nationals

Bryce Harper ejected in first inning (Gonzalez battles through six)

May 05, 2013, 10:00am

PITTSBURGH - Bryce Harper's second career ejection came just 14 pitches into this afternoon's ballgame. With two outs in the top of the first, Harper tried to check his swing on a two-strike curveball from Wandy Rodriguez. Third base umpire John Hirschbeck rung Harper up, and Harper threw his hands up in the air in frustration. Hirschbeck then imitated Harper's reaction, throwing his hands up in a similar fashion. Harper stood at the plate staring at Hirschbeck while home plate umpire Bob...

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Span back in Nats lineup, Ramos starts again

May 05, 2013, 8:35am

Nationals

Span back in Nats lineup, Ramos starts again

PITTSBURGH - After missing yesterday's game with a sore right ankle/foot, Denard Span has returned to the Nationals lineup for this afternoon's series finale at PNC Park. Span nearly fell to the ground when he woke up yesterday morning, the pain in his lower ankle area having intensified overnight. He got a day of rest yesterday and woke up this morning feeling much better. He'll return to the leadoff spot and play center field. Jayson Werth will miss his third straight game with left...

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A step in the right direction

May 05, 2013, 5:55am

Nationals

PITTSBURGH - OK, so the Nationals stranded 11 runners, went 1-for-10 with runners in scoring position and gave up four runs on two Pirates homers off Stephen Strasburg in yesterday's win. But let's look at the positives. The Nats twice came from behind to tie yesterday's game. They put 15 runners on base, thanks to six hits, six walks and three hit batters. They got seven strong innings from Strasburg, who looked completely healthy and attacked the zone, needing just 95 pitches to get...

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Zimmerman, LaRoche steal one from Pirates

May 04, 2013, 5:24pm

Nationals

Zimmerman, LaRoche steal one from Pirates

PITTSBURGH - Standing in the batter's box with the score tied, Ryan Zimmerman on second and Adam LaRoche at first in the top of the ninth inning, Tyler Moore figured he'd need a base hit to drop somewhere for Zimmerman to come around with the go-ahead run. "I would have thought those were the last two guys who were going to steal," Moore said after the Nationals' 5-4 win. Moore certainly wasn't alone. Pirates left-hander Tony Watson, on to try and keep the game tied in the ninth,...

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Johnson discusses Nats' 5-4 win

May 04, 2013, 4:32pm

Nationals

PITTSBURGH - The Nationals now have a 1.000 winning percentage after Davey Johnson-called team meetings this season. And his players are going to give him a little crap about it. Jordan Zimmermann approached Johnson following today's 5-4 win over the Pirates and shot a one-liner at his skipper. "Same time tomorrow?" Zimmermann quipped. Following his session with reporters, Johnson walked by Ian Desmond's locker. "Meeting of the year," Desmond said, his comment oozing with sarcasm....

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Davey Johnson holds closed-door team meeting (with Span update)

May 04, 2013, 11:33am

Nationals

Davey Johnson holds closed-door team meeting (with Span update)

PITTSBURGH - Davey Johnson held a closed-door team meeting this afternoon in the visitors' clubhouse at PNC Park. Before he did so, however, the 70-year-old Johnson went into the batting cage in the tunnel - sans batting gloves, as always - and took about 40 swings, more than he had in decades and so many that he left the cage with a blister on his left hand. "I wanted to see if it was that hard to still hit a baseball," Johnson deadpanned. The Nationals, picked by many as a World Series...

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Knotted up late in Pittsburgh (Nats win 5-4)

May 04, 2013, 2:49pm

Nationals

Knotted up late in Pittsburgh (Nats win 5-4)

PITTSBURGH - Stephen Strasburg gave the Nationals seven solid if not spectacular innings, and we're still tied 4-4 heading to the ninth here in Pittsburgh. The Nats have gone 1-for-9 with runners in scoring position and have left 10 on base. Seven of those 10 have been in innings 6-8. At least they're getting guys on and giving themselves chances to drive runners in, however. That's something that was lacking in a handful of the Nats' recent losses. They've also walked six times and...

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Strasburg attacking but trailing (a missed opportunity for Moore)

May 04, 2013, 1:04pm

Nationals

Strasburg attacking but trailing (a missed opportunity for Moore)

PITTSBURGH - Through three innings, Stephen Strasburg has looked strong and healthy. He's been attacking hitters, throwing his fastball 94-96 mph and not showing any signs of the irritation in his forearm that led him to shake his throwing arm consistently during his last outing. Strasburg and the Nationals also trail 2-1 after three innings. After setting down six straight hitters, with two swinging strikeouts in that span, Strasburg allowed a Clint Barmes bloop single leading off the...

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Span out of Nats lineup, Espinosa leading off

May 04, 2013, 8:30am

Nationals

Span out of Nats lineup, Espinosa leading off

PITTSBURGH - A day after fouling a ball off his right ankle, Denard Span is out of the Nationals' lineup. Danny Espinosa will move into the leadoff spot for this afternoon's 4:05 p.m. game against the Pirates, and Roger Bernadina will play center with Span out. Span had a bandage on his right ankle, directly above the top of his foot, after last night's game. He played all nine innings last night but looked to be favoring the ankle a bit after the game. Jayson Werth will miss his second...

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Not scoring many runs, not getting many breaks

May 04, 2013, 12:24am

Nationals

Not scoring many runs, not getting many breaks

PITTSBURGH - Since some of you might have missed the stats I shared last night on Andrew McCutchen's dominance against the Nationals, I feel the need to pass them along again. Sorry. While it might sting to look at these numbers, they're so ridiculous that I feel like they have to be shared. In 24 career games against the Nats, McCutchen is batting .456 (41-for-89) with 11 home runs, 22 RBIs and an insane 1.448 OPS. "He's not going to hit a home run every time," said Ross Detwiler, who...

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Nationals reinstate Ryan Zimmerman from 15-day disabled list

May 03, 2013, 10:27am

Nationals

The Washington Nationals today recalled from rehab and reinstated third baseman Ryan Zimmerman from the 15-Day Disabled List and optioned third baseman Anthony Rendon to Harrisburg of the Double-A Eastern League. Nationals Executive Vice President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcement. Zimmerman, 28, rejoins the Nationals after being placed on the 15-Day DL on April 21 (retroactive to April 18) with a left hamstring strain. He missed 14 games, during...

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Johnson: "We just need to man up"

May 03, 2013, 7:10pm

Nationals

PITTSBURGH - The Nationals struck out 14 times in tonight's 3-1 loss to the Pirates. Seven of those 14 were looking. They scored one run, marking the 11th time in 13 games that they've had three or fewer runners cross the plate. They're currently sixth-worst in the majors in runs scored. This is a Nationals club that feels it has the talent to be one of the top offensive teams in the league. It's just not happening right now. "I think we're kind of hitting rock bottom," Johnson said....

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Reactions from Detwiler, LaRoche and Zimmerman after 3-1 Nats loss

May 03, 2013, 7:44pm

Nationals

Reactions from Detwiler, LaRoche and Zimmerman after 3-1 Nats loss

PITTSBURGH - Ross Detwiler didn't get smacked all over PNC Park tonight. He allowed three runs and six hits over five innings. Far from a terrible outing, but not good enough for a win. Part of that falls on Detwiler, part of it falls on the Nationals' offense, which managed very little off A.J. Burnett, Mark Melancon and Jason Grilli in the Nats' 3-1 loss. "I mean, a loss is a loss, no matter what it is," Detwiler said. "I think (my) last three were losses. It's kind of tough to take...

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Don't pitch to Andrew McCutchen (Nats lose 3-1)

May 03, 2013, 4:25pm

Nationals

Don't pitch to Andrew McCutchen (Nats lose 3-1)

PITTSBURGH - Get ready for some offensive numbers that will wow you. They might also make you shake your head in disgust. Over 24 career games against the Nationals, Pirates center fielder Andrew McCutchen is now batting .455 with 11 home runs and 22 RBIs. McCutchen has gone 2-for-2 tonight with a solo home run and a single, accounting for the lone Pirates run off Ross Detwiler and two-thirds of Pittsburgh's hits on the evening. It was really enjoyable watching McCutchen take cuts in the...

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Now completely healthy, Marrero shows off bat again

May 03, 2013, 6:42pm

Nationals

Now completely healthy, Marrero shows off bat again

The torn hamstring stunted first baseman Chris Marrero's season before it really ever got started in 2012. His shoulder and hamstring slowed him down for much of the time and he never was able to feel 100 percent healthy for long periods of time last season. Following 127 games for Triple-A Syracuse in 2011, he had to fight back from injury in 2012. Marrero ended up playing only 37 contests with the Chiefs last season. So it certainly had to be refreshing for Marrero to work his way through...

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Zimmerman discusses his throwing, injury history

May 03, 2013, 3:07pm

Nationals

Zimmerman discusses his throwing, injury history

PITTSBURGH - After going without seeing live pitching for 13 days while sidelined with a strained left hamstring, Ryan Zimmerman made a one-day rehab appearance with high Single-A Potomac on Thursday, getting three at-bats and playing six innings in the field. It wasn't a lengthy rehab assignment, by any means, but Zimmerman thinks he accomplished all he needed to during that one day with the P-Nats in order for him to be game ready tonight. He was activated off the disabled list this...

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Werth out of Nats lineup, Espinosa and Zimmerman return

May 03, 2013, 11:26am

Nationals

Werth out of Nats lineup, Espinosa and Zimmerman return

PITTSBURGH - As expected, Jayson Werth is out of the Nationals' lineup tonight a day after tweaking his hamstring in the fourth inning of the Nats' win over the Braves. Werth left the game after four innings and was replaced by Roger Bernadina in right field. The Nats don't think that Werth will need to land on the DL, but he'll get at least today off as he tries to let that ailing hamstring heal. This is now the third time in the Nats' last four contests that Werth has been out of the...

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Nationals' first selection in June draft not until No. 68

May 03, 2013, 9:15am

Nationals

Major League Baseball released the draft order for the 2013 First-Year Player Draft set for Thursday, June 6. The Houston Astros will have the No. 1 overall selection. The Nationals do not have a selection in the first round this season. The Nationals forfeited that late round selection because they signed pitcher Rafael Soriano. The Yankees picked up a compensatory pick for the loss of Soriano. New York has three selections in the first round at No. 26, No. 32 and No. 33. The pick the...

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Zimmerman reinstated, Rendon optioned to Double-A

May 03, 2013, 10:36am

Nationals

Zimmerman reinstated, Rendon optioned to Double-A

PITTSBURGH - It's official - the Nationals have reinstated third baseman Ryan Zimmerman from the 15-day disabled list and optioned Anthony Rendon to Double-A Harrisburg. Zimmerman had been on the disabled list since April 18 with a left hamstring strain. He missed 14 games. His rehab stint was a short one. Zimmerman appeared in just one game with high-A Potomac, getting three at-bats and going 0-for-3. That's apparently all he needed before feeling he was ready to return. Zimmerman is...

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Rendon returns to the minors, but does so with valuable new experience

May 03, 2013, 8:30am

Nationals

Rendon returns to the minors, but does so with valuable new experience

PITTSBURGH - With Ryan Zimmerman ready to come off the disabled list today after missing the last 15 days with a hamstring strain, Anthony Rendon's first taste of the major leagues has come to an end. Rendon will return to Double-A Harrisburg's roster today, going back to the long bus rides and cramped clubhouses that minor league ball offers. But he'll go back with eight big league games and 30 plate appearances under his belt, and a sampling of what life is like on the big stage. "It...