nationals

Nationals recall right-hander Aaron Barrett, option left-hander Xavier Cedeno to Triple-A Syracuse

April 22, 2014, 11:32am

The Washington Nationals today recalled right-handed reliever Aaron Barrett from Syracuse of the Triple-A International League and optioned left-handed reliever Xavier Cedeno to Syracuse. Nationals President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcement. In two appearances since being optioned to Triple-A on April 12, Barrett, 26, collected two saves and did not allow a run in 2.1 innings pitched. He surrendered just two hits, walked one and struck out two. ...

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Stuart Wallace: Could Werth be at start of defensive decline?

April 22, 2014, 6:19am

Nationals

Stuart Wallace: Could Werth be at start of defensive decline?

It's been a decidedly dismal start to the season for the Nationals defensively. They find themselves in sole possession of last place in the National League in terms of team fielding percentage, while also leading the NL in errors with 22 after last night's series opener against the Angels. This total would have been higher were it not for a scoring change of Yadier Molina's liner at Jayson Werth in Thursday's 8-0 loss to the St. Louis Cardinals -- a ball Werth either lost in the lights...

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Desmond and Clippard on what went wrong in the eighth inning

April 21, 2014, 7:42pm

Nationals

Desmond and Clippard on what went wrong in the eighth inning

Nationals shortstop Ian Desmond committed two errors in the Angels' decisive four-run rally in the eighth inning, leading to a 4-2 loss Monday night. Desmond's first error occurred when he bobbled a grounder near the bag at second which allowed Albert Pujols to reach base. With two outs, pinch-hitter Raul Ibanez slapped a game-changing three-run double, and Desmond picked up another error on an errant throw. "I feel bad, obviously, but what are going to do? keep on playing, I guess,"...

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Williams discusses Nats' 4-2 loss

April 21, 2014, 7:22pm

Nationals

Thanks to Tanner Roark's strong start and Angels starter Garrett Richards suddenly losing his control in the fourth inning, the Nationals led 1-0 heading to the top of the eighth inning tonight. The Angels then rattled off four runs off Tyler Clippard, and held on for a 4-2 win. All four of the runs Clippard allowed were unearned; they came in an inning which saw Ian Desmond commit two more errors, giving him nine on the season. The first miscue came on a grounder up the middle off the bat of...

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Some Easter Sunday leftovers

April 21, 2014, 5:09am

Nationals

There were quite a few encouraging things that the Nationals saw in yesterday's 3-2 walk-off win. Stephen Strasburg delivered a strong outing against a very tough Cardinals lineup, despite the fact he didn't use his slider and instead relied entirely on fastball/changeup/curve. The Nats scratched out 11 hits and drew seven walks, and did a good bit of that damage against St. Louis' bullpen. Jose Lobaton came alive with three hits. Rafael Soriano worked a clean, quick, dominant ninth inning....

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Harper and Trout understand hyped matchup, but focus is on winning

April 21, 2014, 2:35pm

Nationals

Harper and Trout understand hyped matchup, but focus is on winning

With the arrival of the Los Angeles Angels in D.C. comes the much anticipated matchup between 22-year-old Mike Trout and 21-year-old Bryce Harper. Trout was the 25th overall selection in 2009, while Harper arrived as the first overall pick in 2010. They have been linked because they are both considered power-hitting phenoms and are the faces of the next batch of young superstars to play in the majors. But Harper was not going to buy into the hype prior to Monday's first game of a three-game...

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Starting pitchers controlling game early (Angels win 4-2)

April 21, 2014, 4:04pm

Nationals

Starting pitchers controlling game early (Angels win 4-2)

The Nationals' Tanner Roark struck out three of the first four batters he faced in tonight's opening game of their three-game set with the Los Angeles Angels. The Angels got a pair of hits in the second and a walk, but Roark worked out of that with a strikeout of Angels starter Garrett Richards to end the inning. In the third, J.B. Shuck was originally called out at first on a grounder to second as he dove for the bag. The Angels requested a video replay review and the call was overturned....

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Nats lineup vs. Trout, Angels

April 21, 2014, 11:13am

Nationals

The Nationals open their first interleague series of the season tonight when they begin a three-game set against Mike Trout and the Angels at Nationals Park. This marks the first time Washington hosted the Angels since 2008 and the first time Bryce Harper and Trout will be on the same field during the regular season. Harper is batting second and playing left field. Tanner Roark starts for the Nats against Los Angeles right-hander Garrett Richards. Roark is seeking his first win since his...

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McLouth walk a key at-bat in walk-off winner for Nationals

April 21, 2014, 6:19am

Nationals

Outfielder Nate McLouth came up in the bottom of the ninth with two men on and one out against Cardinals reliever Seth Maness on Sunday. The Cardinals and Nationals were tied at 2-2. He played a key role in the series, salvaging a 3-2 walk-off winner for D.C. Maness started with three straight sinkers against McLouth, hoping to get him to bite. But McLouth hung in there, didn't swing, and got the count to 3-0. Then, Maness switched up his strategy. He threw a four-seam fastball for a called...

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Span, Strasburg, Harper and Werth react after walk-off win over Cardinals

April 20, 2014, 2:51pm

Nationals

Span, Strasburg, Harper and Werth react after walk-off win over Cardinals

The Nationals' comeback to beat the Cardinals 3-2 on a Denard Span sacrifice fly in the ninth gave them their sixth come-from-behind win this season. They split the four-game set with St. Louis, improving to 5-1 in series finales. The Nats left 17 men on base, but managed to come away with the victory. Span spoke about his at-bat against right-hander Seth Maness in the ninth with the bases loaded, one out and the game tied 2-2. The Cards played an extra man in the infield for Span's...

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Marty Niland: Espinosa's play should win fans' hearts as well as games

April 21, 2014, 4:11am

Nationals

Marty Niland: Espinosa's play should win fans' hearts as well as games

For those who are afraid the Nationals' 2014 season will be a sad repeat of 2013, take a good look at last weekend's four-game split with the St. Lois Cardinals. The knock on the Nats has been that they can rack up cheap wins at the expense of the Marlins and Mets, but come up up empty against teams they may ultimately have to contend with in the postseason, like the Braves and Cardinals. A week ago, they seemed to prove their critics right, dropping three games in Atlanta, showing the same...

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

April 20, 2014, 10:01am

Nationals

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

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...

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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...

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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...

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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...

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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...

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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...

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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....

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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)...

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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...