nationals

David Huzzard: Too early to judge impact of Harper's return

July 03, 2013, 5:25am

Baseball is not a momentum sport. Score 13 one night, 10 the next and then get shut out. The only thing predictable about baseball is that on any given night it is unpredictable. The best player on the team will go 0-for-4, while a fill-in scrub has a career night, and all of this is why no one analyzing the game puts any merit into what happens in one night, one week or even one month. For three months now, the Nationals have hovered around .500. They struggled in April because Adam LaRoche,...

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Johnson would place no restrictions on Harper in All-Star game

July 02, 2013, 1:34pm

Nationals

Johnson would place no restrictions on Harper in All-Star game

Despite missing 31 games with a knee injury, outfielder Bryce Harper continues to be in the top four in National League outfield voting for the All-Star Game, which is July 16 at Citi Field. Harper returned to the lineup Monday for the first time since late May, cranking a solo homer in his first at-bat in a 10-5 Nationals victory over Milwaukee. Major League Baseball welcomed him back with open arms. Returning at the beginning of July, many started asking if Harper would play in the All-Star...

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Storen comes apart in the eighth (Nats lose 4-0)

July 02, 2013, 6:07pm

Nationals

Storen comes apart in the eighth (Nats lose 4-0)

Over the last five weeks, Drew Storen has reverted to his 2011 form, when he saved 43 games, struck out nearly a batter per inning and posted a 2.75 ERA. Storen had allowed an earned run in just one of his last 17 appearances coming into tonight and had talked about how he was feeling really confident against left-handed hitters lately, largely thanks to his improved feel of his changeup. Tonight, called upon to work the eighth inning in a scoreless game, Storen wasn't able to carry over...

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Nats sign seven international free agents

July 02, 2013, 5:22pm

Nationals

Nats sign seven international free agents

The international free agent signing period started today, and the Nationals have made a handful of moves within the first 24 hours, agreeing to terms with seven 16-year-olds. The Nats announced they've signed right-handed pitcher Edwin Adames, catcher Jose Cabello, right-handed pitcher Angel Guillen, left-handed pitcher Jose Jimenez, outfielder Victor Robles, outfielder Dany Rojas and catcher Edwin Trejos. In accordance with the Collective Bargaining Agreement, each team is now on a...

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Brewers can't touch the Strasburg curve, Nats can't give Strasburg runs (updated)

July 02, 2013, 4:44pm

Nationals

Brewers can't touch the Strasburg curve, Nats can't give Strasburg runs (updated)

Stephen Strasburg has thrown five scoreless innings tonight, allowing just two hits (one of which came on a blown call at first base) and walking two. He's struck out five Brewers, all five of which have been on the curveball, a pitch that has been truly filthy tonight. Strasburg has dialed the fastball up to 97 mph. He's thrown a few nasty changeups. But it's the curve that's been the money pitch against the Brewers, who had never faced Strasburg prior to tonight. Aramis Ramirez had his...

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Nationals agree to terms with seven international free agents

July 02, 2013, 5:12pm

Nationals

The Washington Nationals today agreed to terms with international free agents right-handed pitcher Edwin Adames, catcher Jose Cabello, right-handed pitcher Angel Guillen, left-handed pitcher Jose Jimenez, outfielder Victor Robles, outfielder Dany Rojas and catcher Edwin Trejos. Nationals Executive Vice President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo and Director of International Scouting Johnny DiPuglia made the joint announcement. Adames, 16, is a 6-foot-2, 190 lbs. native of...

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Detwiler good to start tomorrow, Haren could rejoin rotation next week

July 02, 2013, 1:29pm

Nationals

Detwiler good to start tomorrow, Haren could rejoin rotation next week

Davey Johnson wanted to wait until today before making the final determination that Ross Detwiler would be good to start tomorrow against the Brewers. Detwiler felt some stiffness in the left side of his lower back following his last start on Friday in New York, and while Detwiler came out of his side session yesterday feeling just fine, the Nats needed to see how the left-hander was today before ruling him good to go. Well, Detwiler feels fine today. So he's good to go. Detwiler's back...

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Today's Nationals lineup (with Brewers lineup)

July 02, 2013, 12:12pm

Nationals

The Nationals will use the same lineup as yesterday, with one obvious exception. The Nats will send Stephen Strasburg to the mound instead of Jordan Zimmermann. I know Zimmermann went 3-for-3 yesterday, but if he was in the lineup again today, we'd have some news on our hands. As for the eight position players in the batting order, I guess if it ain't broke, don't fix it. For the Nats: CF Denard Span RF Jayson Werth LF Bryce Harper 3B Ryan Zimmerman 1B Adam LaRoche SS Ian Desmond 2B...

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Nats outright Cole Kimball to Triple-A

July 02, 2013, 10:34am

Nationals

The Nationals have outrighted right-handed reliever Cole Kimball to Triple-A Syracuse, the team announced this afternoon. Kimball was already on Syracuse's roster, but outrighting him takes him off the 40-man roster, opening up a spot. The Nats now have 39 players on the 40-man roster. That does not include reliever Christian Garcia, who is on the 60-day disabled list and is currently on a rehab assignment with Syracuse. Kimball made his big league debut with the Nats in 2011, posting a...

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Another tease or the start of an offensive turnaround?

July 02, 2013, 6:34am

Nationals

Another tease or the start of an offensive turnaround?

It's impossible to see what the Nationals have done offensively the last two days and not wonder whether this is it. Has the offense finally woken up for good? Is this the stretch where things turn around and the Nats start playing to their ability, as Davey Johnson likes to put it? This just has to be where the offense kicks things into high gear, right? "Oh, I don't know," Jayson Werth said. "We'll see. One minute, we can't score a run. The next minute, we're scoring too many runs....

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Harper on the homer and his return

July 01, 2013, 8:21pm

Nationals

Bryce Harper stepped up to the plate at Nationals Park for the first time in a while, got a loud ovation from the crowd, looked at a ball out of the zone and then slugged the second pitch he saw for a solo homer. He sprinted around the bases, was greeted by smiles and high fives in the Nationals' dugout and then came out to the top step for a curtain call. Harper's first at-bat off the disabled list, one that came in the bottom of the first inning in tonight's 10-5 win over the Brewers,...

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Zimmermann earns 12th win in all-around fashion

July 01, 2013, 7:47pm

Nationals

Zimmermann earns 12th win in all-around fashion

Right-hander Jordan Zimmermann will remember this one for a while. He tied a career-high with 12 wins. It took him a whole season, and 32 starts, to reach 12 victories in 2012. He set a career-high with three hits in a game, scoring two runs, in a 3-for-3 performance at the plate. The Nationals held off the Brewers 10-5 behind Zimmermann's pitching and hitting. Handed an 8-0 lead, which has been rare for Zimmermann in his young career, he had to fight to hold off a couple of Milwaukee...

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With Harper returning, lineup comes together nicely for Johnson

July 01, 2013, 1:27pm

Nationals

With Harper returning, lineup comes together nicely for Johnson

For the first time it what seems like April, manager Davey Johnson got to put together a lineup that would make his counterpart in the other dugout pause. With the return of left fielder Bryce Harper from the disabled list, Johnson was able to put together one of the better power and contact combinations in quite a while to open the month of July. Denard Span CF Jayson Werth RF Bryce Harper LF Ryan Zimmerman 3B Adam LaRoche 1B Ian Desmond SS Anthony Rendon 2B Kurt Suzuki C Jordan Zimmermann...

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Johnson discusses Nats' 10-5 win

July 01, 2013, 7:48pm

Nationals

It didn't take more than 15 minutes into tonight's ballgame, Bryce Harper's first in over a month, for the 20-year-old outfielder to make his presence felt. Up with two outs in the bottom of the first, Harper took the first pitch he saw from Yovani Gallardo, then smoked the second on a line over the left-center field fence for a solo homer that got the Nationals rolling towards a 10-5 win. "Wouldn't you know it?" manager Davey Johnson said of Harper's theatrics. "We kinda expected...

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Nats beat Brewers 10-5

July 01, 2013, 6:11pm

Nationals

The Nationals scored 10 runs or more in one of their first 80 games this season. They've now reached the double-digit run mark on back-to-back days. First, it was a 13-2 romp over the Mets. Tonight, it was a 10-5 win over the Brewers. The last time the Nats put up at least 10 runs in consecutive games was June 26-28 of last year, when they actually scored double-digit runs in three straight games against the Rockies. Jayson Werth went 2-for-5 with five RBIs, Denard Span reached base three...

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Harper homers in first at-bat in 36 days (it's a ballgame again)

July 01, 2013, 3:31pm

Nationals

Harper homers in first at-bat in 36 days (it's a ballgame again)

Was there any doubt Bryce Harper would do something special in his return to the Nationals' lineup after missing 31 games while on the disabled list? If you were one to have those doubts, you must not have seen much of Harper over the last two seasons. In his first big league at-bat in 36 days, Harper took the first pitch he saw from Brewers starter Yovani Gallardo for a ball and then smoked a 93 mph fastball over the left field wall and into the visitors' bullpen for a solo home...

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Detwiler will make Wednesday start, Ramos continues rehab, Owings granted his release

July 01, 2013, 2:33pm

Nationals

Detwiler will make Wednesday start, Ramos continues rehab, Owings granted his release

The Nationals got Bryce Harper back today, and they're getting good news on a couple other banged-up players, as well. Ross Detwiler threw a bullpen session today and came out feeling just fine, according to manager Davey Johnson. Detwiler had felt some stiffness in the left side of his lower back after Friday's start against the Mets, and it looked for a bit like the Nats might need to skip his next turn in the rotation - this Wednesday - and go with long reliever Ross Ohlendorf instead....

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Harper reinstated from DL, Davis optioned (Werth hitting second, Rendon seventh)

July 01, 2013, 11:00am

Nationals

Harper reinstated from DL, Davis optioned (Werth hitting second, Rendon seventh)

He's back. The Nationals have activated outfielder Bryce Harper from the 15-day disabled list. To make room for Harper on the active roster, right-hander Erik Davis was optioned to Triple-A Syracuse. Harper, who missed the last 31 games with left-knee bursitis, is batting .287 with seven doubles, one triple, 12 home runs, 23 RBI, 25 walks and two stolen bases in 44 games this season. During his four-game rehab assignment between Single-A Potomac and Double-A Harrisburg, Harper batted .354...

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Harper on his return, Johnson on his lineup decisions

July 01, 2013, 1:50pm

Nationals

Harper on his return, Johnson on his lineup decisions

Around 2 p.m. today, while milling around the Nationals' clubhouse, Davey Johnson saw Bryce Harper, his 20-year-old outfielder who had missed the last 31 games while dealing with left-knee bursitis. "Is that really you?" Johnson asked Harper. "Are you OK? You ready to go?" Harper shook Johnson's hand. "Yeah, I'm ready," Harper said. Harper was reinstated from the disabled list today after a four-game rehab assignment, and he'll play left field and return to the Nationals'...

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Haren feels injury might've been more serious than he first thought

June 30, 2013, 6:45pm

Nationals

Haren feels injury might've been more serious than he first thought

Dan Haren will be - and has been - the first to admit that he hasn't thrown the ball well this season. We've seen Haren's brutal honesty on more than a few occasions this year, and he certainly isn't shy about telling you when he isn't getting the job done or pitching to the level he feels he should. But Haren was pleasantly surprised with how good he felt yesterday when he threw a bullpen session at Citi Field, his first time toeing the rubber since landing on the disabled last June 23...