nationals

Nats limp home after 5-5 road trek on four-game skid

June 15, 2014, 1:55pm

So much for momentum. The Nationals finished off a 5-5 road trip this afternoon with a 5-2 loss to the Cardinals, who have taken 12 of the last 14 regular season games between the teams. It's Washington's fourth straight loss after starting the trek 5-2 through San Diego and San Francisco. Doug Fister saw a streak of five straight wins halted, Ryan Zimmerman made a couple of nice plays in his first career game at first base and the Nats had a chance to do some damage in the ninth inning, but...

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A roller coaster of a road trip followed by a big homestand

June 16, 2014, 5:05am

Nationals

A roller coaster of a road trip followed by a big homestand

Home, sweet home. Finally. That 10-day road trip felt quite a bit longer, with long flights, three stops and lots of momentum swings for the Nationals along the way. The Nats went into this trip hoping to go on a bit of a run, get hot and carry some momentum back home into a big week, which features a four-game series against the Braves. They accomplished part of that goal, starting the road trip by winning back-to-back series against the Padres and Giants, giving them four straight series...

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Marty Niland: Counting down the Nats' houses of horrors

June 16, 2014, 5:16am

Nationals

Marty Niland: Counting down the Nats' houses of horrors

Music fans of a certain age are mourning the death on Sunday of long-time radio host Casey Kasem. Long before the days of podcasts, teenagers and young adults would ritually tune in each week, usually on Sundays, to hear the genial Kasem count down the top 40 songs in the nation. Nationals fans, meanwhile, are grieving after a road trip that started with promise and excitement, ended in a season-long four-game skid. After watching their team take three of four in San Francisco from the...

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Another Adams homer, another Nats deficit (Cards win 5-2)

June 15, 2014, 10:54am

Nationals

Another Adams homer, another Nats deficit (Cards win 5-2)

The Nationals had the bases loaded with one out in the second, and failed to push a run across in a scoreless tie. In the bottom half of the inning, they paid for it. Allen Craig singled up the middle and Matt Adams launched a two-run homer to right off Doug Fister. Yes, the same Adams who homered on Friday and Saturday. That's three games in a row with home runs since he was activated off the disabled list Friday. Fister stranded runners at second and third to escape further damage in the...

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Zimmerman makes first career start at first base (Span scratched)

June 15, 2014, 8:29am

Nationals

Zimmerman makes first career start at first base (Span scratched)

The Nationals will try to avoid the sweep today in St. Louis, sending right-hander Doug Fister to the mound. Fister is 5-0 with a 1.95 ERA in his last five starts. He'll have a markedly different alignment supporting him, starting with third baseman-turned-left fielder Ryan Zimmerman, who is making his first career start at first base and batting cleanup. With left-hander Jaime Garcia pitching for the Cardinals, lefty swinging Adam LaRoche gets a day off. The Nationals gave Zimmerman regular...

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Nats grab early 1-0 lead against Cards, Miller (Nats fall 4-1)

June 14, 2014, 3:24pm

Nationals

Nats grab early 1-0 lead against Cards, Miller (Nats fall 4-1)

Well, the Nationals won't be blanked for a second consecutive game. Not only that, the run they scored gives them a lead before Stephen Strasburg throws his first pitch of the evening. With one out in the first, Anthony Rendon laced an opposite-field single to right, then scored from first standing up on Jayson Werth's double to right. It's 1-0 Nats as we head to the bottom of the first. Update: After three innings, we're tied at 1-1. Cardinals pitcher Shelby Miller hit a two-out double to...

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Strasburg takes hill against Cardinals (with lineups)

June 14, 2014, 11:33am

Nationals

Strasburg takes hill against Cardinals (with lineups)

The Nationals are 5-3 on their current road trip, and send right-hander Stephen Strasburg to the mound today in St. Louis to try and snap a two-game losing streak. Strasburg is 6-4 with a 2.99 ERA, but he has a string of 10 straight starts in which he's worked at least six innings. Six times in that span, he's pitched at least seven innings. His 108 strikeouts are second in the National League behind Reds pitcher Johnny Cueto, who has 109. Strasburg has won his last three starts and the...

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Wrapping up long road trip, Braves looming next week

June 14, 2014, 7:36am

Nationals

Wrapping up long road trip, Braves looming next week

Two losses in a row for the Nationals? Not concerned. This road trip has still been a rousing success. Travel from San Francisco to St. Louis and then back to the diamond did not result in a win thanks to the outstanding pitching of Lance Lynn. The Cardinals right-hander has given up an important postseason home run to the Nats in a relief role, but has done a great job against them as a starter. OK, I got that call a couple of weeks ago on Nats Insider (every Sunday 90 minutes prior to...

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After uncharacteristic start, Zimmermann right back on track

June 14, 2014, 12:53am

Nationals

After uncharacteristic start, Zimmermann right back on track

ST. LOUIS - Sixteen days ago, on May 29, Jordan Zimmermann woke up the owner of a 4.07 ERA. Not awful by any means, but not the type of number we expect to see next to Zimmermann's name on a stat sheet. He had just gotten a no-decision in a Nationals loss to the Marlins the previous night, allowing four runs (three earned) on eight hits over just five innings. It was his third start in six outings that went shorter than six innings. To that point, Zimmermann had a 1.46 WHIP, and had notched...

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Hearing from Williams, Zimmermann and LaRoche after Nats' 1-0 loss

June 13, 2014, 7:20pm

Nationals

Hearing from Williams, Zimmermann and LaRoche after Nats' 1-0 loss

ST. LOUIS - Jordan Zimmermann threw a 76-pitch complete game tonight, the fewest pitches thrown by a Nationals pitcher in a regulation complete game in team history. He allowed one run on three hits. He walked just one batter and struck out five. Yet, Zimmermann goes down as the losing pitcher tonight, after Lance Lynn and Trevor Rosenthal combined to blank the Nats on just two hits. This game lasted just 2 hours, 3 minutes thanks to the duel gems thrown by Zimmermann and Lynn. Zimmermann's...

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Jose Lobaton breaks up Lance Lynn no-hit bid (St. Louis wins 1-0)

June 13, 2014, 4:42pm

Nationals

Jose Lobaton breaks up Lance Lynn no-hit bid (St. Louis wins 1-0)

Cardinals first baseman Matt Adams had been on the disabled list since May 28 with a strained left calf. In his first six career games against the Nationals when healthy, he had at least one hit in each contest and batted .391. Facing one of the Nationals' hottest hurlers, Adams announced his return with authority in his first at-bat. Adams crushed the first pitch he saw from Jordan Zimmermann in the second inning, sending it over the right-center field wall and the Cardinals led 1-0. The...

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Nationals option Treinen to Triple-A Syracuse, paving way for Gonzalez to return

June 13, 2014, 1:36pm

Nationals

The Nationals paved the way for the return of left-hander Gio Gonzalez by optioning right-handed starter Blake Treinen to Triple-A Syracuse on Friday. Treinen went 0-2 with a 2.89 ERA in three starts in his most recent stint. Overall, he is 0-3 with a 2.80 ERA in eight major league games, including four starts over 30 1/3 innings. In Thursday's 7-1 loss to the Giants, Treinen lasted five innings, allowed five hits, two runs, three walks and struck out two. He struggled a bit with his...

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Gonzalez in line to return to rotation next week

June 13, 2014, 3:26pm

Nationals

Gonzalez in line to return to rotation next week

Left-hander Gio Gonzalez is on track to return to the Nationals rotation next week, manager Matt Williams said during his pregame media session at Busch Stadium in St. Louis. Gonzalez made his second rehab start for Single-A Potomac on Thursday as he works his way back from left shoulder inflammation, which has shelved him since May 18. Williams indicated the shoulder is doing well enough for Gonzalez to return. "Yeah, barring some kind of issue with his bullpen," Williams said. "But...

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Zimmermann looks to stay hot, notch first win vs. Cardinals

June 13, 2014, 12:20pm

Nationals

Zimmermann looks to stay hot, notch first win vs. Cardinals

ST. LOUIS - Jordan Zimmermann has never beaten the Cardinals, going 0-4 with a 7.03 ERA in seven career starts against the boys from St. Louis. Today, he looks to change that and to also continue his recent strong stretch, which has seen him throw 18 straight scoreless innings. The Cardinals will give the ball to Lance Lynn today. Lynn held the Nationals to one run over 5 2/3 innings in a win back in mid-April. For the Nationals CF Denard Span 3B Anthony Rendon RF Jayson Werth 1B Adam...

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Nationals option RHP Blake Treinen to Syracuse, recall LHP Xavier Cedeno

June 13, 2014, 1:26pm

Nationals

The Washington Nationals today optioned right-hander Blake Treinen to Syracuse of the Triple-A International League and recalled left-handed pitcher Xavier Cedeno from Syracuse. Nationals President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcement. Cedeno, 27, joins the Nationals for his second Major League stint this season. In his one Major League appearance this season, April 21 vs. Los Angeles (AL), Cedeno tossed 1.1 innings of scoreless relief, allowing two...

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Treinen still winless, but that doesn't tell the whole story

June 13, 2014, 8:26am

Nationals

Treinen still winless, but that doesn't tell the whole story

ST. LOUIS - In case you missed it, Gio Gonzalez went four innings at high Single-A Potomac last night, allowing one run on two hits with four walks and seven strikeouts in his second rehab start as the left-hander works back from left shoulder inflammation. Scheduled to throw five innings and around 80 pitches, Gonzalez tossed 79 pitches in four frames, and while the walks weren't ideal and he didn't work as deep into the game as he or the Nationals would have liked, Gonzalez will almost...

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Gonzalez and Kobernus contribute to P-Nats' clinching victory

June 13, 2014, 5:24am

Nationals

Gonzalez and Kobernus contribute to P-Nats' clinching victory

Left-hander Gio Gonzalez made another firm step forward toward returning to the Nationals rotation with his second rehab start at high Single-A Potomac on Thursday night before 4,176 at Pfitzner Stadium in Woodbridge, Va. Gonzalez twirled 79 pitches over four innings, striking out seven, allowing one run on two hits with four walks in a 3-2 victory over Winston-Salem. He induced four groundouts and faced 18 batters. Gonzalez has been on the disabled list with left shoulder inflammation since...

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Williams, Treinen and Frandsen speak after loss in San Francisco

June 12, 2014, 4:36pm

Nationals

Williams, Treinen and Frandsen speak after loss in San Francisco

Blake Treinen has appeared in eight games this season. He's made four starts. He's pitched to a 2.08 ERA. He has yet to earn a win. Although the 25-year-old rookie did not have his best stuff today, he battled through five innings and worked his way out of some tough jams. At the end of the afternoon, he left the game after five innings of work, surrendering two runs while walking three and striking out two. "Blake did a great job. Even today when things weren't going right, he didn't...

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David Huzzard: How hot has the Nats' starting pitching been?

June 12, 2014, 6:54am

Nationals

David Huzzard: How hot has the Nats' starting pitching been?

Coming into this week, the Nationals had won three consecutive series, but because they were against the underperforming Rangers and the below-.500 Phillies and Padres, it wasn't certain if the Nationals had turned a corner or found a soft spot in the schedule. Starting Monday, the Nationals were going to be tested by the Giants in a four-game series and the Nationals passed the test. Not only have they taken the first three games of the four-game series, they have yet to trail on the...

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Williams credits improved defense before series finale

June 12, 2014, 11:50am

Nationals

Williams credits improved defense before series finale

Before today's game in San Francisco, manager Matt Williams met with the media and discussed the Nationals' improved defense before looking ahead to the finale. "I think guys have settled into the season a little more. It's cold early, playing in cold weather is a factor, but I wanted to say it to you guys early and I believe it. I think it was a little bit of aberration," Williams said to reporters in San Francisco. "There was some weird things, so that being said, they work hard and...