nationals

Werth returns to Nats lineup in opener vs. D-backs

August 18, 2014, 11:36am

Right fielder Jayson Werth, who hasn't started since Aug. 7 while nursing inflammation in the AC joint in his right shoulder, will be back in the Nationals lineup tonight for the opener of a four-game series against the Diamondbacks. The sprained AC joint limited Werth, who got a cortisone injection late last week to reduce the imflammation and discomfort. Right-hander Jordan Zimmermann opposes Arizona left-hander Vidal Nuno. The Nationals are seeking their seventh straight victory. For the...

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Nats add outfield depth, ink veteran Schierholtz to minor league deal

August 18, 2014, 8:47am

Nationals

Nats add outfield depth, ink veteran Schierholtz to minor league deal

The Nationals have signed outfielder Nate Schierholtz to a minor league contract, adding some depth to the organization and positioning the veteran for a September call-up into a pennant race. The 30-year-old Schierholtz batted .192 with six homers and 33 RBIs in 99 games for the Cubs this season before being released on Aug. 13, but is only one year removed from his finest offensive season in an eight-year career. In 2013, Schierholtz batted .251 with 32 doubles, 21 homers and 68 RBIs....

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Nationals and Pittsburgh in back-and-forth affair (Nats win 6-5 in 11 on Hairston sac fly)

August 17, 2014, 1:52pm

Nationals

The Nationals are going for their second straight three-game series sweep Sunday against the Pirates, after taking three in New York against the Mets earlier this week. If the Nationals win the game, it would be their first season series win over the Bucs. The Nationals lost the first three games against the Pirates this season in late May and have bounced back to win three in a row. Doug Fister did not allow a baserunner until the third after walking Ike Davis. Davis went to second on a wild...

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Two recent pickups playing a major factor

August 17, 2014, 9:24pm

Nationals

Two recent pickups playing a major factor

The Nationals have now won six games in a row, their longest winning streak of the season. Oh, and they're now 16 games over .500, also a season best. Oh, and they have the best record in the National League. Oh, and they now have four games against a Diamondbacks team that is currently 18 games under .500. Things are looking up in the nation's capital. There's plenty to talk about with this team right now, from another comeback win last night to Jayson Werth's attempts to get past a...

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Nationals sign outfielder Schierholtz to minor league contract

August 18, 2014, 8:35am

Nationals

The Washington Nationals today agreed to terms with outfielder Nate Schierholtz on a minor league contract. Schierholtz will be assigned to Syracuse of the Triple-A International League. Nationals President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcement. Schierholtz is a .254 career hitter (520-for-2050) with 117 doubles, 51 home runs and 224 RBI in 776 career games with the Cubs (2013 - '14), Phillies (2012) and Giants (2007 - '12). Earlier this season, he...

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Opposite dugout: D-backs hope to turn rough August around in Washington

August 18, 2014, 5:53am

Nationals

Opposite dugout: D-backs hope to turn rough August around in Washington

Manager: Kirk Gibson, fifth year Record: 53-71 Last 10 games: 4-6 Who to watch: C Miguel Montero (.256/.339/.401, 20 doubles, 12 HR, 63 RBIs); 2B Aaron Hill (.245/.284/.376, 22 doubles, 10 HR, 55 RBIs); RHP Chase Anderson (7-4, 3.16 ERA, 1.30 WHIP); LHP Vidal Nuno (0-3, 3.92 ERA, 1.13 WHIP) Season series vs. Nats: 1-2, 9 runs scored, 12 runs allowed Pitching probables Aug. 18: Vidal Nuno vs. Jordan Zimmermann, 7 p.m., MASN HD Aug. 19: Chase Anderson vs. Stephen Strasburg, 7 p.m., MASN HD Aug....

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Marty Niland: Exacting some revenge on Tigers, 34 years later

August 18, 2014, 5:49am

Nationals

Marty Niland: Exacting some revenge on Tigers, 34 years later

If Washington baseball fans know the value of anything, it's patience. Fans who were abandoned by two big league franchises and endured 34 years without a team of their own, then witnessed and seven seasons of futility, must feel thrilled to have the Nationals making a run for their second division title in three years. If that's not enough, the leader of this year's pitching staff, Doug Fister, who came in a trade from Detroit, is helping D.C. baseball lovers feel a measure of revenge for...

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Hairston, Werth, Fister and Soriano after Nationals 6-5 win

August 17, 2014, 6:08pm

Nationals

Pinch-hitter Scott Hairston came up in the eleventh and delivered the game-winning, walk-off winner. He drove a pitch to deep left field that scored Jayson Werth from third base on a sac fly, lifting the Nationals to an 11-inning thrilling 6-5 win over the Pirates. Hairston knew it was so late in the game that a lefty-righty matchup wasn't the only way he could pinch-hit. "I figured the pitching spot was up third," Hairston told reporters. "I don't think we had anybody else on the bench....

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Williams' discusses Nats' second straight walk-off win

August 17, 2014, 5:47pm

Nationals

Williams' discusses Nats' second straight walk-off win

Earlier this week, Drew Storen noted that to win a pennant, you need to not only win the games where things go smoothly, you need to win the ugly games, too. This one would certainly qualify in the latter category. But it sure was fun to watch nonetheless. The Nationals made two errors in the sixth inning, allowing two Pirates runs to score. Rafael Soriano blew a save in the top of the ninth, surrendering three runs to turn a 4-2 lead into a 5-4 Pittsburgh advantage. The ugly aspects could be...

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Ramos speaks about his walk-off on "amazing night" (plus Harper, Gonzalez quotes)

August 16, 2014, 7:30pm

Nationals

Ramos speaks about his walk-off on "amazing night" (plus Harper, Gonzalez quotes)

Held to no runs over the first seven frames and down 3-0, the Nationals were faced with the tough task of trying to mount a comeback against the Pirates. They delivered. In the eighth inning, the Nats pushed across three runs thanks to Kevin Frandsen's RBI single and Adam LaRoche's two-run homer. But the real fun came in the form of a walk-off victory an inning later when Wilson Ramos roped a ground-rule double that plated Bryce Harper and gave the Nats a 4-3 win. "The most important...

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A comeback keeps the good times rolling

August 17, 2014, 7:06am

Nationals

Asked last night how he views his team at this point in the season, with 121 games in the books and a six-game lead over the Braves in the National League East, Nationals manager Matt Williams used the word "tenacious." That word choice seems apt given the comeback that the Nats put together last night. Down 3-0 after seven innings, facing a tough Pirates bullpen, the Nats got on the board in the eighth when Kevin Frandsen drove in Michael Taylor with a bloop to right. An Anthony Rendon...

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Werth sits again for Pirates-Nats finale (with Pirates lineup)

August 17, 2014, 9:48am

Nationals

Werth sits again for Pirates-Nats finale (with Pirates lineup)

Jayson Werth is out of the lineup for the sixth straight game as the Nationals look to sweep the Pirates. Werth hasn't played since last Sunday because of an AC joint sprain in his right shoulder. Michael A. Taylor starts in right field with Bryce Harper in left. Asdrubal Cabrera is also back in the lineup, batting second and playing second base after sitting on Saturday. Nats right-hander Doug Fister faces Pirates right-hander Edinson Volquez in perhaps the best pitching match-up of the...

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Williams recaps Nats' 4-3 walk-off win

August 16, 2014, 7:10pm

Nationals

There were no shortage of contributors in tonight's thrilling Nationals comeback. Craig Stammen worked three scoreless innings, keeping the Nats' deficit at three. Kevin Frandsen notched three hits in a rare start. Michael A. Taylor drew a pinch-hit, leadoff walk in the eighth, then scored the Nats' first run to make it a 3-1 game. Adam LaRoche turned a smooth 3-6-3 double play on a line shot to end the top of the eighth, then knotted the game in the bottom-half with a bolt into the home...

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Williams addresses Werth's availability, Gonzalez's key to consistency

August 16, 2014, 2:31pm

Nationals

Williams addresses Werth's availability, Gonzalez's key to consistency

The Nationals are going for their fifth straight win, but once again, they'll take the field without July's National League Player of the Month, Jayson Werth. Werth, who has been out of the lineup since Aug. 10 with an AC joint sprain, could be available off the bench as early as tonight, depending on how his workout goes this afternoon at Nats Park. "He's going to do kind of a full load of activity today, so should take some BP, may not be on the field, probably in the cage," manager...

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Pirates take 3-0 lead in third (Nats walk off in ninth)

August 16, 2014, 4:04pm

Nationals

Pirates take 3-0 lead in third (Nats walk off in ninth)

The Nationals and Pirates starters were cruising though the first few innings before the Bucs opened things up in the third. Gio Gonzalez allowed two hits in the first two frames, but struggled in the third. After retiring pitcher Jeff Locke on strikes, Gonzalez allowed a single to Josh Harrison, and after retiring Gregory Polanco, a walk to Russell Martin. Starling Marte then doubled to plate the first run, and Gaby Sanchez followed with a two-run single. Pirates 3, Nats 0 Through three,...

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Gonzalez looks to get back on track (plus lineups)

August 16, 2014, 11:42am

Nationals

Gonzalez looks to get back on track (plus lineups)

Gio Gonzalez will be looking to get back on track as he heads to the hill tonight for the Nationals. The Nats left-hander has been in a bit of a funk lately, losing his last five decisions to fall to 6-9 on the season. Gonzalez's last three starts have been especially rough, as he as surrendered 11 runs and 20 hits while walking seven in just 14 1/3 innings. He has a 6.91 ERA over those three outings to lift his season mark to 4.00. Gonzalez has failed to make it through five innings three...

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On Soriano's shaky last few days

August 16, 2014, 7:07am

Nationals

There was a stretch earlier this season where Rafael Soriano wasn't just notching saves and recording scoreless innings. He was nearly untouchable. From June 15 through July 12, Soriano made 12 appearances. He didn't allow a single run in that span, surrendered just four hits and two walks and struck out 13. Opposing hitters had just a .103 batting average against Soriano in that 12-game run, with a .249 OPS. Even earlier this month, from August 1-9, Soriano had a mini dominant stretch,...

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Williams on Roark, LaRoche and more after Nats' 5-4 win

August 15, 2014, 7:13pm

Nationals

Williams on Roark, LaRoche and more after Nats' 5-4 win

A 5-0 Nationals lead after three was trimmed to 5-3 in the fourth when the Pirates got to Tanner Roark. They then got to Rafael Soriano in the ninth, and nearly completed a big road comeback. Instead, Soriano walked the tightrope yet again and notched the save, his 29th of the season, giving the Nats a 5-4 win and their fourth straight victory. Adam LaRoche and Bryce Harper each drove in two for the Nats, and Denard Span had three hits and two stolen bases. Soriano allowed three hits and a run...

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McLouth getting second opinion on ailing right shoulder

August 15, 2014, 1:42pm

Nationals

McLouth getting second opinion on ailing right shoulder

Outfielder Nate McLouth's inflamed right shoulder isn't responding as quickly to treatment as the Nationals had hoped, so he'll see another doctor to get a second opinion. McLouth, who signed a two-year, $10.75 million deal in December to be a fourth outfielder and defensive specialist for the Nats, has been on the 15-day disabled list since Aug. 4. He's hitting .173 with a home run and seven RBIs in 79 games. "The fact that he's going to go have a second look is concerning, of course,"...

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Roark made most of run support, LaRoche continues August surge

August 15, 2014, 7:19pm

Nationals

Roark made most of run support, LaRoche continues August surge

Tanner Roark got another early lead - the Nationals have scored 29 runs in the first inning in his starts, so it's becoming routine - but the right-hander couldn't gut his way through the sixth inning. He said he wasn't finishing pitches, was trying to be too perfect. And he paid the price. One bad inning made a 5-0 game much closer and substantially upped his pitch count. "I felt good, just trying to be too fine with my slider and my curveball today. ... Fastball was good, thought I had...