nationals

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

September 16, 2013, 7:55am

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...

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At this point, every miscue looms large (plus shameless plug)

September 15, 2013, 5:42am

Nationals

At this point, every miscue looms large (plus shameless plug)

How big a hit did the Nationals' playoff hopes take yesterday with their loss to the Phillies coupled with the Reds and Pirates both winning? Their odds of reaching the postseason were cut from 5.5 percent entering yesterday's action to 1.5 percent as of this morning, per BaseballProspectus.com. It's too bad that the Nats are in this position in the first place, where one day in mid-September can be such a momentum-crusher. They've played so well over the last 4-5 weeks that it's weird...

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Bernadina leading off for Phillies, Zimmermann on mound in finale

September 15, 2013, 6:55am

Nationals

Bernadina leading off for Phillies, Zimmermann on mound in finale

Roger Bernadina will be leading off for the Phillies against his former team. Steve Lombardozzi will get the start for the Nationals at second base and bat eighth. Wilson Ramos will start his 23rd straight game behind the plate, the most for any catcher in the majors this season. For the Nationals: CF Denard Span 3B Ryan Zimmerman RF Jayson Werth LF Bryce Harper SS Ian Desmond 1B Adam LaRoche C Wilson Ramos 2B Steve Lombardozzi RHP Jordan Zimmermann For the Phillies: CF Roger...

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Johnson discusses Nats' 5-4 loss

September 14, 2013, 7:36pm

Nationals

At this point in the season, with the number of remaining games shrinking and the Nationals trying to scrap their way back into the playoff picture, Davey Johnson's bunch can't really afford to be losing ballgames. The Nats already knew coming into tonight's game against the Phillies that the Reds had won today, and a loss here at Nats Park would increase their deficit in the wild card race to 5 1/2 games with just 14 remaining. As hot as the Nats have been as of late and as hard as they...

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Gonzalez has a slip-up in the fifth (Nats lose 5-4)

September 14, 2013, 4:48pm

Nationals

Gonzalez has a slip-up in the fifth (Nats lose 5-4)

After four innings of scoreless ball tonight, Gio Gonzalez had worked 13 consecutive innings without allowing a run. Then came the fifth inning. The scoreless streak is now over, and the Nationals trail 4-1. Gonzalez allowed four runs on four hits in the fifth, with John Mayberry's solo shot to left tying the game 1-1 and Carlos Ruiz's bases-clearing, two-out double to right bringing in three more runs to give the Phillies their first lead of the night. Ruiz's double came on a...

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Gonzalez on Phillies in 5-4 loss: "They know everything you have"

September 14, 2013, 7:36pm

Nationals

Gonzalez on Phillies in 5-4 loss: "They know everything you have"

Saturday certainly was not what Gio Gonzalez wanted or expected after pitching a one-hitter in his last start against the Mets. In Saturday's start against the Phillies, Gonzalez allowed four runs on nine hits in six innings. He did battle through a couple of jams, but a four-run fifth inning helped put the Phillies over the edge. "Gio just had that one inning where he looked like he just lost his command," said manager Davey Johnson. "The big thing was the walk to (Chase) Utley. And...

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Moore starts at first vs. Hamels

September 14, 2013, 11:37am

Nationals

With the Nationals facing Phillies left-hander Cole Hamels tonight, Adam LaRoche will get the night off and Tyler Moore will start for the Nats at first base in the second game of this three-game set. LaRoche actually has pretty good numbers in his career against Hamels (.294 with four homers in 34 at-bats), but manager Davey Johnson will give the right-handed-hitting Moore the start at first in LaRoche's place tonight. Moore is 0-for-4 with three strikeouts and a walk against Hamels. Bryce...

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The latest Strasburg update; Detwiler still on track to return this season

September 14, 2013, 1:41pm

Nationals

The latest Strasburg update; Detwiler still on track to return this season

After taking yesterday and today off from throwing due to tightness in his right forearm, Stephen Strasburg is on track to play catch tomorrow at Nationals Park. Assuming all goes well during that session, Strasburg will throw a bullpen session Monday and then be in line to start Thursday, Sept. 19 against the Marlins. Strasburg was scratched from yesterday's scheduled start against the Phillies after feeling some tightness in his forearm during a throwing session Thursday in New York....

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Harper and Zimmerman on the increasing playoff odds

September 13, 2013, 7:37pm

Nationals

Harper and Zimmerman on the increasing playoff odds

Going into Monday night's game, the Nationals were eight games back of the Reds in the race for the final National League wild card spot. In just five days' time, the wild card deficit has been trimmed nearly in half. Five straight Nats wins combined with three Cincinnati losses in a five-day span has the Nationals 4 1/2 games out (four in the loss column) with 15 games left on Washington's schedule. Still, the Nats say they aren't getting caught up in the excitement of this recent...

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Ohlendorf continues to prove his value to Nats

September 14, 2013, 4:54am

Nationals

Ohlendorf continues to prove his value to Nats

The Nationals' postseason odds more than doubled with yesterday's results, jumping from 2.7 percent to 5.5 percent, according to both BaseballProspectus.com and CoolStandings.com. By no means is overcoming a 4 1/2-game deficit with 15 games remaining going to be easy. The Nats need to stay insanely hot and hope the Reds continue to flounder over the next two weeks. But 4 1/2 with 15 to go actually sounds somewhat attainable, or at least a heck of a lot more attainable than eight back with...

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Harper showing off arm with big plays out of left field

September 13, 2013, 7:29pm

Nationals

Harper showing off arm with big plays out of left field

Nationals left fielder Bryce Harper made two huge defensive plays in a span of five batters Friday night that severely crippled the Phillies' opportunity for big innings. The Nationals ended up downing the Phillies 6-1. Harper grew up playing catcher with his brother, Bryan, as a left-handed pitcher. At the College of Southern Nevada, Harper was the backstop for a playoff team. Now as a left fielder in his second season in the majors, he put his powerful arm on display from near the...

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Johnson discusses Nats' seventh straight win

September 13, 2013, 7:13pm

Nationals

Johnson discusses Nats' seventh straight win

The Reds just lost to the Brewers, meaning the Nationals are now 4 1/2 games back of the final National League wild card spot (four back in the loss column) with 15 games left. This is getting a bit more interesting. After tonight's 6-1 Nationals win over the Phillies, manager Davey Johnson was asked if he'd taken a peek out at the Reds score on the out-of-town scoreboard at any point tonight. The Nats skipper said that he hadn't, and was then told that Cincinnati was losing. "Oh,"...

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McCatty: Strasburg's forearm irritation not because he was trying new pitch

September 13, 2013, 2:30pm

Nationals

McCatty: Strasburg's forearm irritation not because he was trying new pitch

Nationals pitching coach Steve McCatty said Stephen Strasburg wasn't trying a new pitch in Thursday's bullpen session in New York. There was the possibility, raised by manager Davey Johnson today, that the reason Strasburg came down with the irritation in his throwing arm was because he had tried a new pitch in the throwing session. Strasburg was scratched from Friday's scheduled start with right forearm tightness. "I was standing there," McCatty said. "All pitchers play with grips all...

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Harper shows off his arm, Span extends his streak (Nats win 6-1)

September 13, 2013, 5:40pm

Nationals

Harper shows off his arm, Span extends his streak (Nats win 6-1)

Bryce Harper has two outfield assists in a two-inning span tonight, both on tremendous bullet throws in to second base, both of which wiped the leadoff hitter from the basepaths. In the fifth, Harper went into a slide to cut off a Freddy Galvis base hit before it got into the left field corner, then hopped to his feet and threw out Galvis at second. Steve Lombardozzi applied the tag to Galvis after the Phillies' left fielder had slid past the bag, and Harper pumped his fist as he saw second...