nationals

Fister pitches four innings in first rehab start for Potomac (updated with Williams, Fister comments)

April 27, 2014, 10:39am

Nationals right-hander Doug Fister completed his rehab assignment for the high Single-A Potomac Nationals on Sunday. Fister went four innings, as planned, and threw 59 pitches, 42 for strikes. This was Fister's initial rehab start. He is currently on the 15-day disabled list with a right lat strain. Fister told reporters afterward that he had good location and spring training velocity. A source at the stadium told me Fister "looked pretty good for his first outing." Fister allowed six hits,...

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Williams on Harper's injury and what's next

April 27, 2014, 8:24am

Nationals

Williams on Harper's injury and what's next

The decision to place outfielder Bryce Harper on the 15-day disabled list with a sprained left thumb was two-fold, said Nationals manager Matt Williams: It gives the team time to get a full evaluation of what's wrong with the digit, and allows Harper some additional time to let the swelling in the thumb dissipate. Williams said there's some concern in the organization because Harper has previously injured the thumb. So he's going to Cleveland on Monday to get a second opinion from Dr. Thomas...

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Nationals get to Ian Kennedy and Padres for early lead (Padres win 4-2)

April 27, 2014, 9:52am

Nationals

The Nationals jumped on Padres starter Ian Kennedy in the first inning. With one out, Anthony Rendon crushed a double off the top of the right-center field wall. Jayson Werth then rocketed a double deep to left-center field and the Nationals led 1-0. Nationals starter Taylor Jordan allowed a single to Chris Denorfia but got the benefit of a 3-6-3 double play to end the top of the first. In the second inning, Danny Espinosa was hit by a pitch on his right knee and stayed down at home plate on...

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Harper placed on 15-day disabled list (updated with Harper quotes)

April 27, 2014, 6:25am

Nationals

Harper placed on 15-day disabled list (updated with Harper quotes)

The Nationals have placed outfielder Bryce Harper on the 15-day disabled list with a left thumb sprain. To take Harper's place on the 25-man roster, outfielder Stephen Souza has been recalled from Triple-A Syracuse. Harper sustained the injury sliding handfirst into third base on a triple Friday night. He went back in the field the following half-inning, but was later removed with what was first diagnosed as a jammed left thumb. "It's sprained right now," Harper said. "I sprained it, they...

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McLouth subs for shelved Harper in finale against Padres

April 27, 2014, 6:41am

Nationals

McLouth subs for shelved Harper in finale against Padres

With Bryce Harper heading to the 15-day disabled list with a sprained left thumb, Nate McLouth gets the call to play left field for the Nationals this afternoon in the finale of a four-game series with the Padres. This is just the kind of situation the Nats were thinking of when they signed McLouth to a two-year, $10.75 million deal in December. It never hurts to have a veteran outfielder with a good glove and a little pop on your roster as a fourth outfielder when an injury occurs, as they...

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Difo making noise for Hagerstown after focused offseason training

April 25, 2014, 4:17pm

Nationals

Difo making noise for Hagerstown after focused offseason training

Low Single-A Hagerstown second baseman Wilmer Difo continues to prove he can hit and get on base. Through 20 games, the 6-foot ,175-lb. Dominican switch-hitter is hitting .315. In 89 at-bats, Difo has 28 hits, 12 runs, seven doubles, two triples, nine stolen bases (caught stealing once) and 15 RBIs. Difo has a .351 on-base percentage for the Suns. Through Thursday, Difo had five multi-hit efforts in his last nine games. Difo has hit in the clutch, as well, batting .390 with runners on base and...

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Williams, Leon react to Roark's stellar outing in 4-0 win (with Harper note)

April 26, 2014, 12:59pm

Nationals

Williams, Leon react to Roark's stellar outing in 4-0 win (with Harper note)

Ian Desmond had three hits and an RBI, Jayson Werth had a two-hit ballgame, Adam LaRoche stayed hot, reaching base twice and driving in a run, and Anthony Rendon had a hit and made a couple of tremendous defensive plays. But with all due respect to those guys, Tanner Roark was the story today. Roark delivered a three-hit shutout in the Nationals' 4-0 win over the Padres, his first career big league complete game. After the win, manager Matt Williams and catcher Sandy Leon discussed Roark's...

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Roark on the shutout: "For the first time doing it, it feels really good"

April 26, 2014, 12:40pm

Nationals

Roark on the shutout: "For the first time doing it, it feels really good"

Only once in his 99 career minor league starts had Tanner Roark ever tossed a complete game. He'd never thrown a shutout. Yet here he was today, on the field at Nationals Park in front of 31,590 fans, delivering the finest outing of his professional career in a 4-0 Nationals win over the Padres. Roark retired the first 16 hitters he faced today. He allowed just three hits. And he struck out a career-high eight, needing just 105 pitches to finish off the complete game. "For the first time...

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Williams says Harper is available, Gonzalez is feeling fine (updated)

April 26, 2014, 7:51am

Nationals

Williams says Harper is available, Gonzalez is feeling fine (updated)

Bryce Harper is scheduled to be seen by a hand specialist today at Nationals Park, and the Nationals will wait until that examination is complete to determine if any further diagnostic measures, such as an MRI, are necessary. Harper jammed his left thumb on a headfirst slide into third base on a triple in Friday night's game against the Padres, and manager Matt Williams said early returns on the injury are promising. "The early tests, anyway, are pretty good," Williams said in his pregame...

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Harper out of Nats' Saturday lineup

April 26, 2014, 7:12am

Nationals

Not surprisingly, outfielder Bryce Harper isn't in today's Nationals lineup against the Padres and hard-throwing right-hander Andrew Cashner. (That's Cashner, the pitcher, who is not to be confused with Cashner, the outfielder, who played left field for a batter in Thursday night's opener of the four-game series between the teams.) Harper jammed his left thumb sliding into third base on a triple in last night's 11-1 win over San Diego. X-rays taken at Nationals Park were negative, manager...

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How quickly things can turn

April 25, 2014, 8:23pm

Nationals

You hear ballplayers say it all the time. One of the best things about this game is that regardless of what happens one night, you get to come right back the next night and try all over again. On Thursday, the Nationals went 0-for-16 with runners in scoring position. They left 14 men on base. They dropped a tough 12-inning game to the Padres. On Friday, the Nats showed up, tossed on the unis and pounded the ball all over the yard. They smacked 17 hits. They plated 11 runs. They went 7-for-17...

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Strasburg and Lobaton building chemistry, helping produce success on the hill

April 25, 2014, 8:43pm

Nationals

Strasburg and Lobaton building chemistry, helping produce success on the hill

Nationals catcher Jose Lobaton said it was difficult to get to know Stephen Strasburg early in the season. But now that they have had three or four games working together, they are slowly building chemistry and trust. That bonding played an important role in Strasburg's seven innings of shutout ball in an 11-1 victory over the Padres on Friday night. "First time, it was kind of like I don't know how to go and talk to him in the dugout. He is a quiet guy, he likes to be alone," Lobaton...

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Williams on offense, Desmond and Strasburg in win over Padres

April 25, 2014, 8:10pm

Nationals

Williams on offense, Desmond and Strasburg in win over Padres

Nationals manager Matt Williams said his team's strategy of working to get as many men on base as ppossible was a key an 11-1 victory over San Diego, even if they struggled with runners in scoring position in their Thursday extra-inning loss. "The theme is the same as it always is," Williams said. "We just try to give ourselves as many opportunities as we can. I think Anthony (Rendon) and (Ian) Desmond certainly set the tone tonight. Taking the ball the other way against a left-hander...

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Harper dealing with jammed left thumb, X-rays negative

April 25, 2014, 8:05pm

Nationals

Harper dealing with jammed left thumb, X-rays negative

Despite the 11-1 romp over the Padres tonight, Nationals fans were probably holding their breath for much of the evening after Bryce Harper had to leave the game after four innings with an apparent injury. After the game, however, manager Matt Williams provided some good news, given the circumstances: Harper suffered a jammed left thumb when he slid into third base on a third-inning bases-clearing triple. X-rays on Harper's thumb came back negative, and while the Nats will re-evaluate Harper...

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Nationals deliver early on scoring chances (Nats win 11-1)

April 25, 2014, 4:24pm

Nationals

The Nationals had 16 chances with runners in scoring position Thursday in the opening game against the Padres and failed each time. On Friday, the Nationals got base hits on their first two RISP opportunities to provide Stephen Strasburg an early cushion against his hometown team. After a 57-minute rain delay, Strasburg allowed a single by Everth Cabrera to lead off the game. But the right-hander then induced a double play and a fly out to keep San Diego off the board in the top of the...

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Harper leaves game in fifth with jammed left thumb

April 25, 2014, 5:32pm

Nationals

Harper leaves game in fifth with jammed left thumb

Nationals left fielder Bryce Harper appeared to jam his left wrist while sliding into third base on a three-run triple in the third inning against the San Diego Padres on Friday night. MASN television replays showed Harper holding his left wrist and flexing his left hand after the play. He stayed in the game for the fourth inning, but was replaced by Nate McLouth in left field to begin the fifth inning. Harper left the game after going 2-for-2 with a single, a triple, one run scored and a...

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Williams on Ramos' recovery: "Structurally, everything is really good"

April 25, 2014, 3:42pm

Nationals

Williams on Ramos' recovery: "Structurally, everything is really good"

Nationals manager Matt Williams had an update on catcher Wilson Ramos, who has been on the 15-day disabled list since opening day with a left hamate bone fracture. "Took early BP today, looks good," Williams said. "At this point, it is pain tolerance. Structurally, everything is really good. The bone is removed. The scar is healing. It is not just a skin scar, either - they go in there. There is constant work being done on that. "You loosen it up and then it mats down again overnight...

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Transfer play rule adjusted (updated with player reaction)

April 25, 2014, 9:45am

Nationals

Transfer play rule adjusted (updated with player reaction)

Nationals first baseman Adam LaRoche got his wish. Major League Baseball announced today that the Playing Rules Committee has adjusted how umpires should apply the official playing rules in plays when a fielder loses possession of a ball attempting to transfer it to this throwing hand. The new interpretation of the transfer play will begin with games tonight. Here is the official announcement of how umpires will enforce the rule according to these standards: "The Committee has determined that...

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Zimmermann felt stuff was good enough to go longer than six innings

April 24, 2014, 8:26pm

Nationals

Zimmermann felt stuff was good enough to go longer than six innings

The Nationals certainly had opportunities in their 4-3 12-inning loss to the Padres on Thursday. It ended on a hard-hit ball by catcher Jose Lobaton that doubled Bryce Harper off of second base. That play was another example of the many missed scoring chances the Nationals had. "That is the game," Lobaton said. "I was trying to do something better after that error. I was trying to get at least a base hit, move the runner. It was a pretty good line drive, he made a nice play, and that was...

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Some bad and some good

April 24, 2014, 8:45pm

Nationals

The Nationals have hit .223 with runners in scoring position thus far this season, ranking 22nd in the majors in that category. They've left 176 runners on base, which leads the National League. The talent is clearly there. The Nats are putting runners on, getting knocks and drawing walks. They had six of their starting position players notch at least two hits last night. For whatever reason, those hits largely just aren't coming with runners in scoring position. "I think we're trying...