nationals

Having trouble getting to Harvey (Nats come back to win 6-4)

June 28, 2013, 4:32pm

NEW YORK - The hits might be few and far between for the Nationals tonight. That is, if they come at all. Mets right-hander Matt Harvey has been perfect through four innings so far, striking out six and making Nats hitters look pretty silly in the process. Five of Harvey's strikeouts have been of the swinging variety. He got Denard Span and Anthony Rendon swinging to open the game, showing both 98 mph fastballs and then getting them to flail at offspeed pitches (the curve got Span, the...

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What Johnson wants to see from Detwiler

June 28, 2013, 3:21pm

Nationals

NEW YORK - It's been a bit of an ongoing back and forth. Davey Johnson talks about wanting to see Ross Detwiler mix his pitches a bit more, and Detwiler goes out and has success throwing nearly almost entirely two- and four-seam fastballs. Lately, however, Detwiler hasn't had as much success. He has an 8.59 ERA in three starts since coming off the DL, and after Detwiler's last start, Johnson said that a major factor in his rough outing against the Rockies was that he wasn't mixing his...

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Talking Strasburg and the lack of streaks

June 28, 2013, 5:35am

Nationals

Talking Strasburg and the lack of streaks

Here's the good news: The Nationals are looking like they've got three top-of-the-rotation starting pitchers right now. Jordan Zimmermann is tied for the major league lead with 11 wins and has a 2.28 ERA. Gio Gonzalez has bounced back from a rocky April and owns a 2.32 ERA over his last 10 starts. And after yesterday's outing, Stephen Strasburg has a 2.41 ERA on the season. Over his last eight starts (one of which was a two-inning, injury-shortened outing), Strasburg's ERA is a ridiculous...

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Harrisburg manager Lecroy on Harper: "He looked good"

June 27, 2013, 6:31pm

Nationals

Harrisburg manager Lecroy on Harper: "He looked good"

BOWIE, Md. -- Nationals outfielder Bryce Harper appears ready to return to the big league club as he rehabs from bursitis in his left knee. Harper played left field for Double-A Harrisburg on Thursday night in the 11-6 Senators win over the Bowie Baysox. It was his third rehab game of the week. He was supposed to play nine innings. If a regular game averages nine innings in three hours, Harper almost got that much work in time alone. Harper had four plate appearances in the first five...

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Nats, Mets lineups for series opener

June 28, 2013, 11:50am

Nationals

NEW YORK - Greetings from Citi Field on a slightly muggy but otherwise nice day. Looks like we'll avoid the storm clouds that apparently are hovering around those of you back in the mid-Atlantic region. There was a point where I wasn't sure whether I'd make it here at all. The cab driver I had take me to my hotel was quite possibly the worst driver I've ever seen. I'm not 100 percent sure he'd ever driven a car prior to today. Luckily, I'm here safe and sound. Tonight the Nationals...

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Harper staying with Harrisburg, Ramos close to returning, Taylor Jordan notes

June 28, 2013, 2:45pm

Nationals

Harper staying with Harrisburg, Ramos close to returning, Taylor Jordan notes

NEW YORK - Speaking following yesterday's game, Davey Johnson left the door open to the possibility that Bryce Harper would cut short his rehab assignment by a few days and join the Nationals in New York this weekend. That won't be happening. Harper is remaining with Double-A Harrisburg for the time being. Harper will get a day off today, but he'll still hit indoors and do some throwing. He'll be back in the lineup tomorrow against Bowie, and then if all goes well, could be ready to...

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Johnson discusses Nats' 3-2 loss to D-backs and Harper's status

June 27, 2013, 5:56pm

Nationals

Johnson discusses Nats' 3-2 loss to D-backs and Harper's status

As he sat down for his postgame press conference after tonight's 3-2, 11-inning loss to the Diamondbacks, Davey Johnson looked at reporters and slowly shook his head. The offensive production and clutch hitting that had been present in the Nationals' first two games of this series disappeared in today's series finale, and the Nats will hop on a flight up to New York tonight again the owners of a .500 record. You can't exactly blame the Nats for missing the chance to pick up a series sweep...

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Desmond gets the Nats going (Nats lose 3-2 in 11 innings)

June 27, 2013, 2:29pm

Nationals

Desmond gets the Nats going (Nats lose 3-2 in 11 innings)

Ian Desmond's first half continues to get more impressive. The Nationals shortstop cranked a two-run homer in the fourth inning today, his 13th of the season, that gave the Nats a 2-0 lead over the Diamondbacks. Desmond took a massive swing at an 0-1 slider from Arizona starter Patrick Corbin and came up empty. I think I felt the gust of wind from Desmond's hack up here in the press box, about 3,000 feet in the air. After working the count to 2-2, Desmond then got another slider, and he...

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Bryce Harper with two-run triple, walk in first two trips to plate at Bowie (updated twice)

June 27, 2013, 4:00pm

Nationals

Bryce Harper with two-run triple, walk in first two trips to plate at Bowie (updated twice)

BOWIE, Md. - Nationals outfielder Bryce Harper has continued to look ready to return to the big league club as he rehabs from bursitis in his left knee. Harper walked in the first inning against the Bowie pitcher Devin Jones. He scored from first on a Justin Bloxom double one batter later to give Double-A Harrisburg a 1-0 lead. In the second inning, Harper tripled to just left of center field. The ball rolled past the defender, scoring two runs as Harrisburg upped its advantage to 3-0....

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Perry outrighted, clearing spot for starter (Moore notes; we're under way)

June 27, 2013, 11:48am

Nationals

Perry outrighted, clearing spot for starter (Moore notes; we're under way)

The Nationals have outrighted right-hander Ryan Perry to Double-A Harrisburg, a move that drops Perry from the 40-man roster and clears a spot for the Nats to add a starter for Saturday's game against the Mets. Perry had already been pitching for Harrisburg, so this was strictly a procedural move. And while the Nats aren't officially willing to announce who will get the start on Saturday, we know who it will be. As has been speculated for much of this week, Taylor Jordan will get the ball,...

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Harper joins Harrisburg, likely to return to Nats Monday

June 27, 2013, 11:04am

Nationals

Harper joins Harrisburg, likely to return to Nats Monday

After kicking off his rehab assignment at high Single-A Potomac and playing two games with the P-Nats, Bryce Harper has moved on to Double-A Harrisburg. Harper has joined the Senators for their four-game series against Bowie, allowing him to jump up a level while also staying local. Harper, who is rehabbing from left knee bursitis, is scheduled to play 8-9 innings tonight, according to Nationals manager Davey Johnson. Assuming all goes well over these next few days and Harper doesn't suffer...

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On Zimmermann, Rendon, Espinosa and Owings

June 27, 2013, 7:00am

Nationals

On Zimmermann, Rendon, Espinosa and Owings

After three long days, my jury duty is complete, this following more than 7 1/2 hours of deliberation last night that caused me to miss another Nationals game. I'm all done now, however, and am ready to get back into the flow this afternoon as the Nats wrap up their three-game series with the Diamondbacks and then head up to New York for three against the Mets. While I didn't get to see last night's 3-2 Nats win, I'm studying the box score right now. Here's what it tells me: Jordan...

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Johnson: Rendon is "a good-looking young hitter"

June 26, 2013, 7:02pm

Nationals

Johnson: Rendon is "a good-looking young hitter"

Nationals second baseman Anthony Rendon is enjoying his second opportunity of the season back with the big club. On Wednesday, Rendon smacked a double and two singles while scoring a run in a 3-for-4 night, helping the Nationals edge the Diamondbacks 3-2. Rendon looks right at home in the batter's box. "That is where I feel most comfortable," Rendon said. "That is what I have been doing my whole life. I like to hit." Manager Davey Johnson said Rendon does not act like a rookie in the...

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Solano behind the plate in series finale vs. Diamondbacks

June 27, 2013, 10:45am

Nationals

Solano behind the plate in series finale vs. Diamondbacks

Davey Johnson is running out pretty much the same lineup today that he used in yesterday's 3-2 Nationals win over the Diamondbacks. Tyler Moore will get the start again in left field, this time against Arizona left-hander Patrick Corbin. The only change to yesterday's lineup is that Jhonatan Solano will be behind the plate, catching right-hander Stephen Strasburg. This should be a heck of a pitching matchup today, pitting two 2009 draft picks against one another. Strasburg (No. 1 overall...

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Harper's rehab moving to Double-A tonight, nine innings possible

June 27, 2013, 6:38am

Nationals

Harper's rehab moving to Double-A tonight, nine innings possible

If you believe what you read on Twitter, the high Single-A Potomac phase of Bryce Harper's minor league injury rehabilitation assignment is done. The Double-A Bowie Baysox, an affiliate of the Orioles, have tweeted that Harper will continue his recovery from left knee bursitis by playing for the Harrisburg Senators tonight and Saturday at Prince George's Stadium. Want to see Harper for yourself? Just follow the handy link for tickets. Nationals star Bryce Harper is scheduled to play in...

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Johnson, Zimmerman on 3-2 victory over D-backs (with Harper update)

June 26, 2013, 6:36pm

Nationals

Johnson, Zimmerman on 3-2 victory over D-backs (with Harper update)

Nationals manager Davey Johnson said the early matchup between starter Jordan Zimmermann and Arizona second baseman Aaron Hill was a battle that helped the Diamondbacks score first. Hill walked in front of Paul Goldschmidt, who slapped a run-scoring single to give the Diamondbacks an early 1-0 advantage. "We had a really tough at-bat with Hill, an 11-pitch or 12-pitch at-bat," Johnson said. "But (Zimmermann) misses so many bats. He just kind of settled down. He used all of his pitches...

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Dave Nichols: Fifth spot in rotation a headache for Nationals

June 26, 2013, 11:46am

Nationals

In no uncertain terms, Dan Haren has been an unmitigated flop for the Nationals this season. The 32-year-old veteran right-hander, signed to a one-year, $13 million contract over the offseason, has shown moments of competency, as in his four-hit, one-run win over Atlanta on May 2. But more often than not, he's been pounded by opposing batters, having lost his last six decisions. The Nats have not won a game he's started in his last eight starts. The move to officially place Haren on the...

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Updates on Harper, Ramos, Garcia and Zimmerman

June 26, 2013, 2:08pm

Nationals

Updates on Harper, Ramos, Garcia and Zimmerman

Nationals manager Davey Johnson did not get a full report on outfielder Bryce Harper's first rehab game. Harper had a double, a walk, a run scored and ran the bases hard. Johnson knew that Harper was not going to take it easy, even playing only three innings. "I knew he was going to do that," Johnson said. "Have you ever seen him jog to first? He hits a gapper, you think he is going to stop at first? No, he was going to try to hit and go to second." General manager Mike Rizzo said they...

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Diamondbacks jump out early vs. Zimmermann (Nats win 3-2)

June 26, 2013, 3:41pm

Nationals

Diamondbacks jump out early vs. Zimmermann (Nats win 3-2)

Arizona came out swinging in the first inning against Nationals ace Jordan Zimmermann, scoring two runs. Paul Goldschmidt smacked a RBI double and Martin Prado added an run-scoring single. Then quickly in the bottom of the first, Anthony Rendon started things with a single followed by a Ryan Zimmerman run-scoring double to cut the Diamondbacks lead to 2-1. Update: The Nationals tied the game in the fourth inning on a solo shot by Tyler Moore, his third homer of the season. Then in the fifth,...

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Nationals lineup vs. Arizona for Game 2

June 26, 2013, 11:27am

Nationals

The Nationals look for a series win tonight against the Arizona Diamondbacks with third baseman Ryan Zimmerman back in the lineup. Right-hander Jordan Zimmermann goes for the Nationals. Zimmermann is 10-3 with a 2.26 ERA. Arizona counters with left-hander Wade Miley, who is 4-6 with a 4.70 ERA. The Diamondbacks are 41-35 and have won four of their last six games. Martin Prado has hit safely in 12 of his last 14 games against the Nationals. For the Nationals: CF Denard Span 2B Anthony Rendon...