nationals

Williams discusses Nats' 3-1 loss

May 13, 2014, 8:44pm

PHOENIX - Stephen Strasburg pitched pretty well tonight, allowing three runs over seven innings with no walks and six strikeouts. Bronson Arroyo was better, however, throwing his 16th career complete game, allowing just one run, walking one and striking out seven. The Nationals had a few chances against Arroyo, but outside of Ian Desmond's RBI triple in the second inning, they weren't able to push anything across. The D-backs tied it up in the fourth on Miguel Montero's RBI single and...

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Fister gearing up for round two in a Nats uniform

May 14, 2014, 12:43am

Nationals

Fister gearing up for round two in a Nats uniform

PHOENIX - As Doug Fister's Nationals debut approached last week, manager Matt Williams cautioned that fans shouldn't expect too much in the big right-hander's first start of the season. After all, not only was it the first time Fister was taking the mound in a regular season game this season, but he was coming off six weeks on the disabled list with a strained right lat. Add in that Fister was likely going to be a little fired up for his first start in a Nationals uniform, and we all knew...

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Desmond hitting cleanup, McLouth in left for series finale

May 14, 2014, 8:43am

Nationals

Desmond hitting cleanup, McLouth in left for series finale

PHOENIX - The Nationals will try to end their six-game road trip on a winning note. Ian Desmond will be batting cleanup while Nate McLouth will hit eighth and play left field in the series finale against the Diamondbacks. Doug Fister will make his second start of the season. For the Nationals: CF Denard Span 3B Anthony Rendon RF Jayson Werth SS Ian Desmond 2B Danny Espinosa 1B Tyler Moore C Jose Lobaton LF Nate McLouth RHP Doug Fister

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We have a pitchers' duel in the desert (Nats win 5-1)

May 14, 2014, 12:29pm

Nationals

We have a pitchers' duel in the desert (Nats win 5-1)

We've got a pitchers' duel in Arizona. After scoring a combined 15 runs in the last two games, the Nationals and Diamondbacks are scoreless through three innings. Doug Fister has thrown 52 pitches, allowing three hits and striking out four in three innings. Three of Fister's outs have come via the groundball, which is a good sign for the Nats' sinker ball pitcher. Fister's counterpart on the mound, Brandon McCarthy, has not allowed a hit and has struck out two through three. Update:...

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Williams, Fister and Desmond weigh in on Nats' win over Diamondbacks

May 14, 2014, 3:20pm

Nationals

Williams, Fister and Desmond weigh in on Nats' win over Diamondbacks

After falling behind in today's series finale, the Nationals were on the verge of returning to D.C., with a 1-5 record from their six-game road trip. To say today's game was a must-win might be a little exaggerated, but boy was it important. The Nats capitalized on seven strong innings from Doug Fister and a bases-loaded hit from Ian Desmond in the top of the ninth for to beat the Diamondbacks 5-1. Denard Span's leadoff walk in the ninth started the Nats' rally. Anthony Rendon then...

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Williams: Desmond getting better defensively, doesn't need days off

May 15, 2014, 7:26am

Nationals

Williams: Desmond getting better defensively, doesn't need days off

Nationals shortstop Ian Desmond had a home run early in the Arizona series. On Wednesday, he delivered a clutch two-run single to put the Nationals ahead for good in a 5-1 series-clinching victory over the Diamondbacks. He finished with five RBIs in the three-game set. Thursday marks a rare day off for Desmond. Despite this week's recent uptick at the plate, does manager Matt Williams believe Desmond needs a day or two off? "I want to give him some time, but we have had a lot of off-days,"...

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At the quarter pole

May 14, 2014, 10:53pm

Nationals

Hello, East Coast. Nice to see you again. It seems like we haven't had an off-day at home in years. In reality, it's been five weeks. But still, nice to be home, get to sleep in your own bed and relax for a day. The Nationals come back to the area with a 21-19 record, now trailing the Braves by 1 1/2 games in the National League East. Not where they'd like to be, for sure. But yesterday's big comeback win, their 12th come-from-behind victory of the season, gave them a series win on the road...

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David Huzzard: Time to let pitching carry injured Nats

May 15, 2014, 4:39am

Nationals

David Huzzard: Time to let pitching carry injured Nats

With Ryan Zimmerman, Adam LaRoche and Bryce Harper out, the Nationals are missing three of their best hitters, and in the cases of LaRoche and Zimmerman, they are missing the two highest OPS players on the team. While the addition of Kevin Frandsen, the emergence of Zach Walters and the resurgence of Danny Espinosa have improved the Nationals bench with so many key offensive weapons missing, it is like putting a band-aid on a bullet hole. Scoring runs is going to be a daily struggle for the...

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Williams: Fister needs to sink the ball; updates LaRoche's recovery

May 14, 2014, 11:00am

Nationals

Williams: Fister needs to sink the ball; updates LaRoche's recovery

Wednesday's starter Doug Fister would like nothing more than to put aside his season debut from last Friday in an 8-0 loss at Oakland. Manager Matt Williams believes Fister will have a better showing in today's start against Arizona. "I think he just needs to be down in the strike zone," Williams said. "I anticipate that today being on normal rest. We pushed him through an inning the last time out just to make sure his pitch count stayed up there and all of that worked the way we wanted it...

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Nats continue pursuit of new spring home in Palm Beach County

May 14, 2014, 9:17am

Nationals

Nats continue pursuit of new spring home in Palm Beach County

The Nationals are continuing their efforts to move their spring training headquarters to Palm Beach County, and they may not be the only team exiting Space Coast Stadium in Viera, Fla. The Single-A Brevard County Manatees, a Brewers affiliate that plays in the Florida State League are listening to a pitch from Winter Park, Fla., near Orlando, where a new $30 million stadium would be built on a site owned by Rollins College. News of the Manatees' proposed move came on the same day that...

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Williams updates Zimmerman, McLouth, Ramos, Desmond, Storen and Frandsen

May 13, 2014, 4:43pm

Nationals

Williams updates Zimmerman, McLouth, Ramos, Desmond, Storen and Frandsen

Nationals manager Matt Williams received X-ray results on third baseman Ryan Zimmerman and his broken thumb. Zimmerman has been on the disabled list since April 13. Unfortunately, Zimmerman will not be able to begin strength exercises yet. "X-rays were good, but it is not fully healed yet," Williams said. "So the doctor is not comfortable with him starting any strengthening stuff yet. I imagine we will go back to that in about a week and see where he is at. It's only four weeks, doesn't...

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Rachel Levitin: Making do and searching for consistency

May 14, 2014, 5:24am

Nationals

Rachel Levitin: Making do and searching for consistency

Earlier this week, Nationals Buzz guest blogger Marty Niland pointed out something I agree with. He wrote, "The Nats need to make hay against the teams they are supposed to beat until injured stars (Adam) LaRoche, Bryce Harper and Ryan Zimmerman can return to the lineup and bring them back to full strength." One of the biggest problems facing the Nationals in 2014 is lack of consistency their overall performance due to health-related issues. This, of course, is a plague that haunts any...

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Desmond with another extra-base hit to get Nationals on board (D-backs win 3-1)

May 13, 2014, 6:07pm

Nationals

Nationals shortstop Ian Desmond slammed a home run on Monday for his first extra-base hit since May 2. Sometimes when a hitter finally puts a charge in the ball, it can start something bigger. Desmond continued his good feeling at the plate in the second inning Tuesday in Arizona. After Wilson Ramos singled off of Diamondbacks starter Bronson Arroyo, Desmond hit a RBI triple to deep right field to give the Nationals a 1-0 lead. It was Desmond's first triple of the season. Right-hander Stephen...

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About the late-game comeback

May 13, 2014, 1:35am

Nationals

PHOENIX - By no means would it have been time to panic if the Nationals had lost last night's game to the Diamondbacks. But, man, after a rough weekend in Oakland, getting swept by the A's and outscored 21-4 in that three-game set, last night's 6-5 comeback win over the D-backs sure felt good for the guys in the Nats clubhouse. "We needed that win," Danny Espinosa said. "Coming off the series we just came off, I thought we really needed that." "Let's be honest here: This weekend...

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Patriotic Series and Military Branch Days return for 2014

May 13, 2014, 1:00pm

Nationals

Patriotic Series and Military Branch Days return for 2014

The Washington Nationals will mark the return of the Patriotic Series Presented by SAIC when the team hosts Armed Forces Day on Saturday, May 17. To pay tribute to the men and women who serve in the U.S. armed forces, the Nationals will offer complimentary tickets to military service members (active duty, dependent, reservist or retiree) for SaturdayÂ’s game. Service members may claim up to two complimentary tickets for each military ID and purchase additional tickets at a discounted rate....

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Stuart Wallace: Advanced metrics show third base isn't second nature for Rendon

May 13, 2014, 4:57am

Nationals

Stuart Wallace: Advanced metrics show third base isn't second nature for Rendon

In the face of a position change, Anthony Rendon has gotten off to a solid start with the bat in 2014. Despite a 2-for-12 showing against Oakland Athletics pitching extinguishing his dalliance with a .300 batting average for the time being, the third baseman is still in good shape, putting up a .349 weighted on-base average (league average is currently .310), good third on the Nationals. Currently manning the hot corner while Ryan Zimmerman is on the mend with a thumb injury, Rendon has done...

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Williams discusses Nats' thrilling comeback win

May 12, 2014, 9:32pm

Nationals

Williams discusses Nats' thrilling comeback win

PHOENIX - Talk about a roller coaster of a ballgame in the desert. Four lead changes, four multi-run half-innings, 13 extra-base hits and a ninth-inning comeback that featured two solo shots from guys who started the season on the Nationals bench. This one had quite a few twists and turns, all right. In the end, the Nats escaped with a dramatic 6-5 win, thanks largely to ninth-inning homers off the bats of Danny Espinosa (a shot that tied the game) and Kevin Frandsen (a shot that gave the Nats...

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Nationals look to forget Oakland at Arizona (Nats rally for 6-5 win)

May 12, 2014, 5:54pm

Nationals

After being unable to ever get comfortable against the Oakland A's and getting swept, the Nationals could ask for nothing more than to get off to a quick start in Arizona against the vulnerable Diamondbacks, a team that has won just three of their first 18 games at home. Facing Josh Collmenter, leadoff hitter Denard Span fought through four straight cutters before getting a changeup and lacing it for a triple to center field to begin the game. Anthony Rendon brought him home on a sacrifice fly...

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Williams on being back in Arizona, updates Zimmerman and Harper injuries

May 12, 2014, 4:56pm

Nationals

Williams on being back in Arizona, updates Zimmerman and Harper injuries

Tonight, Matt Williams makes his return to Phoenix where he was a coach for the Diamondbacks, but now he is in his new role as the manager of the Nationals. Diamondbacks manager Kirk Gibson was excited to see his old friend back in Arizona, but that doesn't change his competitive fire to try to beat the opponent. "I want to beat his (butt), too," Gibson said. "That is mutual. But (Williams) does it right. We have a lot in common. Just the way we were brought up. We talked a lot when he was...

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Nats sign Greg Dobbs to minor league deal

May 12, 2014, 7:26am

Nationals

Nats sign Greg Dobbs to minor league deal

PHOENIX - With Ryan Zimmerman, Adam LaRoche and Bryce Harper all currently on the disabled list, the Nationals added an experienced corner infielder and outfielder today, signing veteran Greg Dobbs to a minor league deal. Dobbs, 35, was designated for assignment by the Marlins back on April 29, and Miami released Dobbs last week. The California native appeared in 15 games for the Marlins this season, going 1-for-13 with four strikeouts. He hit .228/.303/.300 with two home runs and 22 RBIs in...