nationals

Gonzalez and Roark roughed up, while bats are quiet (Nats drop a pair)

March 14, 2015, 10:55am

NATIONALS QUICK WRAPS Score: Marlins 4, Nationals (ss) 0 Recap: It was a quiet day for the Nationals offense, which managed just three hits against Marlins pitching. In fact, the Nats didn't have a runner reach second base until Michael A. Taylor's leadoff triple in the sixth inning. Gio Gonzalez allowed four runs on four hits with two walks and two strikeouts in 2 2/3 innings. Need to know: There were some encouraging signs from the Nats bullpen, which didn't allow a Marlins run or hit...

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Storen not concerned after hand surgery (with split-squad lineups)

March 14, 2015, 6:30am

Nationals

Storen not concerned after hand surgery (with split-squad lineups)

VIERA, Fla. - Drew Storen underwent a 20-minute procedure yesterday to remove the hook of hamate bone in his left hand. The Nationals closer said the injury to his non-throwing hand happened when the knob of the bat dug into his hand awkwardly during a hitting drill at the Space Coast Stadium training complex earlier in the week. "I gave it a couple days just to see how it felt since it's not something I really use," said Storen. "But I was like, 'You know what? I'm in pain, might as well...

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Denard Span on Michael A. Taylor: "He can play, man"

March 13, 2015, 9:25pm

Nationals

Denard Span on Michael A. Taylor: "He can play, man"

VIERA, Fla. - Denard Span returned to Space Coast Stadium on Thursday morning just three days after surgery to repair a small tear on the right side of his rectus abdominis muscle. The seven-year veteran was already coming off a similar surgery on the left side of the same muscle in December. He showed up early to spring training to test it out and was at his normal leadoff spot for the Nationals' Grapefruit League opener on March 5. But Span's spring training lasted just two at-bats. "I...

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Injuries to Rendon, Storen overshadow Fister's start

March 13, 2015, 2:07pm

Nationals

Injuries to Rendon, Storen overshadow Fister's start

VIERA, Fla. - The game of baseball if filled with superstitions. Well, today is Friday the 13th, and it delivered some bad news for Nationals fans. This morning came word that star third baseman Anthony Rendon will miss a week or more with a mild left MCL sprain. Then, after today's fluky 6-6 tie with the Houston Astros, manager Matt Williams announced that closer Drew Storen had surgery today to remove the hook of the hamate bone in his left, or non-throwing, hand. Add them to an infirmary...

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Storen has surgery to remove hook of hamate bone in left hand

March 13, 2015, 1:00pm

Nationals

Storen has surgery to remove hook of hamate bone in left hand

VIERA, Fla. - Nationals closer Drew Storen had surgery today to remove the hook of the hamate bone in his left hand. Manager Matt Williams said Storen will miss two to three days before resuming his throwing program but the closer is not in jeopardy of missing opening day. The surgery was on Storen's non-throwing hand. "He'll get back to throwing. Initially, until the stitches are out somebody will catch for him and he can throw simulated games behind an L screen just as long as he doesn't...

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Harper gets Nats scoring started (Nats, Astros tie 6-6)

March 13, 2015, 10:24am

Nationals

Harper gets Nats scoring started (Nats, Astros tie 6-6)

NATIONALS QUICK WRAP Score: Nationals 6, Astros 6 Recap: Bryce Harper had a two-run double and Ryan Zimmerman added an RBI single as the Nats scored three times in the third inning. Kila Ka'aihue and Rafael Bautista both drove in runs to give the Nationals a 5-4 lead. Doug Fister pitched 2 1/3 innings, giving up two runs, one earned, on four hits, with two strikeouts and two walks. Astros outfielder George Springer took Fister deep for the first of his two home runs on the day. Ian Stewart hit...

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More on Rendon's injury, Severino and Kieboom reassigned

March 13, 2015, 8:59am

Nationals

More on Rendon's injury, Severino and Kieboom reassigned

VIERA, Fla. - Nationals manager Matt Williams announced this morning that catchers Pedro Severino and Spencer Kieboom have been reassigned to minor league camp. He said both weren't able to get enough at-bats and it was important to get them some work before their seasons began Severino, 21, batted .247 with nine home runs and 36 RBIs at Single-A Potomac last season. "He's a really good prospect," said Williams. "He's got a lot of tools. Certainly, the catching part of it, we saw a great...

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P-Nats invite Will Ferrell to play all nine positions in a single game

March 12, 2015, 1:00pm

Nationals

P-Nats invite Will Ferrell to play all nine positions in a single game

Funnyman Will Ferrell has played a variety of roles - from his spot-on impressions on "Saturday Night Live" to news anchor and ladies man Ron Burgundy to former president George W. Bush in a one-man show. Now the Single-A Potomac Nationals want Ferrell to play a new role. Nine of them, to be exact. With Ferrell spending this afternoon playing all nine field positions and designated hitter while appearing for 10 different teams in five Cactus League games, the P-Nats have invited him to come...

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Anthony Rendon has mild MCL sprain in left knee

March 13, 2015, 5:55am

Nationals

Anthony Rendon has mild MCL sprain in left knee

VIERA, Fla. - Nationals manager Matt Williams said this morning that X-rays revealed that Anthony Rendon has a mild sprain of his media collateral ligament (MCL) in his left knee. The injury occurred in the top of the sixth inning of Monday's game, when Rendon lunged to his left making a spectacular stop on a ground ball in the hole and then jumped to his feet, firing to first for the out. Rendon remained in the game and singled in the bottom half of the inning before leaving in the...

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For Moore, hole-in-one follows hot streak at plate

March 13, 2015, 4:18am

Nationals

For Moore, hole-in-one follows hot streak at plate

VIERA, Fla. - By now you're aware that Tyler Moore's bat is as hot as anybody's around spring training from Jupiter, Fla. to Mesa, Ariz. "In the zone" is one of those clichÃ© sports phrases that gets thrown around far too often these day, but for Moore it may actually apply after his remarkable spring extended from the baseball diamond to the golf course on Wednesday night. Yes, the golf course. The Nationals held a team bonding Par 3 event at Duran Golf Club on Wednesday. The lighted...

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Frandsen starts at third for injured Rendon (with lineups)

March 13, 2015, 7:01am

Nationals

Frandsen starts at third for injured Rendon (with lineups)

VIERA, Fla. - Kevin Frandsen starts at third base today after news that Anthony Rendon will be sidelined for at least a week with a mild strain of his left MCL. Rendon suffered the injury in the sixth inning of Monday's loss to the Braves. Frandsen is 3-for-10 so far this spring. Ryan Zimmerman has been swinging the bat well early in the exhibition season. He's 4-for-11 with two doubles and two RBIs while also looking sharp defensively at his hew first base position. Doug Fister makes his...

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Cole's desire excites Williams, no issues with Strasburg in minor league work

March 12, 2015, 2:09pm

Nationals

Cole's desire excites Williams, no issues with Strasburg in minor league work

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. - Nationals manager Matt Williams was pleased with the way A.J. Cole threw the ball at the start of today's 11-9 loss to the Mets. The 6-foot-5 right-hander gave up a solo home run to Curtis Granderson and three other hits along with two walks in 1 2/3 innings. "I thought it was good," said Williams. "Mid-90s fastball. Probably threw more pitches earlier than he wanted to, but I thought he did really well." Cole, 23, wasn't thrilled with his performance that included...

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Cole tough on himself after rough start, Espinosa homers (Nats outslugged 11-9)

March 12, 2015, 11:33am

Nationals

Cole tough on himself after rough start, Espinosa homers (Nats outslugged 11-9)

NATIONALS QUICK WRAP Score: Mets 11, Nationals 9 Recap: Prospect A.J. Cole gave up a run on four hits and two walks in 1 2/3 innings in his first start of the spring. Curtis Granderson homered off Cole in the first and Michael Cuddyer took reliever Evan Meek deep in the third. Nats center fielder Michael A. Taylor delivered a two-out double in the third, scoring Nate McLouth and Danny Espinosa. Espinosa later homered in the sixth to give the Nats a 4-2 advantage. The Mets scored nine runs in...

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Williams on Rendon's status and Span returning to camp

March 12, 2015, 8:45am

Nationals

Williams on Rendon's status and Span returning to camp

PORT ST. LUCIE. Fla. - Right-hander A.J. Cole makes his first start of the exhibition season today. Cole, one of the Nationals' prized prospects, gave up two runs (one earned) on two hits in 2 1/3 innings against the Cardinals on Saturday. "First time out, his breaking ball wasn't as sharp as he wanted it to be, so that's part of the plan today, to be able to throw that where he wants to throw it," said Nationals manager Matt Williams. "So that's probably key for him today to feel better...

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Cole is shaky, while Taylor delivers

March 12, 2015, 10:37am

Nationals

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. - A.J. Cole labored through 1 2/3 innings, allowing one run on four hits and two walks. Curtis Granderson slammed a full-count fastball over the left field wall to give the Mets a 1-0 lead in the first. David Wright and Michael Cuddyer followed with singles and Cole then walked Daniel Murphy to load the bases. He eventually got John Mayberry Jr. to hit into an inning-ending double play. After another walk and a single by Juan Lagares in the second, Cole's days was done,...

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"Promising prospect" Cole to start vs. Mets

March 12, 2015, 3:19am

Nationals

"Promising prospect" Cole to start vs. Mets

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. - An ingrown toenail has forced Stephen Strasburg to be scratched from making his second start of the spring today. Highly ranked prospect A.J. Cole, who was scheduled to pitch at some point against the Mets, will now get the ball first. It will be Cole's second appearance of the exhibition season after giving up two runs (one earned) on two hits in 2 1/3 innings against the Cardinals on Saturday. This is actually the second go-around for Cole with the Nationals, who...

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McLouth makes first start, good test for Espinosa (with Nats-Mets lineups)

March 12, 2015, 6:45am

Nationals

McLouth makes first start, good test for Espinosa (with Nats-Mets lineups)

PORT ST. LUCIE, FLA. - Nate McLouth makes his first start of the spring today, leading off as the designated hitter. McLouth received two at-bats in yesterday's game, going 1-for-2 with a single. Nationals manager Matt Williams said McLouth won't play in the field until sometime next week as he continues on a throwing program while recovering from shoulder surgery. Hitting second, Danny Espinosa should get at least two at-bats from the right side of the plate against Mets right-handed starter...

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Strasburg scratched from Thursday start because of ingrown toenail

March 11, 2015, 2:22pm

Nationals

Strasburg scratched from Thursday start because of ingrown toenail

VIERA, Fla. - Right-hander Stephen Strasburg has been scratched from making his second start of the exhibition season on Thursday after undergoing surgery to remove an ingrown toenail "Stras had an ingrown toenail, so we're going to have him throw on the minor league side where we can control innings," Nationals manager Matt Williams said after Wednesday's 9-2 victory over the Detroit Tigers. "He's a little bit sore moving around. He's perfectly fine." Highly ranked pitching prospect...

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Difo makes his mark, while Storen and McLouth make spring debuts

March 11, 2015, 2:11pm

Nationals

Difo makes his mark, while Storen and McLouth make spring debuts

VIERA, Fla. - Jordan Zimmermann took the hill for his second outing of the Grapefruit League season on Wednesday. The Tigers managed a run on two hits against Zimmermann, who also added four strikeouts in 2 2/3 innings of work. "I was attacking and trying to get ahead with the fastball," said Zimmermann. "The last outing, I wasn't able to do that, but this one, for the most part, it was right where I wanted it to be. I threw a couple good sliders, a 3-2 curveball that was good. I'm getting...

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Williams on Rendon's knee with updates on Werth and McLouth

March 11, 2015, 8:17am

Nationals

Williams on Rendon's knee with updates on Werth and McLouth

VIERA, Fla. - In Monday's game against the Braves, Anthony Rendon dove to his left, making an incredible play to field a ground ball in the hole, jumped to his feet and fired to first baseman Ryan Zimmerman. The result of the play was just another spring training out, albeit a spectacular one, but also a bruised left knee for Rendon. He was originally scheduled to leadoff and play third base against the Tigers today, but Nationals manager Matt Williams scratched him from the lineup this...