nationals

A lead, but a missed opportunity (Nats sweep doubleheader with 4-0 win)

September 17, 2013, 4:13pm

The Nationals hold a 1-0 lead after three innings tonight, thanks to Steve Lombardozzi's RBI single in the second, but they've already made two outs on the bases, one of which could have been easily prevented. After Tanner Roark's infield single leading off the third (which now makes the right-hander a spiffy 3-for-9 at the plate in his big league career), Denard Span shot a ground ball down to first base. Freddie Freeman gloved it and got the force at second, but shortstop Andrelton...

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Johnson discusses Nats' walk-off 6-5 win

September 17, 2013, 1:23pm

Nationals

Johnson discusses Nats' walk-off 6-5 win

The Nationals were three outs away from a brutal loss at the hands of the Braves, a defeat that would've delivered a big hit to their already-slim playoff hopes. They would've fallen to 5 1/2 games back in the wild card race. They would've given the Braves a chance to clinch the NL East title tonight with another win. They would've dropped to 4-13 this season against Atlanta. Instead, they came back against arguably the toughest closer in baseball, scoring three runs in the bottom of the...

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Clippard surrenders lead in eighth on Gattis homer (Nats win 6-5)

September 17, 2013, 11:29am

Nationals

Clippard surrenders lead in eighth on Gattis homer (Nats win 6-5)

The Nationals held a 1-0 lead three batters into their half of the first inning. They had a 3-0 lead after a full inning of play, and looked poised to knock Braves starter Mike Minor from the game early and pile on the runs. The Nats now trail 4-3 midway through the eighth, largely due to Tyler Clippard surrendering a two-run homer to Evan Gattis in the eighth, and largely due to their own inability to produce any kind of add-on offense. Clippard gave up a one-out walk to Freddie Freeman in...

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Minor issues for the Braves, Span keeps streaking (Haren goes six strong)

September 17, 2013, 10:06am

Nationals

Minor issues for the Braves, Span keeps streaking (Haren goes six strong)

Boy, did Mike Minor ever have some trouble in the first inning. The Braves starter faced eight hitters in the first. He walked three, allowed two hits and threw a wild pitch. The left-hander ended up surrendering three runs, and needed 39 pitches to finally get out of the first inning. Things were looking so shaky there for a little while that Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez needed to get someone up and warming in the bullpen before Minor was able to get out of the frame. After back-to-back...

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Strasburg set to start Thursday, plus Ramos, Desmond updates

September 17, 2013, 9:09am

Nationals

Strasburg set to start Thursday, plus Ramos, Desmond updates

Despite all that was going on around the Navy Yard area yesterday, a handful of players still made their way to Nationals Park to get in some work and prepare for the possibility of a game. Stephen Strasburg was one of them. Strasburg threw his scheduled bullpen session yesterday, and according to manager Davey Johnson, the Nationals' ace right-hander didn't feel any issues in his right forearm. Strasburg had been scratched from his start last Friday due to tightness in the forearm, but he...

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Johnson on returning to baseball after tragedy: "It keeps us sane"

September 17, 2013, 8:36am

Nationals

Johnson on returning to baseball after tragedy: "It keeps us sane"

The Nationals will get back to work today, playing two crucial games against the Braves in a split doubleheader, but they'll do so with yesterday's tragic shooting at the nearby Washington Navy Yard still on their minds. The vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Admiral James A. Winnefeld Jr., came through the Nationals clubhouse this morning, passing out U.S. Navy caps to players and thanking team staffers for opening Parking Lot B to allow for family members affected by the shooting...

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Braves-Nationals lineups for day portion of split doubleheader

September 17, 2013, 7:08am

Nationals

The lineups have been posted for Game 1 of today's split doubleheader between the Nationals and Braves. Nats righty Dan Haren faces Braves lefty Mike Minor in the 1:05 p.m. game, which will air on MASN HD. The Braves can clinch the National League East title with sweep of today's doubleheader, while the Nats are hoping they can cut into the five games between them and the Reds, who hold the second NL wild card. For the Braves: 2B Elliot Johnson RF Justin Upton 1B Freddie Freeman LF Evan...

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Monday's Braves-Nats game postponed; split doubleheader Tuesday (updated)

September 16, 2013, 11:15am

Nationals

Monday's Braves-Nats game postponed; split doubleheader Tuesday (updated)

In the wake of this morning's shootings at the Navy Yard in Washington, D.C., just blocks from Nationals Park, the Nationals have announced that tonight's game against the Braves has been postponed. It will be replayed tomorrow as part of a split doubleheader, with games at 1 p.m. and 7 p.m. The Nats released a statement, which reads as follows: "All of us here in the Nationals organization were deeply saddened to learn of the tragic events that occurred this morning only a few blocks...

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Let's play two

September 17, 2013, 4:15am

Nationals

While the Nationals postponed last night's game in the wake of the mass shooting at the Navy Yard just blocks from Nationals Park, the rest of the baseball world did play on yesterday. And the Nats wake up a half-game farther back in the National League wild card chase than they were this time yesterday. The Reds beat the Astros last night, pushing Cincinnati five games ahead of the Nats for the final NL playoff spot. The Nats remain four back in the loss column, and have 13 games remaining...

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Ted Leavengood: Keeping our Navy Yard neighbors in our prayers

September 17, 2013, 5:44am

Nationals

Ted Leavengood: Keeping our Navy Yard neighbors in our prayers

Events like those that transpired at the Navy Yard yesterday seem to plague our country with disturbing frequency. It is unfortunate that they happen at all, or that they happen in any neighborhood or any work place. But they came home yesterday to the Navy Yard, part of the neighborhood around Nationals Park. The most exciting thing happening Monday should have been the Braves series about to begin, but unspeakable tragedy intervened. The Navy Yard begins just across 1st Street from Nationals...

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Monday's Braves-Nationals game postponed, rescheduled for spit doubleheader Tuesday

September 17, 2013, 4:30am

Nationals

Tonight's Nationals-Braves game scheduled to begin at 7:05 p.m. at Nationals Park in Washington, D.C., has been postponed due to the tragic events that occurred earlier today. The team will play a split doubleheader on Tuesday, September 17 with tonight's make-up game beginning at 1:05 p.m. The second regularly scheduled game will begin at 7:05 p.m. All gates for the originally scheduled 7:05 p.m. game will open 1.5 hours after the last out of the 1:05 p.m. game or 6:00 p.m., whichever is...

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Statement from the Washington Nationals

September 16, 2013, 11:14am

Nationals

All of us here in the Nationals organization were deeply saddened to learn of the tragic events that occurred this morning only a few blocks from Nationals Park. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the victims and their families. In light of the circumstances, we have decided to postpone tonight's game against the Braves. Additional information will be distributed in the coming hours. The safety of our fans is our utmost priority. As we have throughout the day, the Nationals security...

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Video: Nats fan's legacy impacts D.C. community

September 15, 2013, 9:51am

Nationals

Video: Nats fan's legacy impacts D.C. community

For me, baseball is so much more than a job or a sport that I enjoy. Of the many memories I have from watching baseball, some of the best include ones bonding with my dad or the conversations I had with friends while watching a game. About a month ago, Dan Kolko introduced us to a story of Richard and Kent Wilson, a father and son who bonded over Nationals games while Richard was battling cancer. After Richard lost his battle, Kent touched the D.C. community by giving away their season...

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Navy Yard shooting could affect Braves-Nats game tonight (updated twice)

September 16, 2013, 7:55am

Nationals

Navy Yard shooting could affect Braves-Nats game tonight (updated twice)

Nationals players have been told to stay away from Nationals Park for the time being after today's tragic shooting at the Navy Yard in Washington, D.C., and we're awaiting word on how this situation might affect tonight's game between the Nats and Braves. According to media reports, two shooters "are down" after a massive police search of the Navy Yard, where at least 10 people were reportedly shot this morning, four of which were killed. Again, all that information is according to...

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Zimmermann pleased with outing, looking at big picture

September 15, 2013, 1:35pm

Nationals

Zimmermann pleased with outing, looking at big picture

It was another workmanlike effort for starter Jordan Zimmermann. Tossing seven innings, in which he had one strikeout in each frame, the Nationals right-hander held the Phillies to a pair of early runs and coasted to an 11-2 victory. Zimmermann picked up his National League-leading 18th victory, and the Nationals are now 21-9 in games he starts this season. "It feels good," said Zimmermann. "But, then again, I will trade all those wins in for a spot in the playoffs. That is the only thing...

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Johnson on Ramos' monster game and Nats' win

September 15, 2013, 2:23pm

Nationals

Johnson on Ramos' monster game and Nats' win

As we were conducting interviews in the Nationals' clubhouse after today's 11-2 Nats win, Brewers center fielder Carlos Gomez robbed Reds right fielder Jay Bruce of a home run to keep their game tied in the top of the ninth. The Nats' clubhouse exploded with excitement. Just minutes later, former Nats left-hander Zach Duke - now with the Reds - served up a walk-off homer to Sean Halton, and the Nats' deficit in the NL wild card race was suddenly cut to 4 1/2 games. The Nationals did...

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Here come the Braves

September 16, 2013, 4:18am

Nationals

The Nationals took full advantage of their soft schedule the last few weeks, going 14-5 during their 19-game stretch against the Marlins, Mets and Phillies. It was a crucial run of wins, and combined with a few slip-ups from the Reds recently, it's gotten the Nats back on the fringe of the wild card race. Yesterday's results - an 11-2 Nats beatdown of the Phillies and a dramatic walk-off win by the Brewers over the Reds - have brought Washington 4 1/2 games back of Cincinnati for the final...

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Dave Nichols: No room for error

September 16, 2013, 4:54am

Nationals

It's come to this for the Nationals. They have 13 games to play in the regular season and trail the Reds by 4 1/2 games for the final wild card spot. They are close enough to taste it, yet still far enough out that they aren't much more than a mathematical possibility at this point. It's excruciating to think that if the Nats had managed to play the Braves evenly this season, this would be a completely different discussion. The Nats are 4-12 against the Braves. If they'd gone 8-8, well,...

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Ramos discusses his hot streak and his heavy workload

September 15, 2013, 2:38pm

Nationals

Ramos discusses his hot streak and his heavy workload

Wilson Ramos is on a tear right now, and while he might be pretty tired after catching 23 straight games - the most of any catcher in the majors this season - he has no interest in resting right now. Ramos has five homers and 15 RBIs in his last eight games, and with the Braves coming in to town, the Nationals will need him in there. Here's a sampling of Ramos' postgame session with reporters after today's 11-2 win over the Phillies: On feeling like this was his best game as a major...

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Five-hit fourth puts Nats on top (Nats win 11-2)

September 15, 2013, 11:15am

Nationals

Five-hit fourth puts Nats on top (Nats win 11-2)

The Nationals had struck a handful of pitches well off Tyler Cloyd through the first three innings, but had very little to show for it. That changed in the fourth. The Nats put together five hits in a six-batter span in the fourth inning, turning a 2-1 deficit into a 4-2 lead. For the second time in two at-bats today, Bryce Harper started an inning with a leadoff double, and he again came around to score, this time on an Ian Desmond double off the left field wall. Two batters later, Wilson...