nationals

Desmond on hand: "It's good"

July 10, 2014, 6:55pm

BALTIMORE -- Nationals manager Matt Williams confirmed that shortstop Ian Desmond's hand is not broken, at least from the X-rays taken at Camden Yards after the game. The X-Ray's were negative. Desmond on how his hand felt after the game: "It's good." How much pain was he in? "It doesn't feel good, but it's not broken," he said. "I think I'm good hands. You just hope for the best and pray." How did Desmond describe the pain? "Kind of like you got hit in the funny bone where it's...

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Opposite dugout: Phillies aim to build on sweep of Brewers with Nats in town

July 11, 2014, 5:34am

Nationals

Opposite dugout: Phillies aim to build on sweep of Brewers with Nats in town

Manager: Ryne Sandberg, second year Record: 41-51 Last 10 games: 5-5 Who to watch: 2B Chase Utley (.294/.352/.452, 24 doubles, 8 HR, 46 RBIs, 50 R); RF Marlon Byrd (.261/.313/.481, 19 doubles, 18 HR, 52 RBIs); LHP Cole Hamels (3-5, 2.87 ERA, 1.23 WHIP); RHP A.J. Burnett (5-8, 3.92 ERA, 1.34 WHIP) Season series vs. Nats: 2-4, 17 runs scored, 26 runs allowed Pitching probables July 11: A.J. Burnett vs. Jordan Zimmermann, 7 p.m., MASN2 HD July 12: Cole Hamels vs. Stephen Strasburg, 7 p.m.,...

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Orioles get to Gonzalez early with long ball (Nats fall 4-3)

July 10, 2014, 3:28pm

Nationals Orioles

Orioles get to Gonzalez early with long ball (Nats fall 4-3)

The Orioles scored a run in the first inning for the second straight game and they did it in a very familiar way. With one out in the first, Steve Pearce slammed a 2-0 Gio Gonzalez offering over the left field wall and the Orioles led 1-0. It was a 91 mph four-seam fastball. Gonzalez was able to get the next two batters out. The run ended Gonzalez's scoreless streak at 22 1/3 innings. Orioles left-hander Wei-Yin Chen was able to get to the Nationals 1-2-3 in each of the first two innings. He...

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Frandsen playing second, Zimmerman DHing, Espinosa sits

July 10, 2014, 11:41am

Nationals

Frandsen playing second, Zimmerman DHing, Espinosa sits

BALTIMORE - While the Orioles are throwing left-hander Wei-Yin Chen tonight and that would seemingly be a chance to get Danny Espinosa - who hits lefties well - another start, manager Matt Williams is going another route. Kevin Frandsen will start at second base today, with Espinosa returning to the bench after getting the start last night. Ryan Zimmerman will again DH tonight, and Anthony Rendon will play third base for the second straight game. Gio Gonzalez gets the ball for the Nats,...

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Nationals add Faith Day and bonus promotions to 2014 calendar

July 10, 2014, 12:49pm

Nationals

As the Washington Nationals gear up for the second half of the 2014 baseball season, the team today announced the addition of Faith Day to the promotional schedule, which features a free postgame concert with contemporary Christian musician Lincoln Brewster on Saturday, September 6. Lincoln Brewster's career - which includes collaborations with Steve Perry (Journey) and Michael W. Smith (Grammy Award-winning Christian music artist) - has brought national acclaim to the California native....

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Sitting all alone in first place in the NL East

July 10, 2014, 6:05am

Nationals

Sitting all alone in first place in the NL East

The Nationals won last night. The Braves didn't. As a result, the Nats find themselves alone in first place in the National League East as of this morning, a game up on Atlanta with two games in hand. The Nats have now won eight of their last 10. They've won 12 of their last 17. And they're continuing to build some momentum as the All-Star break approaches. "That's where we want to be," Jayson Werth said, after slugging his ninth homer of the season in last night's 6-2 Nationals win...

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Harper's star turn in new ESPN spot

July 10, 2014, 7:55am

Nationals

Do you cry at the end of "Field of Dreams"? Yeah, me, too. When Ray Kinsella, played by Kevin Costner, and his dad have a catch in that Iowa cornfield, it gets to me. Every. Damn. Time. That film and that reaction are the focuses of a new "This is SportsCenter" spot on ESPN, starring Nationals outfielder Bryce Harper - as you've never seen him before. No spoiler here, no description of his interaction with ESPN anchors Hannah Storm, John Anderson and Bram Weinstein. The spot is entitled...

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David Huzzard: The Desmond dilemma

July 10, 2014, 5:56am

Nationals

With the news that the Nationals are looking for a young shortstop to be included in a deadline deal, the Ian Desmond contract situation has come back into the news. Desmond is scheduled to be a free agent at the end of the 2015 season, and over the last three years, he's been one of the Nationals' best offensive players. In fact, if we rank all Nationals from 2005 to present by fWAR, Desmond is the second-best Nationals position player, behind only Ryan Zimmerman. Desmond's rise up these...

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Williams discusses Nats' 6-2 win over Orioles

July 09, 2014, 7:06pm

Nationals

Williams discusses Nats' 6-2 win over Orioles

BALTIMORE - Even though the Nationals were eight games over .500 and tied for first place in their division coming into tonight's action, their power potential really hasn't been realized to this point. A large part of that is due to injuries, certainly. But there haven't been many games this season where the Nats slugged their way to a win. They did to an extent tonight, crushing three home runs and taking the first of two games at Camden Yards by a 6-2 final. Wilson Ramos, Ian Desmond and...

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Werth, Fister and LaRoche after 6-2 win at Orioles

July 09, 2014, 7:20pm

Nationals

Werth, Fister and LaRoche after 6-2 win at Orioles

Nationals right fielder Jayson Werth had a double and a home run in a 6-2 victory over the Orioles on Wednesday night. His homer was one of three solo shots by the Nationals in support of Doug Fister, who improved to 52-52 in his career, the first time he has been at the .500 mark since 2010. "Warm night, balls flying, small ball park, good to give Doug some run support and he's great to play defense behind," Werth said. "He works fast. To give him some runs and let him do his thing. It was...

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Nationals erase bad memory with quick strike against Norris (Nats win 6-2)

July 09, 2014, 3:22pm

Nationals Orioles

Nationals erase bad memory with quick strike against Norris (Nats win 6-2)

One way to quickly forget a long rain delay that lead to a postponement and to forget an 8-2 11-inning loss is striking early in the first game back against the same opponent. The Nationals jumped on Orioles starter Bud Norris in the top of the first. After a groundout, Anthony Rendon and Jayson Werth hit successive doubles to make it 1-0 Nationals. Adam LaRoche followed with a solid single to right and Werth slid under the Caleb Joseph tag at home to give the Nationals a 2-0 lead. Update: In...

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Williams on Roark's resilience, Espinosa's work ethic and LaRoche's extra effort

July 09, 2014, 2:11pm

Nationals

Williams on Roark's resilience, Espinosa's work ethic and LaRoche's extra effort

Nationals manager Matt Williams said in his pregame meeting with the media that the Nationals decided to push right-hander Tanner Roark back to the final game before the All-Star break because they can use him out of the bullpen over the next couple of days. "Tanner's got resiliency. We can use him out of the bullpen If need be," Williams said. "That's another factor. So if we get into a game where we need him, he's available today, tomorrow. He's done it before. All of those things come...

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Zimmerman DHing, Espinosa back at second base

July 09, 2014, 11:28am

Nationals

Zimmerman DHing, Espinosa back at second base

BALTIMORE - Here's one way to get Bryce Harper, Ryan Zimmerman, Anthony Rendon and Danny Espinosa all in the lineup on the same day: Play in an American League park. Nationals manager Matt Williams has the luxury of the designated hitter today, and he'll use it by having Zimmerman DH and moving Rendon over to third base. That allows Espinosa to make his first start since June 27. He'll play second. Jose Lobaton had been scheduled to start behind the plate and catch Doug Fister last night,...

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Williams on rotation following rainout, update on tickets for Aug. 4 makeup

July 08, 2014, 6:13pm

Nationals

Williams on rotation following rainout, update on tickets for Aug. 4 makeup

Nationals manager Matt Williams said right-hander Doug Fister would be pushed back one day to start Wednesday at Baltimore, following Tuesday's rainout in D.C. Williams also laid out the pitching probables for the remaining games before the All-Star break. "So Doug will go tomorrow," Williams said. "And then we will go Gio (Gonzalez), Zimm (Ryan Zimmerman) and Stras (Stephen Strasburg), and Tanner (Roark) will pitch the last game before the break in Philly. (Roark) will be available out of...

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More coming out of last night's postponement

July 09, 2014, 6:32am

Nationals

More coming out of last night's postponement

There was some chatter in the press box during last night's lengthy 2-hour, 30-minute rain delay about whether the Nationals and Orioles would consider a day-night, two-city doubleheader today, if last night's game was to get postponed. Well, last night's game was postponed. And according to Nats manager Matt Williams, that doubleheader split between Nats Park and Camden Yards was not considered. A similar doubleheader schedule was put into place a handful of years ago when the Yankees and...

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Rachel Levitin: Thrilled to see how far D.C. baseball has come

July 09, 2014, 5:21am

Nationals

Rachel Levitin: Thrilled to see how far D.C. baseball has come

When Tuesday night's game between the Nationals and Baltimore Orioles kicked off the evening with a delayed start, there was still a chance for baseball to be played. Or so we thought. The delay started early on in the 6 o'clock hour before a rush of approaching inclement weather forced fans and ballpark staff to head for cover under the Nats Park concourse. Once the storm swept through the Navy Yard and the ominous winds took flight, it sounded as if that very storm had come along to carry...

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Williams on Harper's struggles at the plate: "He'll be fine" (game postponed)

July 08, 2014, 1:41pm

Nationals Orioles

Williams on Harper's struggles at the plate: "He'll be fine" (game postponed)

Nationals left fielder Bryce Harper went 0-for-3 Monday in the loss to the Orioles. He has gone just 3-for-20 (.150) in the past six games with 10 strikeouts. On Monday, Harper popped out, flew out to center field, struck out looking and was walked twice (once intentionally) in five plate appearances. Manager Matt Williams said during Tuesday's pregame meeting with the media that he saw something in Harper's approach last night that gives him hope that Harper might be able to come out of this...

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Inclement weather postpones Orioles-Nationals game until Aug. 4

July 08, 2014, 6:02pm

Nationals

Tonight's Nationals-Orioles game scheduled to begin at 7:05 p.m. at Nationals Park in Washington, D.C., has been rescheduled for Monday, August 4 (time TBD) due to inclement weather. Fans with game tickets to tonight's postponed contest may use their original tickets for the rescheduled game on August 4. Those unable to attend the game on August 4 can exchange their tickets for any game during the 2014 regular season. Exchanged tickets will be issued from available inventory in the closest...

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Nats send Fister to hill against Orioles

July 08, 2014, 11:37am

Nationals

Nats send Fister to hill against Orioles

The Nationals send right-hander Doug Fister to the mound against the Orioles tonight, hoping for a split in the two-game D.C. portion of the Battle of the Beltways. Fister is 3-2 with a 5.30 ERA in six lifetime starts against Baltimore. The Nats are hoping he'll pitch more in line with his 2014 numbers: a 7-2 mark with a 2.93 ERA in 11 starts. He will face right-hander Bud Norris, who is being activated off the disabled list today after missing time with a groin issue. Here are the lineups for...

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On the Battle of the Beltways atmosphere and the Nats' extra-inning struggles

July 08, 2014, 5:22am

Nationals

On the Battle of the Beltways atmosphere and the Nats' extra-inning struggles

You might hold the belief that the Battle of the Beltways isn't really a rivalry, despite some who try and portray it that way. And frankly, you might be right. It's not like the Nationals have Orioles games on in the clubhouse and monitor Buck Showalter's club on a daily basis. It's not as if Ryan Zimmerman and Chris Davis dislike each other just because these two organizations make their homes 45 minutes from each other. But rivalry or not, I'd find it tough to argue that the Battle of...