobar is a big hit

Instability is one way to describe infielder Yunel Escobar's career. But barely two weeks into his fifth major league stop, the nine-year veteran has arguably been the most reliable of all of the Nationals. After squandering a one-run lead in the ninth against the Cardinals, Escobar bailed the Nats out with one swing of the bat, launching a solo homer to leftfor a 2-1 walk-off victory in the 10th inning last night. Most players round third and toss their helmet, maybe jump on the plate as...

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Nationals trade left-hander Xavier Cedeno to Dodgers for cash considerations

April 22, 2015, 1:11pm

Nationals

The Washington Nationals traded left-handed pitcher Xavier Cedeno to the Los Angeles Dodgers on Wednesday in exchange for cash considerations. President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcement. Cedeno, 28, pitched in 25 games for the Nationals over the course of three seasons (2013-15). He was 0-0 with a 3.38 ERA (16.0 IP). Cedeno was designated for assignment on April 14, 2015.

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Yunel Escobar celebrates walk-off homer his own way in Nats' 2-1 win

April 21, 2015, 8:45pm

Nationals

Yunel Escobar celebrates walk-off homer his own way in Nats' 2-1 win

The Nationals blew a one-run lead in the top of the ninth, but battled back behind third baseman Yunel Escobar's walk-off homer to beat the Cardinals 2-1 in the 10th. Escobar wasted no time smacking a first-pitch fastball off right-hander Carlos Villanueva over the left field wall to even the Nats' record at 7-7. "I (was) aggressive (when I went) to home plate and tried to get a fastball," said Escobar through a translator, Nats bullpen catcher Nilson Robledo. "I knew that if I could get...

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Rachel Levitin: Seeing what Escobar is all about

April 22, 2015, 5:33am

Nationals

Rachel Levitin: Seeing what Escobar is all about

When the Nationals announced that right-handed reliever Tyler Clippard was traded to the Oakland Athletics for infielder Yunel Escobar in January, the public opinion was that folks were sad to see Clippard go. Teammates and fans alike were not ready to see their beloved eighth inning reliever (whose use of the song "Peaches" will always make this particular Nats baseball observer smile) trade in red, white, and blue for green and gold. But now that the 2015 season is a few weeks old, it's...

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Anthony Rendon scheduled to begin playing in minors this weekend

April 21, 2015, 2:05pm

Nationals

Anthony Rendon scheduled to begin playing in minors this weekend

After 43 days on the sidelines, third baseman Anthony Rendon finally saw game action today, playing three innings and taking two at-bats in an extended spring game in Viera, Fla. Nationals manager Matt Williams indicated that Rendon will ramp it up to five innings tomorrow before heading out to a minor league rehab assignment on Friday. This is a major step for Rendon, who has been sidelined since spraining his left MCL while making a stunning diving stop on a grounder in his third Grapefruit...

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Yunel Escobar's walk-off homer wins it in the 10th

April 21, 2015, 3:59pm

Nationals

Yunel Escobar's walk-off homer wins it in the 10th

The Nationals wasted a prime scoring opportunity in the second when first baseman Ryan Zimmerman led off with a double to the the gap in right-center field. Third baseman Yunel Escobar followed with a great piece of hitting to move ZImmerman over to third on a groundout to first. But Zimmerman would be stranded there as catcher Wilson Ramos would strike out and, after an intentional walk to second baseman Danny Espinosa, starter Gio Gonzalez would pop out to end the inning. Gonzalez has kept...

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Williams on Storen: "All in all, not as sharp as he would like to be"

April 21, 2015, 8:03pm

Nationals

Williams on Storen: "All in all, not as sharp as he would like to be"

Nationals third baseman Yunel Escobar was the hero tonight with a walk-off home run in the 10th inning to beat the Cardinals 2-1. But closer Drew Storen was unable to hold the 1-0 Nationals lead in the top of the ninth. He allowed an RBI single by Matt Holliday that evened the game. Matt Carpenter had started the Cardinals rally with a line single to left field. Manager Matt Williams was not too concerned after the game, and broke down how St. Louis was able to get a couple of hits off of...

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Williams on Espinosa and Janssen; update on Cole

April 21, 2015, 1:39pm

Nationals

Williams on Espinosa and Janssen; update on Cole

Danny Espinosa is back to playing second base again tonight as the Nationals begin a series with the St. Louis Cardinals. He is hitting in the eight-hole versus veteran right-hander Lance Lynn. Espinosa is batting .238 with two homers and three RBIs, but he also has a .385 on-base percentage in his first seven games with four walks and two strikeouts. Nationals manager Matt Williams has been impressed with the way Espinosa has taken to anything the club has asked him to do this season. In...

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Yunel Escobar returns after groin injury (with lineups)

April 21, 2015, 11:48am

Nationals

Yunel Escobar returns after groin injury (with lineups)

Third baseman Yunel Escobar returns to the Nationals lineup this evening after missing the previous two games with a strained groin. Escobar hasn't played since the injury occurred while running out a ground ball in the fifth inning of Friday's win over the Phillies. With center fielder Denard Span back in his normal leadoff spot, Escobar drops to sixth. He's batting .286 (12-for-42) with a homer and two doubles so far this year. Left fielder Jayson Werth will look to get his bat going after...