nationals

Could Strasburg tally another career first? (Strasburg shuts out Phillies)

August 11, 2013, 3:28pm

Through seven scoreless innings tonight, Stephen Strasburg has thrown just 82 pitches. He's struck out 10, surrendered just four hits and a walk and failed to allow a runner into scoring position. Strasburg has notched a number of firsts this season, and he could be in line for another. His first career complete game is well within reach. This is now Strasburg's 10th career double-digit strikeout game, but despite the strikeouts, the pitch count has remained relatively low. Strasburg has...

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Werth keeps on raking, Strasburg is cruising (the lead increases)

August 11, 2013, 2:08pm

Nationals

Werth keeps on raking, Strasburg is cruising (the lead increases)

I've never been too good at math, but I'm pretty sure Jayson Werth now has 1,001 hits for his career. End one game at 1,000 hits and deliver an RBI single to center in your first at-bat the next night, and I think that leaves us at 1,001. Feel free to double-check the numbers for me. Werth continues to rake, delivering a run-scoring single off Kyle Kendrick in the first inning that quickly broke a scoreless tie and put the Nationals up 1-0. Stephen Strasburg has kept the score right there...

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A handful of pregame notes

August 11, 2013, 11:46am

Nationals

OK, one more Jayson Werth stat, and then I'm done for now. Since July 1, Werth has a .404 batting average, which is the best in the majors by quite a wide margin. The Rangers' Adrian Beltre ranks second in batting average since July 1 with a .372 mark, and the Tigers' Victor Martinez is right behind Beltre at .371. But Werth's hot streak over the last six weeks or so crushes just about anyone else's in the game. With one more save, Rafael Soriano will notch the third 30-save campaign of...

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Lombardozzi starting at second base as Nats go for sweep

August 11, 2013, 9:30am

Nationals

Lombardozzi starting at second base as Nats go for sweep

The Nationals will shoot for the sweep in this three-game series against the Phillies this evening, with Stephen Strasburg (5-9, 3.01 ERA) taking the ball for the Nats and right-hander Kyle Kendrick (9-8, 4.29) going for the Phils. Steve Lombardozzi will play second base for the Nats today, with Anthony Rendon getting a day off. This will be Wilson Ramos' eighth time starting behind the plate in the Nats' last nine games. For the Nats CF Denard Span 3B Ryan Zimmerman LF Bryce Harper RF...

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Examining some remarkable Werth numbers

August 11, 2013, 6:16am

Nationals

Stop whatever it is you're doing, folks. I've got some shocking news to pass along. The Atlanta Braves actually lost a game yesterday, snapping their 14-game winning streak. Apparently the Upton brothers and their teammates are human, after all. With that Atlanta loss and the Nationals' win over the Phillies, yesterday marked the first time since all the way back on July 25 that the Nats actually made up ground on the Braves. The Nats have now won two games in a row, and the deficit in...

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Werth and Harper on the homer, the squeeze and the Gatorade attack

August 10, 2013, 7:55pm

Nationals

Werth and Harper on the homer, the squeeze and the Gatorade attack

Batting practice pitcher Ali Modami informed Jayson Werth after his sixth-inning single that the outfielder was one hit away from 1,000 for his career. Werth didn't need to wait long before putting himself in that thousand-hit club. Just an inning later, Werth launched a two-run homer to left, giving the Nationals their first lead of the game and pushing Werth into four-digit-hit territory for his career. "Definitely a milestone," Werth said. "When you set out playing this game however...

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Johnson discusses Nats' 8-5 win

August 10, 2013, 7:19pm

Nationals

As if it wasn't enough that Jayson Werth continued his lengthy hot streak with a two-run go-ahead homer in the seventh that lifted the Nationals to victory tonight, it just happened to be Werth's 1,000th career hit and it just happened to come against the 34-year-old's former team. Quite a memorable set of circumstances for Werth, who earned a curtain call after the home run and ended up going 3-for-5 with three RBIs in the Nats' 8-5 win over the Phillies. On the season, Werth is now...

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Johnson believes Span leading off and LaRoche down in the order will lead to offensive success

August 10, 2013, 1:29pm

Nationals

Johnson believes Span leading off and LaRoche down in the order will lead to offensive success

Manager Davey Johnson went back to Denard Span as his leadoff hitter on Aug. 6 against the Braves. With Span starting to hit again and get on base, Johnson felt it was the best time to go back to the way the lineup should have been aligned. Span has led off and third baseman Ryan Zimmerman has batted second for three straight games. They will be in the same spots again Saturday against the Phillies. "Scoring nine runs, man, I am staying right there," Johnson said. Johnson admitted that...

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Werth's 1,000th career hit is a doozy (Nats win 8-5)

August 10, 2013, 5:38pm

Nationals

Werth's 1,000th career hit is a doozy (Nats win 8-5)

Just one pitch after Bryce Harper's popped-up bunt turned into a game-tying safety squeeze, Jayson Werth reached the 1,000-hit mark in style. Werth lofted the first pitch of Zach Miner's outing just over the left field wall, giving the Nationals a 6-4 lead. The Nats right fielder got greeted warmly upon his return to the dugout, and the fans got in on the act, as well, requesting a curtain call. Werth obliged, bounding out of the dugout and giving the fans a wave. The fact that his 1,000th...

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A Ruf inning for Jordan (the deficit is trimmed further)

August 10, 2013, 3:52pm

Nationals

A Ruf inning for Jordan (the deficit is trimmed further)

After facing the minimum in his first inning of work tonight, Taylor Jordan nearly didn't get out of the second. Jordan allowed four runs on five hits in the second inning, allowing nine Phillies hitters to come to the plate and forcing the Nationals bullpen into action early. Darin Ruf delivered the big blow for the Phillies, crushing the first pitch he saw from Jordan out to left for a two-run homer. It was Ruf's sixth longball of the season, and marked just the third homer Jordan has...

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On Jordan's innings limit and plans for Ohlendorf

August 10, 2013, 1:56pm

Nationals

On Jordan's innings limit and plans for Ohlendorf

Two years ago, in his first full year back from Tommy John surgery, Jordan Zimmermann was shut down at 161 1/3 innings. Last season, Stephen Strasburg was shut down after 159 1/3 innings. This year, it's Taylor Jordan that the Nationals are putting on an innings limit as he comes back from 2011 Tommy John surgery. Jordan, the 24-year-old right-hander who gets the ball for the Nats tonight, is already at 131 innings between two minor league affiliates and the Nats this season, meaning he...

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Nats, Phillies lineups

August 10, 2013, 11:42am

Nationals

Taylor Jordan gets a tough test tonight, matching up against Phillies starter Cliff Lee and his 3.13 ERA in game two of this three-game set between the Nationals and Phils. Lee has fared well against the Nats over the course of his career, but the Nats got to him for four homers (all solo shots) the last time they faced the left-hander, in Philly back on July 10. The Nats won that game 5-1. Jordan's team-imposed innings limit is quickly approaching; he said after his last outing he thought...

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Some leftovers from last night

August 10, 2013, 6:18am

Nationals

Dan Haren's 2013 season is starting to directly mirror his 2012 campaign. Awful start to the season, DL stint in June/July, really strong finish. It was that strong finish last season (Haren pitched to a 2.76 ERA over his final seven starts with 34 strikeouts to five walks) that convinced the Nationals that Haren still had plenty of left in the tank and led to them giving him a one-year, $13 million deal this offseason. The way Haren has pitched the last month (he's the owner of a 2.43...

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Haren: "I was a bad start or two away from getting released. That's just the truth"

August 09, 2013, 7:21pm

Nationals

Haren: "I was a bad start or two away from getting released. That's just the truth"

When you look at the numbers, the about-face really is remarkable. In his first 15 starts of the season, Dan Haren posted a 6.15 ERA, 1.44 WHIP and was averaging 2.09 home runs per nine innings. He went on the DL with right shoulder inflammation, got a cortisone shot, and took some time to get right mentally. In his last six starts for the Nationals, Haren has pitched to a 2.43 ERA, 1.13 WHIP and has allowed 0.49 home runs per nine innings. "This is definitely more like it," Haren said...

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LaRoche and Zimmerman on getting to old teammate Lannan in 9-2 win

August 09, 2013, 7:02pm

Nationals

LaRoche and Zimmerman on getting to old teammate Lannan in 9-2 win

The Nationals were finally able to solve their old teammate, John Lannan, in a 9-2 win at Nationals Park. The Nationals pounded out 12 hits, nine of them off of Lannan, including a two-run homer by Anthony Rendon, a solo shot by Ryan Zimmerman and two hits and an RBI courtesy Adam LaRoche. Lannan had gone 1-0 with a 1.38 ERA in two starts in Philadelphia this season versus the Nationals, surrendering only two earned runs in those 13 innings. Facing the left-hander, manager Davey Johnson put...

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Social Media Weekend continues Saturday at Nats Park

August 09, 2013, 6:27pm

Nationals

Social Media Weekend continues Saturday at Nats Park

One day of Social Media Weekend is in the books. We rewarded fans for their social media usage Friday, providing people who tweeted at us and tagged their Instagram photos with signed gear, seat upgrades and more. And we're at it again Saturday. Check out what's on deck by looking at the schedule below. Even if you can't make it to Nats Park, we're offering chances to win some great prizes for all of our social media followers. You can enter to win lunch with Gio Gonzalez here....

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Johnson on Haren's turnaround, offensive breakthrough

August 09, 2013, 6:46pm

Nationals

Johnson on Haren's turnaround, offensive breakthrough

The happy moments have been few and far between for the Nationals lately, but tonight was a chance to revel in an offensive explosion and another stellar outing from a well-liked guy who has completely turned his season around in the last month. The Nats pounded out nine runs on 12 hits in tonight's 9-2 win over the Phillies, and they got seven innings of two-run ball from Dan Haren, who has a 2.43 ERA in six starts off the DL. "Well that's more like it. I can sleep now," Davey Johnson...

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Lannan getting a rude welcome back to D.C. (Nats win 9-2)

August 09, 2013, 4:00pm

Nationals

Lannan getting a rude welcome back to D.C. (Nats win 9-2)

Coming into tonight's game, John Lannan had allowed just two runs in 13 innings against the Nationals this season. Back in D.C. for the first time since being non-tendered by the Nats last winter, Lannan is getting smacked around pretty good early on. The Nats have put up four runs on six hits through just three innings, with Anthony Rendon and Ryan Zimmerman combining to do the bulk of the damage. Rendon crushed a 2-2 Lannan fastball just over the high wall in center field for his sixth...

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Johnson on failing to meet expectations, where blame should lie

August 09, 2013, 2:39pm

Nationals

Johnson on failing to meet expectations, where blame should lie

After Wednesday's loss to Atlanta, a defeat that wrapped up a three-game sweep at the hands of the Braves, we started to see the tone change in comments by Nationals players. Gone was the talk about how the Nats had too much talent to be playing at such a mediocre pace for much longer. Gone were the comments about how the National League East title was still up for grabs. At 15 1/2 games back in the division and nine out of the final wild card, the Nats are starting to see that their chances...

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Updates on LaRoche, Ohlendorf, Detwiler and Porter

August 09, 2013, 1:48pm

Nationals

Updates on LaRoche, Ohlendorf, Detwiler and Porter

A handful of Nationals players and staff used their off day yesterday to hit the links, playing in a tournament hosted by the Lerner family. Manager Davey Johnson was one of those who participated, and he struck it pretty well, posting four bogeys and a birdie on the front nine. "Just sweet-stroking it," Johnson said. Johnson had to take the last few holes off because his back was starting to act up, but even at 70 years old, he was able to out-drive Jordan Zimmermann for much of the...