nationals

Rendon's triple-digit runs total has impressed Williams

September 06, 2014, 10:37am

With three runs scored in Friday night's loss, Nationals third baseman Anthony Rendon now has 101 for the season and has retaken the major league lead in that category from Minnesota's Brian Dozier (100). Rendon is only the fourth player in team history to eclipse the 100-run mark in a season, joining Alfonso Soriano (119 in 2006), Ryan Zimmerman (110 in 2009) and Nick Johnson (100 in 2006). But the triple-digit total is just one aspect of Rendon's game. In addition to playing sparkling...

Comments

Tags:

anthony rendon frontstory_nationals2 matt williams nationals pete kerzel

On the Soriano decision

September 05, 2014, 11:11pm

Nationals

Prior to the All-Star break, Rafael Soriano punched up a 0.97 ERA in 37 games. He recorded 22 saves in 24 chances, had an opponents' batting average of .153 and had a WHIP of 0.81. He was simply one of the best relievers in the majors. Since the All-Star break, Soriano has a 6.98 ERA in 21 games. He's recorded just nine saves in 14 chances, has an opponents' batting average of .325 and a WHIP of 1.76. Things have turned south for Soriano in a hurry. And now Matt Williams has to decide how to...

Comments

Tags:

dan kolko matt williams nationals rafael soriano drew storen featured_sidebar matt thornton tyler clippard frontstory_nationals3

Soriano on losing his closer job, Span and Harper describe collision in the outfield

September 05, 2014, 8:59pm

Nationals

Soriano on losing his closer job, Span and Harper describe collision in the outfield

Nationals manager Matt Williams will make a change at closer after Rafael Soriano blew his second straight save in a 9-8 11-inning setback to the Phillies. Soriano has blown five games in 14 opportunities since the All-Star break, and has a 6.98 ERA in 21 games since the break. Soriano said he understands he has not been pitching well. He has allowed opponents to score at least one run in four of his last five outings. "Whatever situation that (Williams) could make, I will be with him because...

Comments

Tags:

bryce harper byron kerr denard span matt williams nationals rafael soriano featured_sidebar frontstory_nationals2

Williams on closer situation: "We need to address it"

September 05, 2014, 8:52pm

Nationals

Williams on closer situation: "We need to address it"

Rafael Soriano has struggled since the All-Star break. And after tonight's blown save, Matt Williams said he's considering a change at closer. Soriano allowed three runs in two-thirds of an inning tonight, blowing his fifth save in 14 chances since the break. He has a 6.98 ERA in 21 games in that span, and this blown save tonight contributed to a 9-8 Nationals loss in 11 innings. Soriano was handed a three-run lead, but allowed a two-run homer to Carlos Ruiz and then a solo shot to Ben...

Comments

Tags:

dan kolko nationals featured_sidebar matt williams rafael soriano frontstory_nationals3

Nationals recall outfielder Michael A. Taylor, right-hander Ryan Mattheus

September 06, 2014, 8:39am

Nationals

The Washington Nationals today recalled outfielder Michael A. Taylor and right-handed reliever Ryan Mattheus from Syracuse of the Triple-A International League. Nationals President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcement. Taylor, 23, returns to the Nationals for the second time this season after hitting .304 with a .390 on-base percentage and a .526 slugging percentage in 110 Minor League games between Double-A Harrisburg and Triple-A Syracuse. After hitting...

Comments

Tags:

Nationals News Release nationals

LaRoche, Strasburg start off well (Phillies win 9-8 in 11 innings)

September 05, 2014, 3:31pm

Nationals

LaRoche, Strasburg start off well (Phillies win 9-8 in 11 innings)

There was some question prior to Friday's series opener against the Phillies whether or not first baseman Adam LaRoche would be able to play. He admitted during pregame that he has been battling back pain, elbow soreness and flu-like symptoms since early in the week. Facing the Dodgers on Wednesday, LaRoche managed to battle through the pain to put together a two-hit five RBI performance, including his 20th homer of the season, in a 8-5 14-inning victory over Los Angeles. LaRoche told manager...

Comments

Tags:

adam laroche byron kerr nationals phillies stephen strasburg frontstory_nationals3

Williams: Zimmerman up and running

September 05, 2014, 12:35pm

Nationals

Nationals manager Matt Williams had positive news today on the progress for third baseman Ryan Zimmerman, who has been on the sidelines since July 23 with a right hamstring strain. Williams said Zimmerman has graduated to running in his rehabilitation program. "He ran," Williams said. "He's upping his running. He was on the Alter-G again at 90 percent body weight, which is good, and running. That's a step in the right direction. He's increasing his strength and his ability to let it go a...

Comments

Tags:

byron kerr matt williams nationals ryan zimmerman featured_sidebar frontstory_nationals3

Nats recall infielder/outfielder Jeff Kobernus (plus lineups)

September 05, 2014, 10:52am

Nationals

Nats recall infielder/outfielder Jeff Kobernus (plus lineups)

The Nationals have added another player to their roster. Infielder/outfielder Jeff Kobernus has been recalled from Triple-A Syracuse. This is Kobernus' first stint with the Nats in 2014; he previously appeared in 24 games for the club in 2013. Kobernus missed some time this season after fracturing his left hand in early April, but returned on June 25. Kobernus played in 73 minor league games, hitting .264 with a .347 on-base percentage. Fifty-three of those games played were at the Triple-A...

Comments

Tags:

dan kolko jeff kobernus nationals frontstory_nationals2

LaRoche details comeback win in L.A., in lineup vs. Phillies

September 05, 2014, 1:37pm

Nationals

LaRoche details comeback win in L.A., in lineup vs. Phillies

First baseman Adam LaRoche offered more insight to the end of the Nationals' marathon 14-inning 8-5 victory at Los Angeles against the Dodgers on Wednesday. LaRoche said he was battling the flu, his hurt elbow and his aching back in his final at-bat. LaRoche ended up with five RBIs in a game he didn't start. He hit a game-tying home run, a go-ahead two-run single in the 12th inning and a fielder's choice that scored the decisive run in the 14th. Those three ailments still bothered him...

Comments

Tags:

adam laroche byron kerr jose uribe los angeles dodgers matt williams nationals featured_sidebar frontstory_nationals1

Back at home, Strasburg looks to keep on rolling

September 05, 2014, 6:21am

Nationals

Back at home, Strasburg looks to keep on rolling

After Stephen Strasburg's last outing, a start in which he allowed just one run over 7 2/3 innings, striking out eight and walking zero, manager Matt Williams said it was the best he thought he had seen Strasburg all season. Williams added that it was "probably the most important" outing for Strasburg, as well. His rationale for that statement was that Strasburg had posted back-to-back strong outings against the Mets and Diamondbacks earlier in August, but then had been hit hard by the...

Comments

Tags:

dan kolko nationals featured_sidebar stephen strasburg

Nationals recall infielder/outfielder Jeff Kobernus

September 05, 2014, 10:42am

Nationals

The Washington Nationals today recalled infielder/outfielder Jeff Kobernus from Syracuse of the Triple-A International League. Nationals President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcement. Kobernus joins the Nationals for the first time this season after hitting .264 with a .347 on-base percentage in 73 Minor League games. After recovering from a fractured left hand suffered in early April, Kobernus returned to the Chiefs' roster on June 25 and...

Comments

Tags:

Nationals News Release nationals

Opposite dugout: Phillies hope to stay hot in Washington

September 05, 2014, 5:36am

Nationals

Opposite dugout: Phillies hope to stay hot in Washington

Manager: Ryne Sandberg, second year Record: 64-75 Last 10 games: 7-3 Who to watch: RF Marlon Byrd (.266/.314/.463, 24 doubles, 25 HR, 78 RBIs); 1B Ryan Howard (.224/.308/.379, 20 HR, 87 RBIs); LHP Cole Hamels (8-6, 2.50 ERA, 1.15 WHIP); RHP Jerome Williams (3-0, 2.03 ERA, 1.01 WHIP) Season series vs. Nats: 8-8, 56 runs scored, 72 runs allowed Pitching probables Sept. 5: Jerome Williams vs. Stephen Strasburg, 7 p.m., MASN HD Sept. 6: A.J. Burnett vs. Tanner Roark, 4 p.m., MASN HD Sept. 7: Cole...

Comments

Tags:

beltways frontstory_nationals3 josh land nationals opposite dugout phillies

Hagerstown and Potomac with playoff wins, Cedeno makes huge impact for Nationals

September 04, 2014, 10:46am

Nationals

Here's a roundup of the Nationals' minor league playoff summaries from Wednesday: Triple-A Syracuse Chiefs: Syracuse lost its first game of the International League Governor's Cup semifinals Wednesday, 2-1 in 10 innings to Pawtucket. Syracuse and Pawtucket play the second game of the series tonight in Rhode Island at 7:05 p.m. Chiefs right-hander Scott McGregor will start against Red Sox right-hander Matt Barnes. Syracuse has not won a playoff game since 1994. High Single-A Potomac...

Comments

Tags:

byron kerr hagerstown matt williams nationals potomac xavier cedeno nationals farm report frontstory_nationals3

Takeaways from the thriller in L.A.

September 04, 2014, 2:13am

Nationals

Hello, East Coast. Nice to see you again. The Nationals are back from their second-to-last road trip of the season, and boy, will they enjoy this day off. A cross-country flight after a 14-inning game meant an arrival in D.C. after 4 a.m., so the chance to rest up is much needed. I believe, in fact, that this is the Nats' first off-day at home since the All-Star break. Players know the tough schedule comes with the job, but it certainly isn't easy as we get into the season's final...

Comments

Tags:

dan kolko nationals aaron barrett adam laroche asdrubal cabrera blake treinen featured_sidebar xavier cedeno frontstory_nationals2

Hearing from the clubhouse after Nats prevail in wild 14-inning marathon

September 03, 2014, 6:16pm

Nationals

Hearing from the clubhouse after Nats prevail in wild 14-inning marathon

If this was a preview of what we can expect in the postseason should the Dodgers and Nationals meet, well, sign me up. The Nats' 8-5 victory in 14 innings had more twists and turns than Mulholland Drive. Based on the run-on reactions I saw on Twitter, fans were alternately emboldened with the hope that the Nats could pull off miracle after miracle or perilously close to running out of optimism over and over. It took 5 hours, 34 minutes and required the Nationals to use 26 players, both team...

Comments

Tags:

adam laroche featured_sidebar matt williams nationals pete kerzel tyler clippard frontstory_nationals3

LaRoche, Span give Nats 3-2 lead in ninth (Nats win 8-5 in 14 innings)

September 03, 2014, 11:33am

Nationals

LaRoche, Span give Nats 3-2 lead in ninth (Nats win 8-5 in 14 innings)

Nationals right-hander Jordan Zimmermann looked workmanlike in his 1-2-3 dispatch of the Dodgers in the first inning Wednesday from Chavez Ravine. Zimmermann has a career 5.61 ERA in five starts against the Dodgers, so he would certainly like to change that and give the Nationals their fourth win in the past six games. The Dodgers rookie Carlos Frias did well in the first inning. In the second, Bryce Harper reached on an infield single and Tyler Moore, starting at first base for Adam LaRoche...

Comments

Tags:

byron kerr jordan zimmermann nationals tyler moore frontstory_nationals2

David Huzzard: Rendon as good a choice as any for NL MVP

September 04, 2014, 5:49am

Nationals

David Huzzard: Rendon as good a choice as any for NL MVP

The fun part about the Most Valuable Player award is that it isn't about trying to figure out who the best player . It's about trying to figure out what crazy voters are going to do. Most of the inane arguments about the MVP award center around the word "valuable" and what the true essence of a valuable player is. One of the central beliefs of the voters is that a valuable player can't possibly play on a losing team and if they were truly valuable they would play for a winning team. This...

Comments

Tags:

anthony rendon david huzzard denard span guest blogger guestblogger jayson werth nationals nationals buzz

Williams charts Zimmerman's progress, says LaRoche should be available Friday

September 03, 2014, 10:46am

Nationals

Williams charts Zimmerman's progress, says LaRoche should be available Friday

Ryan Zimmerman is continuing the strengthening phase of his recovery from a torn right hamstring, and Nationals manager Matt Williams said Wednesday that the team would re-evaluate the next steps in the process once they return to D.C. on Friday for a six-game homestand against Philadelphia and Atlanta. "The last MRI was good," Williams told reporters in Los Angeles before the Nats faced the Dodgers in the finale of a three-game series. "He's continuing his strengthening. He's jogging and...

Comments

Tags:

adam laroche featured_sidebar nationals pete kerzel frontstory_nationals3

Moore at first base in finale against Dodgers

September 03, 2014, 9:21am

Nationals

Moore at first base in finale against Dodgers

LOS ANGELES - That sore back will cost Nationals first baseman Adam LaRoche his second consecutive start. Tyler Moore is at first base for the finale of a three-game series at Dodger Stadium. LaRoche's absence means shortstop Ian Desmond moves to the cleanup spot, with left fielder Bryce Harper hitting fifth. The Nats are hoping to take the series from the Dodgers, who are in first place in the National League West, and improve to 4-5 on their current road swing. For the Nationals CF Denard...

Comments

Tags:

adam laroche bryce harper dan kolko ian desmond nationals tyler moore frontstory_nationals1

Fister and Kershaw in a battle from L.A. (Dodgers win 4-1)

September 02, 2014, 6:31pm

Nationals

Fister and Kershaw in a battle from L.A. (Dodgers win 4-1)

The much-anticipated match-up between Nationals right-hander Doug Fister and Dodgers left-hander Clayton Kershaw got off to a predictable start. The pair have combined for 28 wins and are known to put up a ton of zeroes. Kershaw allowed a two-out walk in the first to Jayson Werth, but then was able to get clean-up hitter Ian Desmond on a looping 75 mph curveball that was called strike three. Fister also surrendered a two-out free pass to Adrian Gonzalez, but then got Matt Kemp to fly out to...