nationals

Roark going for team-high 13th win

August 31, 2014, 9:03am

SEATTLE - Right-hander Tanner Roark goes for his team-high 13th victory this afternoon as the Nationals try to sweep the Seattle Mariners in a three-game series. The last time the Nats swept the Mariners was in June 2011. After sealing their 12th win in 13 games, manager Jim Riggleman shockingly resigned, upset that general manager Mike Rizzo wouldn't discuss an extension of his one-year contract. No chance of that happening today. Matt Williams will get on the plane to Los Angeles. At 20...

Comments

Tags:

dan kolko jayson werth nate schierholtz nationals tanner roark frontstory_nationals1

Strasburg sets strikeout mark (Nats win 3-1)

August 30, 2014, 5:31pm

Nationals

Strasburg sets strikeout mark (Nats win 3-1)

The Nationals hit six home runs versus Seattle on Friday in an 8-3 romp. It was the most home runs by any team at Safeco Field this season and the most by the Nationals since September 2012. The Nationals have hit 36 home runs this month, most in the National League. Make that 37. The Nationals hit their seventh homer against Mariners pitching in the last 27 outs. Jayson Werth cranked a two-run shot in the first inning off of left-hander Roenis Elias and the Nationals lead 2-0. It was...

Comments

Tags:

byron kerr jayson werth nationals stephen strasburg frontstory_nationals3

Williams on Strasburg's gem in Nats' 3-1 win

August 30, 2014, 8:45pm

Nationals

Williams on Strasburg's gem in Nats' 3-1 win

SEATTLE - After one of his worst outings of the season, Stephen Strasburg delivered quite possibly his best. Strasburg went 7 2/3 innings tonight, allowing just one run on six hits, striking out eight and walking none. He dominated the Mariners through the middle innings, kept his pitch count low and led the way for the Nationals, who snagged their second straight win here in Seattle, this one by a 3-1 score. Jayson Werth hit a two-run homer in the first to give Strasburg a cushion, and...

Comments

Tags:

dan kolko nationals featured_sidebar matt williams stephen strasburg frontstory_nationals2

Williams on the Strasburg-Lobaton battery and Frandsen

August 30, 2014, 4:36pm

Nationals

Williams on the Strasburg-Lobaton battery and Frandsen

Stephen Strasburg's numbers this season are noticeably different when Wilson Ramos and Jose Lobaton are behind the plate this season. In 14 starts throwing to Ramos, Strasburg has a 3.30 ERA. In 11 starts with Lobaton at catcher, Strasburg has posted a 2.94 ERA. So as the Nationals right-hander takes the mound tonight in Seattle, he's again paired with the backstop with which he's had the most success - Lobaton. This marks Strasburg's fourth consecutive start with Lobaton serving as...

Comments

Tags:

featured_sidebar jose lobaton josh land kevin frandsen matt williams nationals stephen strasburg wilson ramos frontstory_nationals2

Williams discusses Nats' six-homer night in 8-3 win

August 29, 2014, 10:05pm

Nationals

Williams discusses Nats' six-homer night in 8-3 win

SEATTLE - So much for that great pitchers' duel we were all expecting. The Nationals hit four of their six home runs tonight off Felix Hernandez, who entered tonight's game with a 2.07 ERA on the season and had never allowed four homers in an outing in his career, and rolled to an 8-3 win in the opener of this three-game set. Wilson Ramos homered twice, and Anthony Rendon, Jayson Werth, Ian Desmond and Bryce Harper also left the yard for the Nats, who tied a team record with those six...

Comments

Tags:

dan kolko matt williams nationals featured_sidebar

Rendon homers off King Felix in first (Nats hit six homers in 8-3 win)

August 29, 2014, 6:24pm

Nationals

Rendon homers off King Felix in first (Nats hit six homers in 8-3 win)

Anthony Rendon got the Nationals off to a quick start against one of baseball's best. Rendon homered of Mariners ace Felix Hernandez with one out in the first to give the Nats an immediate 1-0 lead. Hernandez entered the night third in the majors with a 2.07 ERA. He hasn't allowed more than four runs in any of his first 27 starts, only once permitting more than three. But Hernandez hasn't been in top form over his last two outings, allowing five runs in 10 2/3 innings. Rendon's 18th...

Comments

Tags:

anthony rendon josh land nationals frontstory_nationals2

Nats get to the King

August 30, 2014, 2:13am

Nationals

SEATTLE - The guy on the mound had allowed more than three earned runs in a start just once all season. In that one outing, he had allowed four earned runs. The guy on the mound had a 2.07 ERA. The guy on the mound had never given up four homers in an outing. The guy on the mound is considered an overwhelming favorite for the American League Cy Young. And the guy on the mound got clobbered. Baseball is a weird game, folks. You can get stymied by an underwhelming pitcher one night, then hit the...

Comments

Tags:

dan kolko nationals featured_sidebar ian desmond jayson werth frontstory_nationals3

Nats lineup features both Ramos, Lobaton

August 30, 2014, 1:51pm

Nationals

Nats lineup features both Ramos, Lobaton

SEATTLE - Fresh off his two-homer night, Wilson Ramos is back in the Nationals lineup. So is Jose Lobaton. How is this possible? Ramos is serving as the Nats' designated hitter, a role he's manned only once in 298 career games. His hot bat stays in the lineup and the Nats get to take advantage of starting pitcher Stephen Strasburg's 2.94 ERA with Lobaton behind the plate. For the Nationals CF Denard Span 3B Anthony Rendon RF Jayson Werth 1B Adam LaRoche SS Ian Desmond LF Bryce Harper DH...

Comments

Tags:

dan kolko nationals wilson ramos frontstory_nationals1

Positive update on Zimmerman, more on Werth at DH

August 29, 2014, 4:48pm

Nationals

Positive update on Zimmerman, more on Werth at DH

Before Friday night's series opener in Seattle, Nationals manager Matt Williams had a positive update on injured third baseman Ryan Zimmerman. Zimmerman, who hasn't played since July 22 because of a severe hamstring strain, underwent another MRI on Monday and the medical staff liked what it saw. "The doctors looked at it and it's healing up really nicely, so he can start increasing his strength stuff," Williams said. "So he's jogging now and he's continuing to throw a little bit here...

Comments

Tags:

jayson werth josh land matt williams nationals ryan zimmerman featured_sidebar frontstory_nationals3

Werth DHing, Schierholtz will play right

August 29, 2014, 2:11pm

Nationals

Werth DHing, Schierholtz will play right

SEATTLE - The Nationals will get to utilize the designated hitter for the next three days, and Jayson Werth will handle that role tonight. Werth will be in his normal No. 3 spot in the batting order, but will not roam right field here at Safeco Field. Nate Schierholtz will play right, getting his first start as a National. As I wrote earlier, we'll get a very strong pitching matchup tonight: Jordan Zimmermann (9-5, 2.93 ERA) will square off against Mariners righty Felix Hernandez (13-4, 2.07...

Comments

Tags:

dan kolko nationals jayson werth jordan zimmermann nate schierholtz frontstory_nationals3

NL roundup: Charting who's most likely to make and miss the playoffs

August 29, 2014, 11:25am

Nationals

NL roundup: Charting who's most likely to make and miss the playoffs

With a month left in the season, here's a look at what's going on with National League contenders. Atlanta: The Braves aren't out of the division race yet, but their best chance to make the playoffs is the Wild Card route. They know how to beat the Nationals, but they are not consistent enough against the rest of the league to win the NL East. Seven- and eight-game losing streaks have hurt them. The biggest problem is struggling to average four runs a game. Freddie Freeman, Jason Heyward,...

Comments

Tags:

frontstory_nationals4 mel antonen nationals

Another test, this time out west

August 28, 2014, 10:27pm

Nationals

SEATTLE - Hello from the great Northwest, where the weather is lovely, the seafood is tremendous and there is practically a Starbucks on every single corner. I had heard that coming in - that coffee shops were all over the place here. But you seriously cannot walk half a block in Seattle without seeing coffee sold somewhere, and Starbucks logos can be spotted pretty much everywhere you go. After a much-needed day off yesterday, the Nationals get back at it tonight, hoping to snap their mini...

Comments

Tags:

dan kolko nationals featured_sidebar jordan zimmermann frontstory_nationals2

Nationals sign two-year working agreement with Hagerstown Suns of Single-A South Atlantic League

August 29, 2014, 9:06am

Nationals

Nationals and Suns partnership runs through 2016 season The Washington Nationals today announced the signing of a two-year Player Development Contract extension (which begins in 2015) with the Hagerstown Suns of the Single-A South Atlantic League through the 2016 season. Nationals President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo, Nationals Vice President of Player Personnel Bob Boone, Assistant General Manager and Vice President of Player Development Doug Harris and Director of...

Comments

Tags:

Nationals News Release nationals

Opposite dugout: Mariners, Nats put baseball's top two pitching staffs head-to-head

August 29, 2014, 5:15am

Nationals

Opposite dugout: Mariners, Nats put baseball's top two pitching staffs head-to-head

Manager: Lloyd McClendon, first year Record: 72-60 Last 10 games: 6-4 Who to watch: 2B Robinson Cano (.325/.393/.469, 30 doubles, 12 HR, 71 RBIs); 3B Kyle Seager (.275/.344/.471, 26 doubles, 20 HR, 81 RBIs); RHP Felix Hernandez (13-4, 2.07 ERA, 0.89 WHIP); RHP Hisashi Iwakuma (12-6, 2.83 ERA, 0.98 WHIP) Season series vs. Nats (2013): Did not play Pitching probables Aug. 29: Felix Hernandez vs. Jordan Zimmermann, 10 p.m., MASN2 HD Aug. 30: Chris Young vs. Stephen Strasburg, 9 p.m., MASN2...

Comments

Tags:

beltways frontstory_nationals3 josh land mariners nationals opposite dugout

Nationals not distracted by delay, get started quickly (Phillies win 8-4)

August 27, 2014, 3:50pm

Nationals

The Nationals were not slowed by Wednesday's delayed first pitch. The Phillies honored their local Little League World Series team during pregame. The first pitch was expected at 7:35 p.m., but instead came at 7:44 p.m. Denard Span didn't waste any time with a single against Phillies starter Kyle Kendrick to lead off the game. Anthony Rendon followed with a double that rattled around the left field corner. Span raced all the way around from first base to score and the Nationals lead...

Comments

Tags:

byron kerr doug fister kyle kendrick nationals frontstory_nationals3

Williams, Desmond and Fister weigh in after Phillies complete sweep

August 27, 2014, 7:56pm

Nationals

Williams, Desmond and Fister weigh in after Phillies complete sweep

Think Nationals manager Matt Williams is stewing over the Phillies' 8-4 come-from-behind win Wednesday night that gave them a series sweep? Think again. Sounds more like the skipper has already filed the three games at Citizens Bank Park away. The Nats might not be landing at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport for another six hours, but Williams might as already be in the Pacific Northwest. The Nats didn't look so good Wednesday night. Doug Fister struggled through 5 2/3 innings and gave up...

Comments

Tags:

denard span doug fister featured_sidebar ian desmond matt williams nationals pete kerzel frontstory_nationals2

Nationals extend player development contract with Auburn Doubledays

August 28, 2014, 9:09am

Nationals

The Washington Nationals today announced the signing of a two-year Player Development Contract extension (which begins in 2015) with the Auburn Doubledays of the short-season Class A New York-Penn League through the 2016 season. Nationals President of Baseball Operations & General Manager Mike Rizzo, Nationals Vice President of Player Personnel Bob Boone, Assistant General Manager & Vice President of Player Development Doug Harris and Director of Player Development Mark Scialabba made the...

Comments

Tags:

Nationals News Release nationals

Inactivity is LaRoche's enemy, while Fister shuts down running game

August 27, 2014, 3:01pm

Nationals

Inactivity is LaRoche's enemy, while Fister shuts down running game

Adam LaRoche's night off Tuesday because of a tightness in his back was nothing new for the veteran first baseman. He's battled back issues for five or six years now, and knows the triggers that cause him trouble. Inactivity is a problem, and this time, the 2Â½-hour bus ride from Washington, D.C., to Philadelphia on Sunday evening apparently was the culprit. "I felt it for a couple days, just a little bit of stiffness, and then the bus ride just really got me," LaRoche said before...

Comments

Tags:

adam laroche doug fister featured_sidebar matt williams nationals pete kerzel frontstory_nationals3

David Huzzard: Changing the Nationals' narrative

August 28, 2014, 5:12am

Nationals

Way back on May 28, the Nationals were 25-27, averaging 3.9 runs a game and allowing 3.9 runs a game. The Nationals were two games under .500 and playing like they were a .500 team. The narrative at that time was that they were one of the most disappointing teams in baseball and the hangover from Game 5 in the 2012 National League Division Series and a mediocre 2013 had continued into 2014. Concurrent injuries to star players was once again taking their toil, the Nationals' window was already...

Comments

Tags:

david huzzard guest blogger guestblogger nationals nationals buzz

LaRoche returns in finale against Phillies (plus programming reminder)

August 27, 2014, 12:03pm

Nationals

LaRoche returns in finale against Phillies (plus programming reminder)

PHILADELPHIA - Adam LaRoche is back in the lineup in his normal spots at first base and clean-up for the Nationals in the finale of a three-game against the Phillies. LaRoche was out of last night's starting lineup, getting a rest while he nursed a tight back. Otherwise, the lineup looks very familiar in support of right-hander Doug Fister (12-4, 2.38 ERA) against Philadelphia's Kyle Kendrick (6-11, 4.93 ERA), who owns the National League's worst ERA (6.10) since June 22. A programming...