nationals

Even by the Bay, things keep rolling

June 11, 2014, 1:45am

SAN FRANCISCO - Yesterday afternoon, Jayson Werth received a text message from a longtime friend of his, someone who played baseball in college and knows the game well. The friend had been watching the Nationals lately, had seen them rattle off a bunch of wins, and had noticed the Nats go into San Francisco and dominate the Giants - the team with the best record in baseball - on Monday night. "He said we looked like the 2012 Nats," Werth said last night, after the Nationals won their ninth...

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Rachel Levitin: A take on the discontinuation of "Take on Me"

June 11, 2014, 6:13am

Nationals

Rachel Levitin: A take on the discontinuation of "Take on Me"

With the Nationals out of town, this gives folks like me who don't travel to cover the team a little break of sorts. For me, I find Nats road trips to be a time for reflection. That includes thinking about the team's work on the field, but also other things like the discontinuation of A-ha's "Take On Me" being played after the seventh-inning stretch. Reports of this change in musical selections occurred over the weekend in May when the Mets were in town. Just over six weeks into the...

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Williams on Fister's impact on rotation, Rendon's possible return

June 10, 2014, 5:17pm

Nationals

Williams on Fister's impact on rotation, Rendon's possible return

Remember that groan-inducing split right-hander Doug Fister pulled out of his hip pocket in his last start against Philadelphia, the play that reminded people that Fister was a nimble first baseman in junior college? If Nationals manager Matt Williams has his way, you won't be seeing it any more. While discussing Fister's impact on the Nats rotation since his return from a lat injury this afternoon in San Francisco, talk turned toward the pitcher's all-out aggressiveness - on the mound and...

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Fister and Bumgarner dueling by the Bay (Nationals win 2-1)

June 10, 2014, 7:03pm

Nationals

One would probably expect a matchup between Doug Fister and Madison Bumgarner, with the way they are pitching the last few starts, to be a good old fashioned pitchers' duel. So far, that is exactly the case. The Nationals got their first base hit from third baseman Anthony Rendon, a single in the first. It is Rendon's first appearance in three games since hurting his hand against the Padres on Friday night. Wilson Ramos had a double in the second inning. That was the ninth extra-base hit of...

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Ramos dealing with minor hamstring soreness, plus quotes after Nats' 2-1 win

June 10, 2014, 10:23pm

Nationals

Ramos dealing with minor hamstring soreness, plus quotes after Nats' 2-1 win

SAN FRANCISCO - Not only did the Nationals come away with a 2-1 win in a tremendous ballgame tonight at AT&T Park, they also got the best news possible on catcher Wilson Ramos, who left tonight's game in the ninth inning with right hamstring tightness. Ramos said after the game that he doesn't think the injury is anything serious, this after twice landing on the disabled list last season with left hamstring strains. "It's not bad," an upbeat Ramos said. "Just felt something in my...

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Roark another example of Nationals system helping pitcher get better

June 10, 2014, 7:31am

Nationals

Right-hander Tanner Roark has been a key to the Nationals rotation coming together as a consistent, cohesive unit. It is hard to believe Roark lost 17 games in 2012. He slowly but surely made progress and then in 2013, after going 9-3 with a 3.15 ERA for Triple-A Syracuse, got his chance with the Nationals. While with the Nationals, he went 7-1 with a 1.51 ERA in 14 games, five of those starts. This season he has already made 12 starts, going 4-4 with a 2.91 ERA. He has 101 strikeouts and...

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On momentum and its impact (or lack thereof) going forward

June 09, 2014, 11:35pm

Nationals

On momentum and its impact (or lack thereof) going forward

SAN FRANCISCO - There's an old saying in the baseball world. It goes: "Momentum is the next day's starting pitcher." The Nationals have won eight of their last 10. Over those 10 games, they've outscored their opponents 62-18. Their starters have delivered 10 straight quality starts, and in their last six games, Nats starters have struck out 47 and walked none, making them the first team to do so since 1914. Last night, the Nats put a thumping on the best team in baseball, handing them...

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Rendon returns to Nats lineup

June 10, 2014, 2:38pm

Nationals

SAN FRANCISCO - After missing three straight games with a right hand injury, Anthony Rendon is back in the Nationals lineup today for the second game of this four-game series against the Giants. Rendon injured the hand on a ground ball Friday night in San Diego. He left that game after five innings and sat out each of the last three days, but has progressed enough to be slotted back in the No. 2 spot in the batting order tonight, playing third base. Doug Fister (4-1, 3.19 ERA) gets the ball...

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

June 10, 2014, 5:04am

Nationals

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

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.