nationals

A big series lies ahead

May 11, 2014, 11:31pm

PHOENIX - I'm not one of those guys who calls a game in May a "must-win" or overreacts about a talented team's performance early on in the season. I'm really not. Trust me. I buy into the whole idea that it's a 162-game season and that there's plenty of time for things to come around, if a team plays well enough. That said, this three-game series coming up here in Arizona is a big one for the Nationals. And I say that for a couple of reasons. It's pretty evident that the Nats are...

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Nats down to 67 percent of opening day offense

May 12, 2014, 3:17am

Nationals

Nats down to 67 percent of opening day offense

With the news the Nationals will be without first baseman Adam LaRoche for what could be until the end of the month of May, the offense is now without three of its top hitters. It feels like catcher Wilson Ramos just got back from a left hand fracture. Now, LaRoche takes his place on the sidelines, out with a quad injury on the 15-day disabled list. And it is not like any of the three players will be coming back any time soon. Third baseman Ryan Zimmerman is likely out until mid-June with a...

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Marty Niland: In era of parity, Nats put disparity on display

May 12, 2014, 6:33am

Nationals

Marty Niland: In era of parity, Nats put disparity on display

Parity seems to be a buzzword in the major leagues these days. Much has been written about how the low-budget, small-market teams like the Oakland A's are competitive with big-spending clubs. It was disparity, however, that best described last weekend's series between Nationals and the A's. It played out like a three-day infomercial for "Moneyball," the 2003 book that chronicled Oakland general manager Billy Beane's tactics in assembling a ball club that is not only the two-time defending...

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Nats players react to Gonzalez's outing and dugout incident

May 11, 2014, 4:25pm

Nationals

Nats players react to Gonzalez's outing and dugout incident

Gio Gonzalez was far from his best when making his first start in Oakland since the A's traded him to the Nationals in December 2011. The game had essentially been decided by the time the second inning was done with the Nats trailing 7-0 after two on the way to a 9-1 loss to the Athletics. Gonzalez had easily his worst start of the season, allowing seven runs on nine hits, including two homers, in 4 1/3 innings. The left-hander walked three, struck out four and saw his ERA jump from 2.91 to...

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Williams on Nats' sweep-clinching 9-1 loss to A's

May 11, 2014, 4:51pm

Nationals

Williams on Nats' sweep-clinching 9-1 loss to A's

Nationals manager Matt Williams covered Gio Gonzalez's struggles, the dugout incident and other shortfalls he saw in Sunday's 9-1 loss to the A's, as well as the sweep as a whole. Here are some selections from Williams' postgame media session. On whether he had anything special to say to the team after being swept: "No. We got manhandled today. Last night, we had a chance to win one and that didn't happen. Three more tough games on this road trip, so we've got to regroup and play well...

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The injuries continue to mount (Moore called up)

May 11, 2014, 7:40am

Nationals

The injuries continue to mount (Moore called up)

OAKLAND - Get ready for a remarkable piece of information. You prepared? Even though we're just 35 games into the 2014 season, five of the Nationals' starting opening day position players have already landed on the disabled list. Adam LaRoche, Ryan Zimmerman, Bryce Harper, Wilson Ramos and Denard Span. That's five of the eight. And that doesn't even include fourth starter Doug Fister, who missed six weeks on the DL, and reserve outfielder Scott Hairston, who also missed time while on...

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Moore excited for opportunity to be back with Nats

May 11, 2014, 10:53am

Nationals

Moore excited for opportunity to be back with Nats

Tyler Moore didn't need to wait long to rejoin the Nationals. Just four days after being optioned to Triple-A Syracuse on Wednesday, the Nats brought Moore back to help fill in for injured first baseman Adam LaRoche. Moore got in around midnight after playing one game for the Chiefs during a brief minor league stint. Is he rested to play today against the Athletics? "I've had worse," he joked. Syracuse was in Columbus when Moore got the call to head west. He didn't expect to be called...

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Gonzalez allows four in first in return to Oakland (Nats lose 9-1)

May 11, 2014, 12:40pm

Nationals

Gonzalez allows four in first in return to Oakland (Nats lose 9-1)

Gio Gonzalez didn't have a dream start to his first game in Oakland since being traded to the Nationals. The left-hander was torched in the first, allowing four runs on five hits and a walk - all after retiring the first two batters of the game. Josh Donaldson drew a base on balls to start the rally. Yoenis Cespedes then reached on an infield single. Catcher Derek Norris, who was a part of the package Washington sent to the A's for Gonzalez, provided the big blow - a three-run homer to left...

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Williams, Soriano, Storen, Roark discuss Nats' 4-3 walk-off loss

May 10, 2014, 9:06pm

Nationals

Williams, Soriano, Storen, Roark discuss Nats' 4-3 walk-off loss

OAKLAND - This was a tough one. The Nationals led 3-1 entering the bottom of the ninth inning, with their closer on the hill who had delivered 25 consecutive scoreless innings. Tanner Roark had thrown 7 2/3 stellar innings, and the Nats were on their way to securing at least one game of a tough three-game set against the A's. Instead, they left O.Co Coliseum with a 4-3, 10-inning loss. Rafael Soriano surrendered two runs in the ninth, then Drew Storen allowed the game-winning run in the...

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Moore at first, Hairston at DH, Gonzalez sees former team for first time

May 11, 2014, 9:44am

Nationals

Moore at first, Hairston at DH, Gonzalez sees former team for first time

OAKLAND - Tyler Moore wastes no time getting back in the lineup after being called up this morning, as he's starting at first base for the Nationals' series finale against the Athletics. Scott Hairston will serve as the designated hitter with Kevin Frandsen in left. The Nats pitch Gio Gonzalez against the A's Scott Kazmir in a matchup of hot-starting left-handers. Gonzalez is 3-1 with a 2.91 ERA through seven starts while Kazmir is 4-1 with a 2.64 ERA in seven starts. This marks the first...

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Espinosa, Nats get to Gray in third (A's rally to win 4-3 in 10)

May 10, 2014, 5:58pm

Nationals

Espinosa, Nats get to Gray in third (A's rally to win 4-3 in 10)

A's ace Sonny Gray has allowed three earned runs in a game only twice this year. He surrendered that many in an inning when the Nationals jumped all over the American League ERA leader with three runs in the third. With one out, Danny Espinosa launched his fifth homer of the season to right-center for a 1-0 Nats lead. Zach Walters and Denard Span followed with singles to right before Kevin Frandsen doubled to center to score both runners and up the advantage to 3-0. In that one frame,...

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Nationals recall first baseman/outfielder Tyler Moore from Triple-A Syracuse, place first baseman Adam LaRoche on DL

May 11, 2014, 8:50am

Nationals

The Washington Nationals today recalled first baseman/outfielder Tyler Moore from Syracuse of the Triple-A International League and placed first baseman Adam LaRoche on the 15-day Disabled List with a right quad strain, retroactive to May 10. Nationals President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcement. Moore, 27, returns to the Nationals for his second stint of the season after briefly returning to Triple-A on May 8. In 18 games at the Major League level...

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LaRoche headed to DL with strained quad

May 10, 2014, 8:53pm

Nationals

OAKLAND - Just as it looked like the Nationals were starting to get healthier, they'll lose one of their most productive hitters for at least 15 days. Manager Matt Williams announced after tonight's 4-3 walk-off loss to the A's that Adam LaRoche will have to be placed on the 15-day DL with a right quad strain. LaRoche underwent an MRI earlier today, and after examination of the test results, the Nats have decided to shut their first baseman down for the time being. "It's high quad, hip...

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LaRoche has MRI on quad, Nats to take "serious look" at whether to shelve him

May 10, 2014, 3:59pm

Nationals

LaRoche has MRI on quad, Nats to take "serious look" at whether to shelve him

Adam LaRoche's strained quad could very well land the Nationals first baseman on the disabled list after all. Nothing has been decided, but LaRoche had an MRI done Saturday after the quad tightened again during Friday night's game, and the Nats will have to decide whether to continue to let him work through it or rehab it to full health. LaRoche served as the team's designated hitter Friday, but is out of the lineup tonight because of what he felt in the series opener at Oakland. "It...

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LaRoche sits, Walters makes first start in outfield at A's

May 10, 2014, 1:49pm

Nationals

LaRoche sits, Walters makes first start in outfield at A's

OAKLAND - Adam LaRoche will get to rest his injured quad entirely tonight, as manager Matt Williams has given the veteran first baseman the night off one game after putting him at designated hitter. Williams had said he expected LaRoche to be at first for tonight's game with Athletics ace Sonny Gray on the mound. The Nationals manager is likely to share why LaRoche is out of the lineup during his pregame meeting with the media. With LaRoche out, Kevin Frandsen starts at first for the second...

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Williams, Tarasco on Nats giving Walters first career start in outfield

May 10, 2014, 4:17pm

Nationals

Williams, Tarasco on Nats giving Walters first career start in outfield

In a perfect world, the Nationals would have Bryce Harper in left and Adam LaRoche at first tonight in Oakland. Instead, Zach Walters gets his first start of the season at a position he has never played in the major leagues, and only once patrolled in 465 minor league contests. Walters will man left field for the Nats tonight rather than shortstop or third base, where he has played exclusively in the majors over the last two seasons. "We just have a need, especially against Sonny (Gray) with...

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Nationals need confident Detwiler to solidify left side of bullpen

May 10, 2014, 8:26am

Nationals

Losing 8-0 is never fun. But getting Ross Detwiler some extended work is a promising sign. Doug Fister struggled in his first start for the Nationals, surrendering seven runs, five of them earned runs, in 4 1/3 innings. Detwiler had a very difficult May 6 against the Dodgers, giving up four runs on three hits himself, over one inning. But Friday he was able to hang in there, getting out of the fifth inning for Fister. Detwiler went 2 1/3 frames, scattering three hits, one hit batter, striking...

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Takeaways from Fister's first Nats start

May 10, 2014, 10:31am

Nationals

Takeaways from Fister's first Nats start

OAKLAND - OK, so Doug Fister's first start as a National didn't go as he had hoped. Pitching for his new team, trying to make a positive first impression, with some California-area friends and family members in attendance, Fister allowed seven runs (five earned) on nine hits, and made a throwing error that led to a first-inning run. Again, not exactly how Fister would have drawn it up. But there are a few factors that fans should consider when looking at Fister's Nationals debut. One,...

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Fister's early error proves costly (Nats lose 8-0)

May 09, 2014, 6:29pm

Nationals

Fister's early error proves costly (Nats lose 8-0)

Doug Fister was in line to start his Nationals debut with an easy first inning - that is, when nerves, enthusiasm or whatever other emotion he took into tonight's contest appeared to get in the way. Fister got John Jaso and Jed Lowrie to fly out to start the game before Josh Donaldson singled back to the pitcher. Fister didn't eat the grounder or make a safe throw to first. He fired wide of the bag and up the right field line, awarding Donaldson an additional two bases on the error. Brandon...

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Williams discusses Fister's rough Nats debut and more defensive miscues

May 09, 2014, 9:55pm

Nationals

Williams discusses Fister's rough Nats debut and more defensive miscues

OAKLAND - The good news is that Doug Fister seemingly made it out of his first start back off the disabled list in good shape from a physical standpoint. The not-so-good news is that Fister was hit around in his Nationals debut, and the Nats dropped an 8-0 ballgame to the Athletics in the opener of this three-game set. Fister allowed seven runs (five earned) on nine hits over 4 1/3 innings. He struck out two, walked none and allowed three home runs, tying for the most homers he's ever...