nationals

Stuart Wallace: Treinen a bright spot for Nats so far in '14

June 10, 2014, 5:04am

Blake Treinen has done much as of late to solidify not only his spot on the 25-man roster, but in the starting rotation. In his most recent start against the San Diego Padres and rotation stalwart Andrew Cashner, the right-hander scattered five hits and two earned runs over six innings, keeping the Nationals in a game that was eventually lost 4-3 in 11 innings. While the effort did not earn him an elusive first major league win, it was nonetheless one that speaks well to Treinen's talent and...

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Williams on Strasburg's health and more after 9-2 win over Giants

June 09, 2014, 10:15pm

Nationals

Williams on Strasburg's health and more after 9-2 win over Giants

SAN FRANCISCO - The Giants have been red-hot lately. The Nationals cooled them off a bit tonight. The Nats pounded out eight extra-base hits, plated nine runs and handed the Giants their most lopsided defeat of the season in a 9-2 loss. The nine runs the Nats scored were the most the Giants have allowed this season. Ian Desmond drove in a career-high five runs, Denard Span had two doubles and a triple, and Jayson Werth and Wilson Ramos also added two hits each in the Nats' eighth win in their...

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Desmond, Strasburg spark 9-2 rout of Giants

June 09, 2014, 6:28pm

Nationals

Desmond, Strasburg spark 9-2 rout of Giants

It didn't take long for the Nationals to break on top at AT&T Park. Denard Span led off the first with a double to right off Ryan Vogelsong, took third on Kevin Frandsen's groundout to second and scored when Jayson Werth doubled to left. The Nationals now turn to right-hander Stephen Strasburg to see if he can keep the Giants at bay. Strasburg entered the game as the strikeout leader in the National League with 101 punchouts. Update: It's 2-0 in the second, after Ian Desmond tripled home...

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Nats losing ground in All-Star Game voting

June 09, 2014, 4:45pm

Nationals

Nats losing ground in All-Star Game voting

The Nationals have made very little progress in the voting for the 2014 All-Star Game. Since the first release of balloting figures on May 28, Washington has seen just two players with a shot at making the National League's starting lineup on July 15 at Target Field in Minneapolis. Now just one remains. Nationals outfielder Bryce Harper stands alone as the only Nationals player vying for a starting gig, and he hasn't played in more than a month. Harper has moved up one spot in the most recent...

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Williams expects Rendon to return Tuesday

June 09, 2014, 4:51pm

Nationals

Williams expects Rendon to return Tuesday

Anthony Rendon inched closer Monday to a return to the Nationals lineup. The third baseman hasn't played since Friday night, when he took a Carlos Quentin grounder off his right hand, forcing his removal from the game. X-rays showed no fracture, but the hand has been swollen and tender. Rendon swung in the cage yesterday, but still reported some soreness, especially around the thumb area. That put off his return at least one more day and led to today's try with the bat. "It's a little bit...

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A test awaits by the Bay

June 09, 2014, 9:33am

Nationals

SAN FRANCISCO - Good morning from sunny San Francisco. What a terrible road trip this has been in terms of travel. Three days in San Diego, now four in San Fran. Just awful. The Nationals took care of business over the weekend, winning another series, their third straight, and bumping up into a first-place tie with the Braves and Marlins atop the National League East. Here by the Bay, the Nationals will get their latest test - four games against the Giants, who have the best record in...

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Giolito expected to start Monday night, plus other notes

June 09, 2014, 4:12am

Nationals

Giolito expected to start Monday night, plus other notes

High Single-A Potomac right-hander John Simms won his first game as a professional Saturday. He went seven innings, struck out a career-high 14 batters and allowed one run and two hits in a 6-1 win over Wilmington. Winning your first game as a professional is a big deal for any player, but is an especially big deal for Simms, the former Rice Owl who had pitched in 25 games and made 10 starts before finally breaking through. Director of player development Mark Scialabba told me Simms did a...

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Nats meet up with old friend Morse in San Francisco

June 09, 2014, 4:40pm

Nationals

Nats meet up with old friend Morse in San Francisco

The Nationals reacquainted themselves with an old friend at AT&T Park on Monday, and there's no question that Michael Morse - the slugging first baseman/outfielder who was one of the most popular players on the Nats' 2012 playoff team - is also a big hit in San Francisco. The "May the Morse Be With You" t-shirts distributed by Hunter Pence and worn by his new teammates are one clue. The presence of Morse's old D.C. anthem, A-ha's "Take on Me," over the loudspeakers later tonight...

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Rendon out of Nats lineup again (Zimmermann NL Player of the Week)

June 09, 2014, 2:19pm

Nationals

Rendon out of Nats lineup again (Zimmermann NL Player of the Week)

SAN FRANCISCO - Nationals third baseman Anthony Rendon is out of the lineup for the third straight game after injuring his right hand on Friday against the Padres. Kevin Frandsen will play third and bat second again for the Nats. Also, right-hander Jordan Zimmermann was named the National League Player of the Week after throwing 17 consecutive scoreless innings. Zimmermann went 2-0, allowed seven hits, walked one and struck out 16. This is the first time Zimmermann has won the honor....

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Jordan Zimmermann named National League Player of the Week

June 09, 2014, 12:21pm

Nationals

Jordan Zimmermann named National League Player of the Week

Washington Nationals right-hander Jordan Zimmermann today was named the National League Player of the Week. Major League Baseball made the announcement this afternoon on MLB Network. Zimmermann, 28, opened the month of June with 17 consecutive scoreless innings as he pitched back-to-back gems over the Philadelphia Phillies and San Diego Padres. In earning his first NL Player of the Week honors, Zimmermann went 2-0, allowed just seven hits, walked one and struck out 16. He held opposing...

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Zimmermann's gem lands Nationals in three-way tie for division lead

June 08, 2014, 4:03pm

Nationals

There's a three-way tie atop the National League East tonight, and the Nationals (32-29) can thank right-hander Jordan Zimmermann for delivering a dominating effort Sunday to help them into that trio with the Braves (32-29) and Marlins (33-30). Zimmermann struck out a career-high 12 in a 6-0 whitewashing of the Padres that provided the Nats with their third consecutive series victory. It was Zimmermann's third career shutout and sixth career complete game, a worthy springboard into a...

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Zimmermann throws gem, rewarded with top-notch videobombs

June 09, 2014, 7:50am

Nationals

Zimmermann throws gem, rewarded with top-notch videobombs

Jordan Zimmermannn tossed a fantastic game Sunday, going the distance in the Nationals' 6-0 victory over the Padres. After the game, he talked to Dan Kolko about holding San Diego to just two hits in the shutout. While Zimmermann was the star of the show, the stars of the video may just be teammates Jerry Blevins and Drew Storen. Check out the hilarious antics for yourself below.

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Marty Niland: Nationals face their own Test of Champions

June 09, 2014, 5:32am

Nationals

Just like California Chrome coming off his Preakness victory in mid-May, the Nationals finally seem to be rounding into form. They have won seven of their past nine games, outscoring opponents 53-16. The bats have been hot, with the fifth-best OPS in the National League at .737 since the start of the month. The starting rotation has put together two straight solid turns, and is coming off its strongest stretch of the season. Over the past six games, Nats starters have struck out 44 batters and...

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Desmond goes deep for 3-0 Nats lead (Zimmermann fans 12 in gem)

June 08, 2014, 12:38pm

Nationals

Desmond goes deep for 3-0 Nats lead (Zimmermann fans 12 in gem)

The Nationals took a quick 1-0 lead in the first inning at Petco Park on Sunday afternoon, parlaying a hustle double by Denard Span and a stolen base into a run-scoring groundout by Kevin Frandsen. In the second, Ian Desmond homered for the second straight game, again blasting a ball over the wall in center field for his team-leading 13th homer. It scored Ryan Zimmerman, who had led off the frame with a single. Three runs isn't a windfall, but it's a nice early cushion for right-hander Jordan...

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Nats hope to get Rendon back Sunday, will wait on Gonzalez

June 07, 2014, 4:49pm

Nationals

Nats hope to get Rendon back Sunday, will wait on Gonzalez

The Nationals are hopeful that third baseman Anthony Rendon will return to the lineup Sunday after missing one game following his removal from Friday night's contest after taking a Carlos Quentin grounder off his right hand. But the Nats will wait a little longer for left-hander Gio Gonzalez to be activated off the disabled list. He'll get one more minor league rehabilitation start after being battered around in an outing for high Single-A Potomac on Friday night. Manager Matt Williams told...

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Nationals waste Werth's first-inning double (Padres win 4-3 in 11)

June 07, 2014, 6:30pm

Nationals

The Nationals let a good opportunity get away from them in the top of the first of tonight's game against the Padres at Petco Park. Two hard-hit balls with one out and the Nationals were in business. Kevin Frandsen singled to right and Jayson Werth, looking fresh after a getting Friday's game off, raked a double to deep right field. Frandsen went to third. But with Adam LaRoche at the plate, Frandsen got caught too far off third base and was thrown out by catcher Rene Rivera for the second...

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Williams discusses Nats' 4-3 11-inning loss

June 07, 2014, 10:06pm

Nationals

Williams discusses Nats' 4-3 11-inning loss

SAN DIEGO - The Nationals were one out from locking up their third straight series win and picking up their fifth straight victory overall. Then Yonder Alonso connected on a 1-0 fastball from Rafael Soriano - a pitch that was supposed to be down and away but stayed over the heart of the plate - and tied the game in the bottom of the ninth. Two innings later, Cameron Maybin blooped a single into right field off Craig Stammen, scoring Chase Headley with the game-winning run and sending the Padres...

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In defense of Rafael Soriano

June 07, 2014, 10:32pm

Nationals

SAN DIEGO - Rafael Soriano seems to be a lightning rod for criticism among Nationals fans. Now I'm not here to tell fans how to feel about players. If you want to have certain feelings about a certain player, you're definitely entitled. It's a free country. And a free blog. But I am going to use this post to defend Soriano. Going into last night's outing, which ended in a blown save, the veteran right-hander had converted 12 of his 13 save opportunities on the season. He had a 0.78 ERA...

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Rendon remains out of lineup with sore right hand

June 08, 2014, 10:06am

Nationals

Rendon remains out of lineup with sore right hand

There's both good news and bad news for the Nationals on the Anthony Rendon front. The good news is that Rendon hit in the cage Sunday morning, a positive development after he left Friday night's game and missed Saturday's contest after being hit in the right hand by a Carlos Quentin grounder. The fact that he could grip the bat and swing is a step in the right direction. The bad news is that Rendon's hand - specifically the area around his right thumb - remains sore enough that he's out...

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Nats draft Ryan Ripken, Cal's son, in 15th round

June 07, 2014, 10:49am

Nationals

Nats draft Ryan Ripken, Cal's son, in 15th round

SAN DIEGO - This will probably make you feel old. The Nationals have selected Ryan Ripken, Cal's son, with their 15th-round pick in this year's draft. The 6-foot-6 Ripken played at Indian River State College (Fla.) last year. The first baseman was taken by Washington with the 454th overall pick. He hit .321 with one homer and 24 RBIs in 42 games this season. Ripken was originally taken in the 20th round by the Orioles in the 2012 draft before accepting a scholarship to play at the...