nationals

Johnson on Reds, Pirates, Rick Schu and young pitchers

September 18, 2013, 1:51pm

Manager Davey Johnson has been asked many times the last few weeks if he has checked the scoreboard. Today, Johnson was asked if he thought the Reds and Pirates were checking to see how the Nationals are doing. "They are watching it," Johnson said. 'There is no doubt about it. But it always goes down to what you do today. You only worry about things you can control. I am assuming the Reds are going to beat the Astros. Unless our boy (Brad) Peacock has a great game and tries to hand...

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Roark possibly laying claim to a 2014 rotation spot

September 18, 2013, 4:55am

Nationals

Roark possibly laying claim to a 2014 rotation spot

Is it too soon to start looking toward next season when the Nationals are still in the mix for a playoff spot, sitting 4 1/2 games back of the Reds with 11 to play? Maybe so. The Nats are red-hot, having now won 21 of their last 27 games, and they've, at the very least, made these final couple weeks pretty darn interesting as we see how things shake out in the standings. It wasn't too long ago that some were questioning whether the Nats would even break the .500 mark this season. Now...

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Nationals need stay on a wining run and get some help

September 18, 2013, 8:33am

Nationals

If the Nationals somehow find a way to make October's postseason, they could be the favorite to go to the World Series. They are the hottest team in the National League. The question is whether they will have enough time to complete their comeback. The best-case scenario is that the Nationals win their final 11 games and finish with 92 victories. Pittsburgh has 87 wins and the Reds 86. The Nationals winning their final 11 games isn't out of the question, but 9-2 is more realistic, especially...

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David Huzzard: The Nationals' place in D.C. baseball history

September 18, 2013, 5:27am

Nationals

According to the modern baseball catalog of knowledge, Baseball Reference, the official major league history of Washington baseball began in 1884 with the Washington Nationals and the Washington Statesmen playing that season. The Nationals finished with a record of 47-65 and the Statesmen were 12-51. That would turn out to be a fitting beginning to Washington baseball history. There would be two more defunct franchises and neither of them would have a winning season, and then in 1901 Ban...

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When Braves pitch to Span, outfielder comes through

September 17, 2013, 1:35pm

Nationals

When Braves pitch to Span, outfielder comes through

Nationals center fielder Denard Span extended his career-high hitting streak to 27 games with a base hit in the second inning, but he will prefer to tell you about his grounder that went through the legs of Braves shortstop Andrelton Simmons. The error by Simmons allowed two runs to score as the Nationals secured a 6-5 comeback victory over the first-place Atlanta Braves. And more astounding, the Nationals did it against Braves closer Craig Kimbrel, who arrived with a 1.04 ERA and National...

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Tremendous postgame quotes from Haren (plus game two lineups)

September 17, 2013, 1:49pm

Nationals

Tremendous postgame quotes from Haren (plus game two lineups)

Dan Haren got robbed of a win today when the Braves came back to take a late lead in the first game of today's doubleheader. But the veteran right-hander couldn't seem to care much less about that. Given all that happened in the D.C. community yesterday with the tragic shooting at the Navy Yard, just blocks from Nats Park, Haren was more concerned with boosting fans' spirits and giving everyone a reason to smile again. And while his six innings of one-run ball weren't enough to lead the...

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Johnson on Roark's dominance and Nats' 4-0 win

September 17, 2013, 6:53pm

Nationals

Johnson on Roark's dominance and Nats' 4-0 win

As Davey Johnson sat down for his postgame press conference after tonight's 4-0 Nationals win, a win that wrapped up a doubleheader sweep of the Braves, Johnson asked the question that most Nats fans were probably asking themselves tonight. "Well, how 'bout Tanner Roark?" Johnson said with a smile. Yeah, how 'bout him? Roark improved to 7-0 with a win tonight after throwing seven scoreless innings, allowing just two hits and a walk and striking out six. His ERA as a big leaguer now sits...

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

September 17, 2013, 4:13pm

Nationals

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

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...