nationals

Cardinals get to Nats in second inning again (Nats walk off with 3-2 win)

April 20, 2014, 10:01am

The Cardinals' hottest hitter connected with a big hit to start the second inning against Nationals right-hander Stephen Strasburg to open the scoring. Matt Adams' double led off the second frame, and was followed by a Yadier Molina single. Strasburg got back in the inning by getting Jhonny Peralta to ground into a double play, but Adams scored from third to give the Cardinals a 1-0 lead. After a Mark Ellis single, Peter Bourjos struck out to end the threat. Bryce Harper started Sunday, the...

Comments

Tags:

byron kerr nationals stephen strasburg frontstory_nationals2

Final thoughts on Harper's benching

April 20, 2014, 5:29am

Nationals

Anytime there's a story involving Bryce Harper, the sports world takes notice. When that story is related to Harper getting benched for a lack of hustle, the sports world really takes notice. Matt Williams' decision to pull Harper from yesterday's game for not running out a ground ball back to the pitcher is one of the lead stories on ESPN's Web site, was all over MLB Network and has been discussed on countless blogs over the last 17 hours. The Nationals will try to move past this story...

Comments

Tags:

bryce harper dan kolko matt williams nationals featured_sidebar frontstory_nationals3

Williams discusses Nats' 3-2 walk-off win

April 20, 2014, 2:01pm

Nationals

Williams discusses Nats' 3-2 walk-off win

As I dry myself off here in the press box ... Matt Williams might not love the Nationals' 2-for-12 line with runners in scoring position today or the fact that they stranded 17 runners, but he did love the way his team kept getting runners on and giving itself chances to come back and beat the Cardinals. That's exactly what happened in this afternoon's 3-2 walk-off win. The Nats scored twice in the seventh to even the score, then loaded the bases in the bottom of the ninth, and Denard...

Comments

Tags:

dan kolko matt williams nationals frontstory_nationals1

Strasburg looks to get on track vs. Cardinals (plus Nats lineup)

April 20, 2014, 6:28am

Nationals

Strasburg looks to get on track vs. Cardinals (plus Nats lineup)

It hasn't been an ideal season for Stephen Strasburg thus far, as the Nationals right-hander enters Sunday 1-2 with a 6.00 ERA and just one quality start in four games. In his last start, the 25-year-old surrendered six runs in four innings on Tuesday at Miami. Strasburg gets another chance to turn things in the right direction on Sunday when he starts against Shelby Miller and the Cardinals. Strasburg has a strong, but limited track record against St. Louis. He is 0-1 with a 2.08 ERA, 16...

Comments

Tags:

dan kolko frontstory_nationals2 nationals stephen strasburg

Williams removes Harper from game because of "lack of hustle"

April 19, 2014, 12:41pm

Nationals

Williams removes Harper from game because of "lack of hustle"

Bryce Harper was pulled from tonight's game after six innings, but manager Matt Williams' decision to remove Harper had nothing to do with his tight quad muscle. What was the reason? "The inability to run 90 feet," Williams said sternly after the game, a 4-2 loss to the Cardinals. "Lack of hustle. That's why he came out of the game." Harper grounded back to Cardinals pitcher Lance Lynn leading off the bottom of the sixth inning. He trotted about two-thirds of the way down the first base...

Comments

Tags:

bryce harper dan kolko matt williams nationals featured_sidebar frontstory_nationals2

Harper, teammates react to Williams' decision to pull him from game

April 19, 2014, 12:46pm

Nationals

Harper, teammates react to Williams' decision to pull him from game

A somber Nationals left fielder Bryce Harper reacted to manager Matt Williams' decision to take him out of the game for not running to first base on a grounder back to the pitcher. "I respect what he did and it is part of the game," Harper said after the Nats' 4-3 loss to the Cardinals. Harper led off the sixth inning with a comebacker to starting pitcher Lance Lynn, who threw to Matt Adams at first base for the first out of the inning. Harper peeled off toward the home dugout before...

Comments

Tags:

bryce harper byron kerr danny espinosa jayson werth jordan zimmermann matt williams nationals frontstory_nationals1

Span says "it feels good" to be back, returns to lineup after concussion

April 19, 2014, 8:05am

Nationals

Span says "it feels good" to be back, returns to lineup after concussion

Nationals center fielder Denard Span returns to the lineup today against the St. Louis Cardinals. He was activated off the seven-day disabled list after suffering a concussion in a game against the Atlanta Braves on April 11. Span played two rehab games for low Single-A Hagerstown and suffered no setbacks. "It feels good," Span said. "A couple of days in Hagerstown definitely gets my appreciation for being here up a few notches and I am ready to go. "Felt good. I didn't see many strikes....

Comments

Tags:

byron kerr denard span nationals

Williams recaps Nats' 3-1 win over Cardinals

April 18, 2014, 6:40pm

Nationals

Williams recaps Nats' 3-1 win over Cardinals

A night after the Nationals were shut out and made three errors in an 8-0 loss, they scratched out a tough 3-1 victory against the Cardinals, a well-played game that saw much crisper defense and tremendous pitching. It wasn't easy - few games against St. Louis ever are - but the Nats picked up the win, marking the first time they've beaten the Cardinals since Game 4 of the National League Division Series in 2012. Here's manager Matt Williams after the game: On the win: "Gio (Gonzalez)...

Comments

Tags:

dan kolko matt williams nationals frontstory_nationals3

Hearing from Rendon, Storen, Desmond and Gonzalez after win over Cardinals

April 18, 2014, 6:51pm

Nationals

Hearing from Rendon, Storen, Desmond and Gonzalez after win over Cardinals

Several Nationals played key roles in Friday's 3-1 win over the Cardinals. Third baseman Anthony Rendon hit a solo shot to give the Nationals an early 1-0 lead. He talked about the win and the curveball that Michael Wacha threw him, which resulted in the first run of the game. "It was a good win. Obviously, they are a tremendous team. They got the best of us in the past. We are trying to change that," Rendon said. "He has a pretty big curveball. I think he left a little bit up. I was just...

Comments

Tags:

anthony rendon byron kerr drew storen gio gonzalez ian desmond nationals featured_sidebar frontstory_nationals2

Nats activate Span from DL, option Souza to Triple-A

April 19, 2014, 7:20am

Nationals

Nats activate Span from DL, option Souza to Triple-A

The Washington Nationals today recalled from rehab and reinstated outfielder Denard Span from the 7-Day Disabled List and optioned outfielder Steven Souza Jr. to Syracuse of the Triple-A International League. Nationals President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcement. Span, 30, rejoins the Nationals after going 2-for-4 with two RBI, three runs, three walks and a stolen base in two rehab contests with Hagerstown of the Single-A South Atlantic League. Before...

Comments

Tags:

Nationals News Release nationals

Williams on Treinen, Span, Barrett and concerns so far

April 18, 2014, 2:06pm

Nationals

Williams on Treinen, Span, Barrett and concerns so far

The Nationals needed another fresh arm in the bullpen, so they sent hard-throwing right-hander Blake Treinen to Triple-A Syracuse and called up left-hander Xavier Cedeno. Treinen, 25, allowed one run in 2 2/3 innings in last night's 8-0 loss to the Cardinals and pitched to a 1.35 ERA over three appearances during his first career stint in the majors. Before Friday's game at Nationals Park, manager Matt Williams explained the roster move and detailed the plan for Treinen. "The plan for him...

Comments

Tags:

aaron barrett blake treinen denard span josh land matt williams nationals

Ramos takes five swings, hits five balls as recovery continues

April 18, 2014, 2:00pm

Nationals

Ramos takes five swings, hits five balls as recovery continues

Catcher Wilson Ramos met with reporters pregame Friday to give an update on the rehab process for his hamate fracture in his left hand. Ramos had surgery and got the stitches taken out last Monday. He has begun an intensive strengthening regimen to build the left wrist and hand back to full strength. He has been on the disabled list since April 1 after feeling pain in his hand and wrist during opening day at-bats in New York. "Right now, starting working out with my hand," Ramos said. "My...

Comments

Tags:

byron kerr nationals wilson ramos featured_sidebar frontstory_nationals3

Rendon's solo blast gives Nationals early advantage (Span update, Nats win 3-1)

April 18, 2014, 3:47pm

Nationals

Third baseman Anthony Rendon gave the Nationals their first lead and first run of the series with a solo homer in the third inning. Rendon went after the first pitch, a curveball, from Cardinals right-hander Michael Wacha and launched it into the St. Louis bullpen, well over the wall in left-center. It was Rendon's third homer of the season and the Nationals lead 1-0. Nats left-hander Gio Gonzalez held St. Louis scoreless for the first three innings. The Cardinals got men on first and second...

Comments

Tags:

byron kerr gio gonzalez nationals anthony rendon frontfeatured_nationals

Gonzalez-Wacha matchup highlights Friday night affair

April 18, 2014, 12:44pm

Nationals

Gonzalez-Wacha matchup highlights Friday night affair

You don't need to look further than the mound to find the best reason to watch tonight's game between the Nationals at Cardinals. Left-hander Gio Gonzalez goes up against Cardinals phenom Michael Wacha, who pitches against the Nats for the first time since Ryan Zimmerman broke up his no-hit bid last September. Wacha, 22, is 2-0 with a 1.89 ERA through three starts this season while Gonzalez is 2-1 with a 3.50 ERA. For the Nationals 3B Anthony Rendon LF Bryce Harper RF Jayson Werth 1B Adam...

Comments

Tags:

dan kolko gio gonzalez nationals frontstory_nationals3

Nats recall Cedeno, option Treinen to Triple-A

April 18, 2014, 11:00am

Nationals

Nats recall Cedeno, option Treinen to Triple-A

The Nationals made a roster move to freshen up the bullpen prior to tonight's game against the Cardinals. Left-hander Xavier Cedeno was called up from Triple-A Syracuse. To make room for Cedeno on the roster, the Nats optioned right-hander Blake Treinen to Syracuse. Cedeno was on a roll at Triple-A, having thrown 3 2/3 scoreless innings, allowing just one hit, walking one and striking out four. Treinen made his major league debut earlier this month. He had three appearances with the Nats,...

Comments

Tags:

blake treinen dan kolko nationals xavier cedeno frontstory_nationals3

Addressing the poor record against the better teams

April 17, 2014, 10:22pm

Nationals

Addressing the poor record against the better teams

The numbers tell an interesting story. Dating back to the beginning of the 2013 season, the Nationals are 8-30 (a .211 winning percentage) against the Braves, Cardinals and Dodgers. Against everyone else, the Nats are 87-53 (a .621 winning percentage). Is it fair to question why the Nats struggle against the top teams in the National League but dominate the rest of the competition? "Of course," Ian Desmond said last night. "Of course." OK, so let's discuss it. While keeping in mind...

Comments

Tags:

adam laroche dan kolko ian desmond matt williams nationals featured_sidebar frontstory_nationals2

Nationals recall left-hander Xavier Cedeno, option right-hander Blake Treinen to Triple-A Syracuse

April 18, 2014, 10:58am

Nationals

The Washington Nationals today recalled left-handed reliever Xavier Cedeno from Triple-A Syracuse and optioned right-hander Blake Treinen to Syracuse. Nationals President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcement. In three appearances with Triple-A Syracuse this season, Cedeno has tossed 3.2 scoreless innings. Cedeno has allowed just one hit, walked one and struck out four while holding opponents to a .077 batting average. Acquired from the Astros in April of...

Comments

Tags:

Nationals News Release nationals

Harper takes field with baseball legends

April 18, 2014, 7:48am

Nationals

Harper takes field with baseball legends

At just 21, Bryce Harper is one of the most well-known names in the baseball world. Loyal Nationals fans have come to expect hard-nosed play, extreme amounts of hustle and intense ferocity from the slugger. On the field, Harper has stood out and made himself into one of the most well-known players of this century. In Major League Baseball's latest "For the Love of Baseball" spot, Harper has been edited into old baseball footage, so it appears as if he's playing on the field alongside...

Comments

Tags:

bryce harper mlb fan cave nationals nationals buzz olivia witherite frontstory_nationals3

Desmond: "I've been in some dark places defensively, and this is right there with them"

April 17, 2014, 7:20pm

Nationals

Desmond: "I've been in some dark places defensively, and this is right there with them"

Ian Desmond was waiting at his locker for reporters after tonight's 8-0 loss to the Cardinals, like he always is. Desmond went 1-for-4 with an infield single in tonight's game, struck out twice and made two errors, giving him seven on the season. That's the most in the majors. He could have hidden from the questions or deflected them, saying that it's still early in the season. But he didn't. The Nationals, as a whole, have struggled defensively this season, making 20 errors through 16...

Comments

Tags:

dan kolko ian desmond nationals featured_sidebar frontstory_nationals2

Williams and Jordan react after 8-0 loss to Cardinals

April 17, 2014, 7:13pm

Nationals

Williams and Jordan react after 8-0 loss to Cardinals

Manager Matt Williams declined to comment on what he told the Nationals following their 8-0 loss to the Cardinals on Thursday night at Nationals Park. "I am not answering that question. That is for me and my team and no one else's business," Williams said. But Williams left no doubt as to his impressions of his team's sloppy play. The Nats committed four errors and now lead the National League with 20, managing only two hits in being shut out for the first time this season. "Regarding the...