nationals

Rachel Levitin: Lengthy rain delay turned Monday's Dodgers-Nats game into special experience

May 07, 2014, 5:23am

It's rare that Monday night baseball turns into legitimate Tuesday morning baseball, but that's what happened earlier this week between the Nationals and Dodgers. Once the rain that held up the early evening game had passed, what appeared to be a few hundred people (if that) huddled behind their respective team's dugouts at Nationals Park to root, root, root for their own team well into the wee hours of the morning. One of Washington's most reliable players, right-handed starting Jordan...

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Ramos says he's ready to return, but Williams doesn't sound convinced

May 06, 2014, 1:10pm

Nationals

Ramos says he's ready to return, but Williams doesn't sound convinced

Catcher Wilson Ramos reappeared in the Nationals clubhouse Tuesday afternoon, fresh off his minor league rehabilitation assignment and bent on showing manager Matt Williams that he was ready to be activated from the 15-day disabled list after surgery to remove a broken hamate bone from his left hand. Ramos thinks he'll be ready to go tomorrow, when the Nats close out their three-home game homestand against the Dodgers. "I think so," he said. "I think that's the plan for now. I don't need...

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Treinen optioned to Triple-A after first major league start, corresponding move TBA

May 06, 2014, 7:24pm

Nationals

Treinen optioned to Triple-A after first major league start, corresponding move TBA

Blake Treinen pitched his heart out tonight in the Nationals' 8-3 loss to the Dodgers, allowing just three unearned runs over five-plus innings against a dangerous Los Angeles lineup. Now Treinen will head back to Triple-A Syracuse and try and build off a strong first major league start. The Nationals optioned Treinen back to Syracuse after tonight's game, but they are not yet ready to announce a corresponding roster move. "We don't know that at this point," manager Matt Williams said....

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Treinen gets help from defense early against Dodgers (L.A. wins 8-3)

May 06, 2014, 3:27pm

Nationals

Treinen gets help from defense early against Dodgers (L.A. wins 8-3)

It is a pretty big night for Blake Treinen. In one day, he is called up again to the big leagues and later that night he makes his first major league start. Oh, and he has to face the Los Angeles Dodgers' potent offense and ace left-hander Clayton Kershaw. The Nationals right-hander has pitched well for Triple-A Syracuse to begin this season, with four starts and a 1.59 ERA. Last season, he made 22 starts for the Chiefs, going 6-7 with a 3.47 ERA. As a reliever for the Nationals this season,...

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Williams said starting infield requested more pregame defensive practice

April 23, 2014, 2:08pm

Nationals

Williams said starting infield requested more pregame defensive practice

Something has got to change. If the Nationals have any aspirations of winning the National League East or making an appearance in the postseason, they must play better defense. That means cleaner innings. That means making the play you are supposed to make and not trying to do too much. Shortstop Ian Desmond has had too many errors to begin this season. He would be the first to admit that. But he has also said a few times after games when he had committed an on-field miscue that maybe next time...

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Roark blanks Padres on three hits in 4-0 win

April 26, 2014, 9:25am

Nationals

Roark blanks Padres on three hits in 4-0 win

If you liked last night's offensive explosion from the Nationals, you'll like the start to this afternoon's game. After one inning, the Nats have a 3-0 lead on the Padres. So much for any worries that a day game after a rain-delayed night game would lead to some sort of hangover. The bats are alive, all right. After Tanner Roark dispatched the Friars on nine pitches in a 1-2-3 top of the first, the Nats quickly went to work. With one out, Anthony Rendon singled, Jayson Werth reached on an...

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For McLouth, hand gash the most troublesome remnant of collision with wall

May 06, 2014, 2:59pm

Nationals

For McLouth, hand gash the most troublesome remnant of collision with wall

Nate McLouth peeled back the white bandage covering the fleshy section of his right hand between his thumb and index finger to reveal a dime-sized divot, the result of his eighth-inning sliding catch Monday night and his collision with the wall in foul territory in left field. The Nationals left fielder left the game after tumbling into the wall to make the catch of Dee Gordon's foul slice, and the chunk taken out of his hand was the most significant problem he experienced after making a catch...

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Hairston in lineup for Treinen's first Nationals start

May 06, 2014, 11:20am

Nationals

Scott Hairston is in the Nationals lineup tonight, making his first start since coming off the 15-day disabled list yesterday after missing time with a strained left oblique. He will bat fifth and play left field. Right-hander Blake Treinen will make his first start for the Nationals tonight, opposing Dodgers lefty Clayton Kershaw, the reigning National League Cy Young Award winner. Here's the Nationals lineup: CF Denard Span3B Anthony RendonRF Jayson Werth1B Adam LaRocheLF Scott HairstonSS...

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Treinen to start Tuesday, Mattheus optioned (with McLouth update)

May 05, 2014, 10:05pm

Nationals

Treinen to start Tuesday, Mattheus optioned (with McLouth update)

We have finally learned who will start Tuesday night (or, shall I say, later on today) for the Nationals. It'll be right-hander Blake Treinen, who will be called up from Triple-A Syracuse. Right-handed reliever Ryan Mattheus will be optioned to Syracuse to make room for Treinen on the roster, manager Matt Williams announced after tonight's 4-0 Nats win, which featured a 3-hour, 17-minute rain delay. This will be Treinen's first major league start. He made a brief stint with the Nats...

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Looking back on last night ... and early this morning (with note)

May 05, 2014, 10:35pm

Nationals

Looking back on last night ... and early this morning (with note)

A departure from the press box after 2 a.m. sure doesn't lend itself well to early morning blog posts. But I figured I had plenty to discuss after last night's wackiness. Blake Treinen will make his first major league start tonight. Who will the 25-year-old oppose? Only the best pitcher on the planet in Clayton Kershaw. What type of lineup will Treinen face? One that features Adrian Gonzalez, Hanley Ramirez, Matt Kemp, Carl Crawford, Dee Gordon (don't scoff, he's hitting .342 and has stolen...

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Stuart Wallace: Digging deeper into Span's slow start at the plate

May 06, 2014, 5:51am

Nationals

Stuart Wallace: Digging deeper into Span's slow start at the plate

On a team that has sputtered defensively to start the 2014 season, Nationals center fielder Denard Span is a playmaking oasis in a desert of bad hops, errant throws and generally poor defensive showings. Currently leading the team in the defensive statistics ultimate zone rating and defensive runs saved, Span has few peers in the outfield or across baseball in general when it comes to his skills with the glove. With the bat, however, the reviews aren't as glowing for Span, especially this...

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Ramos completes nine innings in rehab game for Harrisburg

May 05, 2014, 6:47pm

Nationals

Ramos completes nine innings in rehab game for Harrisburg

Nationals catcher Wilson Ramos caught nine innings of a rehab game for the Double-A Harrisburg Senators on Monday night in their 8-2 loss to Richmond. Ramos went 0-for-4 and grounded into a pair of double plays, but called 149 pitches from four Senator pitchers. On Sunday, he was the designated hitter for the Hagerstown Suns and hit a three-run homer. Ramos has been out since opening day with a left hamate fracture. He has had a few extended spring training games and now a pair of rehab games...

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Barrett and Williams on bullpen's finishing of marathon game, Nats win

May 05, 2014, 10:18pm

Nationals

Barrett and Williams on bullpen's finishing of marathon game, Nats win

It was a game that officially took two hours and 59 minutes to play. But, in reality, it had another three hours and 17 minutes of a rain delay sandwiched inside the regular game. The Nationals ended up winning the opener against the Dodgers, 4-0. The pair of two-run shots by Anthony Rendon and Danny Espinosa were critical. Also crucial to the victory was the bullpen's ability to stay focused and hold the Dodgers scoreless for the final five innings of the game. Nationals reliever Aaron...

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Nationals score first, courtesy of long homer by Rendon (Nats win)

May 05, 2014, 3:35pm

Nationals

In two starts against the Nationals last season, Dodgers starter Zack Greinke won both times and allowed a grand total of two earned runs. The Nationals managed to score two earned runs in their first inning against Greinke in 2014. After a double by Denard Span to lead off the bottom of the first, Anthony Rendon got a hold of a 1-2 offering from Greinke and deposited it into the red porch seats over the wall in left-center. It was Rendon's first ever hit against Greinke in three recorded...

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Hairston activated from disabled list

May 05, 2014, 11:28am

Nationals

The Nationals this afternoon activated outfielder Scott Hairston (strained left oblique) from the 15-day disabled list. He'll be in uniform and available for tonight's opener of a three-game series against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Nationals Park. To make room for Hairston on the 25-man roster, outfielder Steven Souza Jr. was optioned to Triple-A Syracuse. In two stints with the Nats this season, Souza has gone 1-for-8 (.125). Hairston was placed on the DL on April 6, a day after injuring...

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Nats lineup for series opener

May 05, 2014, 1:42pm

Nationals

The Dodgers come into town for a three-game series with the Nats, who are trying to take advantage of a struggling Braves squad which has dropped its last six games. The Nationals currently sit a half-game out of first in the National League East, and look to end a two-game skid of their own. For the Nationals: CF Denard Span 3B Anthony Rendon RF Jayson Werth 1B Adam LaRoche SS Ian Desmond 2B Danny Espinosa LF Nate McLouth C Sandy Leon P Jordan Zimmermann Dodgers star Yasiel Puig will miss...

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Updates on Ramos, Hairston and Zimmerman

May 05, 2014, 2:34pm

Nationals

Updates on Ramos, Hairston and Zimmerman

Manager Matt Williams is excited at the prospect of getting three starters back by the end of the week. He got one back Monday. Nationals catcher Wilson Ramos (hand) started for Double-A Harrisburg on Monday night. Scott Hairston (oblique) was activated off the disabled list before Monday's opener against the Dodgers. Doug Fister (lat) is expected to make his Nationals debut Friday night at Oakland. But Williams would like it even more if no one else gets hurt for a little while. "We just...

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Hanging in and about to get a few "shots in the arm"

May 05, 2014, 5:03am

Nationals

Hanging in and about to get a few "shots in the arm"

I wrote just the other day about the parity in the National League East, but even since then, the layout in the division has gotten more interesting. All five NL East teams now have above-.500 records. Only 1 1/2 games separate first place from last place. That's parity, folks. The Nationals could have left Philadelphia atop the division had they been able to close out their series with the Phillies on a positive note. Instead, yesterday's 1-0 loss finished off a 3-2 road trip and left the...

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Zimmerman to host fifth annual A Night at the Park on June 16

May 05, 2014, 6:10am

Nationals

Zimmerman to host fifth annual A Night at the Park on June 16

Washington Nationals third baseman Ryan Zimmerman will once again host Â“A Night at the Park,Â” presented by MASN Sports at Nationals Park on Monday, June 16. The fifth annual fundraising event for the ziMS Foundation will feature performances by country music stars Billy Currington and Jerrod Niemann. The evening includes an expanded concert experience, powered by Live Nation, along with silent and live auction featuring one-of-a-kind items and experiences. Nationals Park will again be...

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Marty Niland: Hang on, help is on the way

May 05, 2014, 5:44am

Nationals

Marty Niland: Hang on, help is on the way

What a frustrating weekend for the Nationals and their fans. After beating up on the hapless Houston Astros and another of their characteristic come-from-behind victories in the series opener in Philadelphia, the road trip went south in a hurry. The Nats' bats fell silent at the hands of A.J. Burnett and Roberto Hernandez in a pair of losses to the middling Phillies. To make matters worse, each of those losses cost the Nats a chance to take over first place in the National League East from the...