nationals

Nats announce four more international signings

July 05, 2014, 12:00pm

The Nationals have agreed to terms with four international free agents, the team announced Saturday. The four pitchers are right-handers Tomas Alastre, Christian Flores and Pedro Avila and left-hander Gilberto Chu. Here is the team release on the players: Alastre, 16, is a 6-foot-4, 170-pound native of Venezuela. He began his career at shortstop, but recently converted to the mound. Avila, 17, is a strong, durable and competitive right-handed pitcher. He stands 5-foot-11, 170 pounds and is...

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Harper, Rendon flipped in lineup vs. sub starter Villanueva

July 05, 2014, 9:16am

Nationals

Harper, Rendon flipped in lineup vs. sub starter Villanueva

Bryce Harper's stay in the second spot in the lineup lasted one day. Nationals manager Matt Williams returned Harper to sixth in the order for the fourth time in five games since the outfielder was activated from the disabled list. Batting second Friday, Harper went 0-for-4. Anthony Rendon moves back up to second after hitting sixth. Rendon is riding an eight-game hitting streak. The Nats won't be facing Jeff Samardzija after the Cubs traded the right-hander (along with right-hander Jason...

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Nationals open scoring on Desmond hit in second (Nats win 13-0)

July 05, 2014, 12:51pm

Nationals

The Chicago Cubs racked up 14 hits in the first game of the series. Facing Nationals left-hander Gio Gonzalez on Saturday, they showed no signs of letting up. On Friday, the Cubs generated five hits in the first two frames. On Saturday, after Gonzalez pitched a 1-2-3 first inning, which included a pair of strikeouts, Chicago tallied three hits in the second frame. Fortunately for the Nationals, Gonzalez was helped out with a great throw by Wilson Ramos to catch Starlin Castro on a steal...

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Why Williams put Harper back at No. 6 in order, Soriano's continued effectiveness

July 05, 2014, 10:51am

Nationals

Why Williams put Harper back at No. 6 in order, Soriano's continued effectiveness

The Nationals looked to shake things up a bit against (former) Chicago Cubs right-hander Jason Hammel Friday by batting Bryce Harper near the top of the order at No. 2. It didn't work out that day. Harper went 0-for-4 with two strikeouts. The Nationals lost the opener 7-2. But really that might have more been because of what Hammel was doing and how well he was pitching. (So good in fact he was shipped to the Oakland A's in a megadeal after the game.) But either way, manager Matt Williams...

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Nationals agree to terms with four international free agents

July 05, 2014, 11:42am

Nationals

The Washington Nationals have agreed to terms with four international free agents: right-handed pitcher Tomas Alastre, right-handed pitcher Pedro Avila, left-handed pitcher Gilberto Chu and right-handed pitcher Christian Flores. Nationals President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo and Director of International Scouting Johnny DiPuglia made the joint announcement. Alastre, 16, is a 6-foot-4, 170-pound native of Venezuela. He began his career at shortstop, but recently...

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Werth's heating up, Harper's timing still a work in progress

July 04, 2014, 11:19am

Nationals

Werth's heating up, Harper's timing still a work in progress

On Saturday, after ripping two doubles and walking twice in a 7-1 Nationals win over the Rockies, Jayson Werth said that he felt like he was back on track. He noted that he's a feel guy at the plate, and credited a long foul ball in his first at-bat in that game as the moment that his swing clicked again after a stretch where he had been "grinding" at the plate. Well, it appears Werth is right. He does look to be back on track. In his last three games, Werth is 6-for-10 with two homers,...

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Roark, Span and Barrett after 7-2 loss to Cubs

July 04, 2014, 11:10am

Nationals

Roark, Span and Barrett after 7-2 loss to Cubs

Right-hander Tanner Roark suffered his sixth loss of the season Friday, 7-2 to the Cubs at Nationals Park. That is the second loss to Chicago in as many starts. Each time, he allowed four runs. "They did what they did last time, base hit me, just got beat," Roark said. He also had a chance to impact the offense when he came up with two men on and no outs in the fifth, but was unable to lay the bunt down. His bunt went foul toward third base on a 3-2 count and he struck out. The Nationals...

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Williams discusses Nats' 7-2 July 4 loss

July 04, 2014, 11:03am

Nationals

Williams discusses Nats' 7-2 July 4 loss

In front of the largest July 4 crowd in the seven-year history of Nationals Park, the Cubs put up 14 hits, scored in five different innings and picked up a 7-2 win in the first of three games between these two teams in D.C. Tanner Roark lost his second straight outing to the Cubs, allowing four runs over seven innings, and after the Nationals had trimmed the Chicago lead to 4-2 after seven, the visitors opened the game back up with a three-run ninth to secure the win. Jayson Werth hit a solo...

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Werth homer gets Nats going on Fourth of July (Cubs win 7-2)

July 04, 2014, 7:20am

Nationals

Werth homer gets Nats going on Fourth of July (Cubs win 7-2)

The Chicago Cubs were able to strike first against Nationals right-hander Tanner Roark. Chris Coghlan and Justin Ruggiano deposited clean singles onto the Nationals Park outfield grass to open the first. Anthony Rizzo's double-play grounder to Ian Desmond scored Coghlan and the Cubs led 1-0. Bryce Harper, batting second for the first time the week, flew out to left field in the bottom of the first. But the next batter, Jayson Werth, absolutely launched a 3-1 pitch from Jason Hammel deep...

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Williams on Harper hitting second, Zimmerman and the Fourth of July

July 04, 2014, 6:44am

Nationals

Williams on Harper hitting second, Zimmerman and the Fourth of July

Nationals manager Matt Williams explained during pregame Friday the reasoning for placing Bryce Harper near the top of the lineup at the No. 2 spot against the Cubs and right-hander Jason Hammel. "I think it's a question of trying to create a little bit with Bryce at the top of the lineup, especially against a righty," Williams said. "We faced three lefties the last three games. So I wanted to give him some opportunity certainly to drive runs in. The same holds true with Anthony (Rendon)...

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Harper batting second for morning tilt with Cubs

July 04, 2014, 5:03am

Nationals

Harper batting second for morning tilt with Cubs

After batting sixth in his first three games back from the disabled list, Bryce Harper has been elevated to second in the order for the first time since April 21. Harper has batted second 135 times in 272 major league starts. He has gone 3-for-11 (.273) with a double and an RBI in his three games since being activated. With the 21-year-old moving up, Anthony Rendon is moving down. Rendon has batted first or second in 42 of his last 43 games. Today, he's batting sixth for just the second...

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Dobbs accepts assignment to Triple-A

July 03, 2014, 9:40am

Nationals

The Nationals announced this afternoon that corner infielder Greg Dobbs has accepted his outright assignment to Triple-A Syracuse. Dobbs was designated for assignment last week when the Nats called up right-hander Taylor Hill to add a fresh arm following their 16-inning win over the Brewers. The 36-year-old hit .214/.233/.250 in 30 plate appearances for the Nats after being added to the team's active roster on May 16. After the Nats designated Dobbs for assignment, they had 10 days to...

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Desmond, Fister and Clippard break down Nats' 4-3 win over Rockies

July 02, 2014, 6:34pm

Nationals

Desmond, Fister and Clippard break down Nats' 4-3 win over Rockies

Nationals shortstop Ian Desmond felt he had hit the ball well enough, but stood at third waiting for the umpires to agree. If it was a homer, it would be the go-ahead run to complete the comeback for the Nationals over the Rockies 4-3. "The way it bounced back hard like that I kind of assumed that it was over," Desmond said. "And the way that (Drew) Stubbs didn't go after it made it a little bit easier. At that point, I am going to get the triple. I thought it was gone, but I wasn't a...

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Tony Tarasco on outfielder Michael Taylor: "The kid's a specimen"

July 03, 2014, 12:40pm

Nationals

Tony Tarasco on outfielder Michael Taylor: "The kid's a specimen"

It was September 2010 and the Nationals had decided to move Michael Taylor from shortstop to the outfield. The decision was made and presented to Taylor prior to instructional league workouts. Tony Tarasco, currently the Nationals' first base coach, was then the outfield coordinator for the organization. "We told (Taylor) we thought it was a better place for him to shine and take advantage of his athleticism," Tarasco recalled. "Thought he would grow a lot quicker. He didn't take it too...

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Fisters settles down, Werth and Desmond crush homers (Nats win 4-3)

July 02, 2014, 3:05pm

Nationals

Fisters settles down, Werth and Desmond crush homers (Nats win 4-3)

The Rockies have been desperate to get their offense going in this series. They finally were able to deliver a big inning against the Nationals and Doug Fister early in the series finale. Fister got through the first unscathed. But in the second, the Rockies started a rally with singles from Troy Tulowitzki and Corey Dickerson. With two men on in the second, backup catcher Michael McKenry slammed a three-run shot over the left field wall, to give the Rockies a 3-0 lead. It was McKenry's...

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Appreciating the first half put up by Rafael Soriano

July 03, 2014, 6:40am

Nationals

Appreciating the first half put up by Rafael Soriano

When people talk about who should end up as the Nationals' All-Star selection this season, you hear the names of Adam LaRoche and Anthony Rendon tossed around a good bit. Heck, despite a batting average that sits in the .230s and a sub-.300 on-base percentage, Ian Desmond has even been mentioned as a possible pick for the National League All-Star squad because his power numbers to this point in the season - 15 homers and 51 RBIs - are up there among the best for shortstops in the...

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David Huzzard: The Nationals and international free agents

July 03, 2014, 5:16am

Nationals

The Nationals and international free agents go together like fire and Frankenstein, or at least that is how it has been in the past. Few Nats fans will forget Yunesky Maya, who was once touted as the third-best arm in the system behind Stephen Strasburg and Jordan Zimmermann. I don't think we even need to compare those careers to know that Maya was nowhere near either of them in talent. Then there is Katsuhiko Maekawa, and if that name doesn't sound familiar, don't feel bad. The 29-year-old...

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Williams on Fister's outing, Clippard's eighth, Desmond's homer after 4-3 win

July 02, 2014, 6:21pm

Nationals

Williams on Fister's outing, Clippard's eighth, Desmond's homer after 4-3 win

Going for the three-game sweep of the Rockies tonight, Doug Fister wasn't himself early on and the Nationals trailed 3-0 after just two innings. But the comeback formula was there again for this ball club tonight. Fister made some in-start adjustments and went seven strong innings on just 80 pitches, allowing just those three runs. The offense came alive thanks largely to a Jayson Werth two-run shot in the fourth and an Ian Desmond solo homer in the seventh that gave the Nats the lead. And...

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Williams has no issue with Harper's comments (first pitch moved to 6:30 p.m.)

July 02, 2014, 1:14pm

Nationals

Nationals manager Matt Williams was able to shed more light on what he thought Bryce Harper meant when talking about where he would like to hit in the lineup and what position he would prefer to play. Williams said he understands if Harper would want to hit higher in the lineup than sixth. "With regard to scrutiny regarding the lineup, that's on me," Williams said. "I make the lineup. And that's all that Bryce said. He makes the lineup, I'll play left field, or I'll play center. I'll...

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Espinosa not in lineup, Lobaton catching Fister

July 02, 2014, 10:29am

Nationals

Espinosa not in lineup, Lobaton catching Fister

Looks like Danny Espinosa will have to wait at least one more day to return to the Nationals starting lineup. Espinosa isn't in the lineup posted for tonight's 6:05 p.m. game against the Rockies, the last of a three-game series. Instead, Anthony Rendon is manning second base, Ryan Zimmerman is at third and Bryce Harper is in left field. Manager Matt Williams had said last night that he was considering playing Espinosa today. Instead, the lineup remains the same from 1-7 in the order. The only...