nationals

Utley gives Phillies first lead of series (LaRoche homers, Nats win 4-2)

June 05, 2014, 12:27pm

The Phillies have lost five in a row and needed to at least start off their final game of the series with the Nationals well. Veteran Chase Utley answered the bell. In the top of the first, following a leadoff double by Ben Revere and a sacrifice that moved him to third, Utley delivered a run-scoring single past starter Doug Fister into center field to give the Phillies a 1-0 lead, their first of the series. Fister got out of the inning without any further damage. He is seeking his fourth...

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Harper in positive mood as rehab continues, won't rush return

June 05, 2014, 11:45am

Nationals

Harper in positive mood as rehab continues, won't rush return

Nationals left fielder Bryce Harper met with the media prior to Thursday's series finale against the Phillies and appeared upbeat and in a positive mood as he recovers from left thumb surgery. Harper has been on the disabled list since April 26. "It's in a good spot right now," Harper said of his thumb. "I think every day it's getting a little bit better. Just feeling better every day." As to when the former Rookie of the Year will get back to playing baseball, Harper would not confirm...

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Williams on Desmond's day off and Zimmerman's status

June 05, 2014, 10:39am

Nationals

Williams on Desmond's day off and Zimmerman's status

Nationals manager Matt Williams gave shortstop Ian Desmond the day off in Thursday's series finale with the Phillies. It marked the first time in 58 games Desmond will not start a game for the Nationals. Williams has said for a few weeks he has wanted to give all his regulars a day off and Thursday seemed a natural spot to give Desmond the breather. Wednesday was a late game where the Nats had to start and stop because of the rain delay. "He came in last night a little tight after (the...

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Desmond gets a rare day off

June 05, 2014, 8:53am

Nationals

Ian Desmond will not be in today's starting lineup for the series finale agains the Phillies. Manager Matt Williams has been saying for the last several weeks that he wanted to give the Nationals shortstop a day off. Desmond has started all 57 of the Nats' games this season. Danny Espinosa will slide over to shortstop while Anthony Rendon will get the start at second base. Kevin Frandsen will enter the lineup playing third base. Catcher Wilson Ramos will also get the day off and Jose Lobaton...

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A step in the right direction

June 04, 2014, 10:30pm

Nationals

In their last five contests, the Nationals have recorded four wins, giving them their best five-game stretch since April 25-May 2, when they won five of six. In this span, they've outscored their opponents by a whopping 24 runs (34 runs scored, 10 runs allowed). They've put up 19 extra-base hits. They've allowed just six earned runs and have seen their team ERA drop from 3.30 after last Wednesday's loss to the Marlins to 3.11 as of today, fourth-best in the majors. They're back over .500...

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Ryan Zimmerman's fifth annual A Night at the Park to take place June 16

May 20, 2014, 1:18pm

Nationals

Ryan Zimmerman's fifth annual A Night at the Park to take place June 16

On Monday, June 16, Nationals third baseman Ryan Zimmerman will host his fifth annual A Night at the Park, presented by MASN. In addition to silent and live auctions, country singers Billy Currington and Jerrod Niemann will perform at the fundraiser. The event will raise money for Zimmerman's charity, the ziMS Foundation, which is dedicated to the treatment and the ultimate cure of Multiple Sclerosis. MS is a disease that affects the central nervous system. Zimmerman's mother Cheryl was...

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David Huzzard: Looking back at the Nats' first draft

June 05, 2014, 5:06am

Nationals

David Huzzard: Looking back at the Nats' first draft

This evening, the Nationals will take part in the First-Year Player Draft for the 10th time. In their existence, they've drafted near the top more often than not, and their first season in 2005 was no different. The Nationals held the fourth pick in what would turn out to be one of the best first rounds of any MLB draft. With the fourth pick that year, the Nationals selected third baseman Ryan Zimmerman. Two other third basemen were taken within the first five picks that year. All three of...

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Hearing from Williams, Strasburg and Span after Nats' 8-4 win

June 04, 2014, 8:50pm

Nationals

Hearing from Williams, Strasburg and Span after Nats' 8-4 win

They had to sit through nearly a two-hour rain delay before they could finish it off, but the Nationals picked up their fourth win in their last five games and second straight over the Phillies tonight by an 8-4 margin. Stephen Strasburg outpitched A.J. Burnett to move to 5-4 on the season and 6-2 lifetime against the Phillies. The two right-handers both appeared locked in before the Nats got to Burnett for eight runs in innings 4-6. Danny Espinosa had a big two-run double to break the...

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Strasburg, Burnett matching zeros early (Nats win 8-4)

June 04, 2014, 4:04pm

Nationals

Strasburg, Burnett matching zeros early (Nats win 8-4)

The matchup between Stephen Strasburg and A.J. Burnett shaped up to be the best of this Phillies-Nats series, and through three frames, it hasn't disappointed. Strasburg and Burnett have matched zeros so far with both starters allowing two hits over three scoreless innings. Strasburg has struck four, walked none and thrown 42 pitches, 30 for strikes. Burnett has answered by striking out two, walking one and throwing 39 pitches, 24 for strikes. The Nationals put runners in scoring position...

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Williams on Harper: "I'd like to see him back by the first of July"

June 04, 2014, 1:53pm

Nationals

Williams on Harper: "I'd like to see him back by the first of July"

It's still too early for Matt Williams and the Nationals to have an accurate read on when Bryce Harper will be able to return from a torn ligament in his left thumb. But Williams does have a target date in mind. The Nats manager would like to see Harper back by July 1. "He's continuing to work with the therapist and do a little bit of strengthening, but he can't swing a bat yet, it's not time yet," Williams said. "He's itching, he's pacing. But that's one of those things where he's...

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First game under his belt, tests get tougher now for Zimmerman in left field

June 04, 2014, 9:19am

Nationals

First game under his belt, tests get tougher now for Zimmerman in left field

Nationals left fielder Ryan Zimmerman caught two balls in his first game in the outfield Tuesday, a 7-0 win over the Phillies. The first game worked out the way manager Matt Williams might have drawn up. Zimmerman contributed two doubles and a RBI, raking the first hit of the game for the Nationals. Williams believes that Zimmerman will play hard in left field, will need to learn as he goes and will not limit his effort worrying about his thumb or shoulder. Williams has not told Zimmerman to...

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Nats and Phillies lineups as Strasburg opposes Burnett

June 04, 2014, 11:28am

Nationals

Nats and Phillies lineups as Strasburg opposes Burnett

Not a bad pitching matchup for us tonight here at Nationals Park, as Stephen Strasburg will oppose Phillies righty A.J. Burnett. Strasburg hasn't allowed an earned run in his last 21 innings against the Phillies. He went 2-0 with a 0.53 ERA in two home starts against the Phils last season. Ryan Zimmerman is making his second big league start in left field tonight and again hitting fifth. The Nationals' lineup from 1-8 looks exactly as it did yesterday. So does the Phillies', in fact. For...

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Zimmerman and Zimmermann team up to down the Phillies 7-0

June 03, 2014, 7:13pm

Nationals

Zimmerman and Zimmermann team up to down the Phillies 7-0

If Ryan Zimmerman dreamed about getting back on the field with his teammates and helping out with the bat and in the field, Tuesday might have been one sequence that actually came true. In a 7-0 victory over division rival Phillies, the new Nationals left fielder clubbed a pair of doubles good for an RBI, making two nice catches to help the Nationals secure the win. He had missed 44 games with a right thumb fracture and spent four days on a minor league rehabilitation assignment with high...

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Zimmerman's return impacts Nats lineup in more ways than one

June 04, 2014, 5:33am

Nationals

Zimmerman's return impacts Nats lineup in more ways than one

Sure, it's nice having a guy who was hitting .364/.405/.636 through the season's first 10 games back in the lineup after more than seven weeks on the disabled list. Ryan Zimmerman returned last night, slugged two doubles, hit another ball to the warning track in right-center and didn't look like he'd missed a beat after fracturing his right thumb less than two weeks into the season, knocking him from the Nationals lineup for an extended period. But beyond what Zimmerman himself brings to...

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Williams on Zimmerman's strong return, Zimmermann's strong start in 7-0 win

June 03, 2014, 6:36pm

Nationals

Williams on Zimmerman's strong return, Zimmermann's strong start in 7-0 win

Ryan Zimmerman returned to the Nationals lineup after more than seven weeks on the disabled list. Jordan Zimmermann returned to his peak form after a subpar month of May. A bunch of other Nats played a part in tonight's 7-0 drubbing of the Phillies, but in many ways, tonight was the night of the Zimmerman(n)s. Or should we go with Zimmermen(n)? Playing his first big league game in left field, Zimmerman caught the only two balls hit his way in seven innings, including a nice running catch on a...

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Rachel Levitin: Examining fallout of Zimmerman's move

June 04, 2014, 5:27am

Nationals

Rachel Levitin: Examining fallout of Zimmerman's move

I didn't want to have to echo someone else's sentiments this morning, but I do find myself in agreement with MASNsports.com's Pete Kerzel. While I concur with Kerzel when he says he understands why the Nationals are turning Ryan Zimmerman into a utility man - since that appears to be what they have an urgent need for - I, too, feel it's more than a little strange. Last week, I floated the thought of moving Zimmerman to second base. I'm still not completely convinced that it's a bad idea,...

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Zimmerman smacks double in first at-bat since April 13 (Nats win 7-0)

June 03, 2014, 3:39pm

Nationals

Zimmerman smacks double in first at-bat since April 13 (Nats win 7-0)

The Nationals and their fans welcomed back Ryan Zimmerman to the lineup Tuesday in their series opener against the Phillies. Playing left field for the first time in his major league career, Zimmerman slapped the first offering from Phillies starter David Buchanan in the second into left field for a double. It was the Nationals' first hit of the game. Both pitchers have been solid in the first two innings, each allowing just one base hit (Dominic Brown had a single for Philadelphia), but no...

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A few thoughts about Zimmerman in left field

June 03, 2014, 12:34pm

Nationals

A few thoughts about Zimmerman in left field

As much as I'm happy to have Ryan Zimmerman back with the Nationals after an extended stay on the disabled list with a fractured right thumb, I can't get on board with the team's decision to turn its former All-Star third baseman into a utlility man who will play a little third base, a little first base and a little left field. I think it's a little - well, more than a little - strange. For the record, I certainly understand what the Nats are doing. Manager Matt Williams and general manager...

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Williams says Zimmerman will play majority of upcoming games in left field

June 03, 2014, 1:51pm

Nationals

Williams says Zimmerman will play majority of upcoming games in left field

Ryan Zimmerman is back, activated from the disabled list after being out since April 13 with a broken right thumb. Outfielder Tyler Moore was optioned to Triple-A Syracuse to make room for Zimmerman on the 25-man roster. Zimmerman will bat fifth tonight against the Phillies, and will play left field for the first time in his major league career. He played three games in left field for the high Single-A Potomac Nationals over the weekend on a minor league rehabilitation assignment. "I felt...

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Tarasco says line drives will be Zimmerman's biggest adjustment in left

June 03, 2014, 2:40pm

Nationals

Tarasco says line drives will be Zimmerman's biggest adjustment in left

As third baseman Ryan Zimmerman's move to left field becomes the big story at Nationals Park, the team's outfield coach, Tony Tarasco, says the toughest outfield to play in the National League are in San Francisco and Chicago's Wrigley Field. "Both cities are windy, and that's what makes their the ballpark outfields so tough to play,'' Tarasco says. After the Phillies' series in D.C., Zimmerman, who hasn't played since April 12 because of a thumb injury, will get his chance to play...