nationals

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

June 26, 2013, 7:02pm

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...

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Could LaRoche's power display be precursor to offensive burst? (with pitching note)

June 26, 2013, 7:37am

Nationals

Could LaRoche's power display be precursor to offensive burst? (with pitching note)

It was a changeup. All he was trying to do was get the ball in the air to get the runner home from third. The results were quite different. First baseman Adam LaRoche's three-run shot lifted the Nationals to a 5-0 advantage early versus the Diamondbacks last night. That kind of rush of offense, and runs for Gio Gonzalez, had been rare so far this season. LaRoche said the fact that he was able to really crank it was a welcome change from his recent at-bats. "I am starting to feel better,"...

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Bryce Harper 1-for-1 with a double, walk in Potomac rehab return (updated)

June 25, 2013, 7:47pm

Nationals

Bryce Harper 1-for-1 with a double, walk in Potomac rehab return (updated)

Nationals left fielder Bryce Harper went 1-for-1 with a double, walk and run scored in the high Single-A Potomac Nationals' 7-5 win over Myrtle Beach. It was Harper's first rehab game and first professional game since May 26 when he was placed on the disabled list with bursitis in his left knee. Harper did not have to make any plays in the outfield. One ground-rule double went over his head. However, a team source at the game said he was able to show a burst of speed before the ball hopped...

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Some of this, some of that

June 26, 2013, 5:18am

Nationals

It had been 51 days since Gio Gonzalez last picked up a win. Fifty-one days, despite an eight-start stretch in which Gonzalez pitched to a 2.15 ERA and held opponents to a .174 batting average and .532 OPS. That can happen when your offense is ineffective and your team has a number of key position players dealing with injuries. Last night, Gonzalez's lengthy winless streak finally was snapped in a 7-5 Nationals win. Of course, as Davey Johnson pointed out to reporters after the game,...

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Neil Diamond to debut new single July 4 at Nationals Park

June 26, 2013, 7:00am

Nationals

The Washington Nationals are proud to announce that legendary singer-songwriter Neil Diamond will perform his latest single "Freedom Song (They'll Never Take Us Down)" during the Nationals-Brewers game on Thursday, July 4 at Nationals Park. It will mark the first time Diamond performs this song live, which he was inspired to write in the wake of this past April's Boston Marathon bombings and a visit to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center. "I, like so many other Americans, felt...

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Johnson's thoughts on Gonzalez, Werth and offense in 7-5 victory

June 25, 2013, 7:40pm

Nationals

Johnson's thoughts on Gonzalez, Werth and offense in 7-5 victory

The Nationals held on to beat the Arizona Diamondbacks 7-5 on Tuesday in the first game of their three-game series at Nationals Park. Left-hander Gio Gonzalez went 6 1/3 innings, allowing only two runs for his first win since May 5. Manager Davey Johnson said the 90-degree game-time temperature might have taxed his starter a bit, but Gonzalez did a nice job fighting through. "Gio was fine (on) a pretty hot night," Johnson said. "He pitched good. He was still throwing pretty good when I...

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David Huzzard: For Nationals, winning streak is inevitable

June 26, 2013, 5:27am

Nationals

The Nationals are going to go on a run. Every team gets at least one. The Houston Astros this season have an eight-game winning streak. The 2009 Nationals twice had a winning streak of at least eight games. In baseball, every team gets hot at least once during the season. Every team gets to enjoy at least one long winning streak. The key for the Nationals is to stay around .500 until it comes, and it may be coming sooner than people think. Talk to people about any baseball team and they will...

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Pitchers' battle early between Nationals and Diamondbacks (Nats win 7-5)

June 25, 2013, 3:41pm

Nationals

Nationals left-hander Gio Gonzalez allowed a base hit in each of the first two frames against Arizona, but was able to pitch out of it. In the first, it was a double for Willie Bloomquist, but then Gonzalez retired three straight. It got more interesting in the second, with Martin Prado at second base and with two away, A.J. Pollock had a sharp single up the middle. Center fielder Denard Span gathered it up and fired to catcher Kurt Suzuki, who tagged out Prado at home plate to end the...

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Haren's MRI comes back clean

June 25, 2013, 2:52pm

Nationals

Right-hander Dan Haren said he underwent treatment, which included a cortisone shot, on his shoulder today as he began his stint on the 15-day disabled list. Haren said he also underwent an MRI that showed only inflammation, and his shoulder was clean otherwise. Some players might appreciate the time to rest on the DL and get better. Haren is the exact opposite. "I hate being on the disabled list, absolutely hate it," Haren said. "I feel just like not part of the team. I want to be out...

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Nationals DL Haren, recall Moore from Triple-A Syracuse

June 25, 2013, 7:22am

Nationals

Tyler Moore's stay at Triple-A Syracuse didn't last long. The Nationals placed right-hander Dan Haren on the 15-day disabled list this morning and filled his roster spot by recalling Moore, the first baseman/outfielder who was sent to Syracuse on June 10. The move on Haren, who is battling right shoulder inflammation, is retroactive to Sunday, the day after his most recent start in a disappointing season. Signed to a one-year, $13 million free agent deal in the offseason, Haren is 4-9 with...

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Zimmerman out of Nationals lineup vs. Diamondbacks

June 25, 2013, 11:39am

Nationals

The Nationals open a three-game set against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Nationals Park. Left-hander Gio Gonzalez takes on right-hander Trevor Cahill. Gonzalez is 3-3 with a 3.34 ERA and Cahill steps in at 3-8 with a 3.92 ERA. Cahill is 0-4 with a 6.75 ERA in his last six starts. The Nationals lineup has been announced and Chad Tracy is playing third base instead of Ryan Zimmerman. Heading to clubhouse to check details as to why Zimmerman is not in lineup today. For the Diamondbacks: SS...

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Johnson says Nats need fifth starter for Saturday, updates Harper's return

June 25, 2013, 2:20pm

Nationals

Johnson says Nats need fifth starter for Saturday, updates Harper's return

Nationals manager Davey Johnson said the team will decide sometime during the Arizona series who will replace injured starter Dan Haren. "We have (Ross) Ohlendorf here," Johnson said. "We also have a couple of young pitchers down (in Double-A Harrisburg) like (Nathan) Karns, and there is also a teammate of his." Johnson did not mention anyone from Triple-A Syracuse, saying the candidate will "more than likely come from (Double-A)." "We will make that decision, like I said, in a...

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Zimmerman given a day off, Werth back in lineup, Moore returns to D.C.

June 25, 2013, 2:00pm

Nationals

Zimmerman given a day off, Werth back in lineup, Moore returns to D.C.

Nationals third baseman Ryan Zimmerman will not start the series opener against the Arizona Diamondbacks. Manager Davey Johnson wanted to give him two days off. Johnson said Zimmerman is fine, but he was feeling a little bit of soreness in his shoulder. "He is going to be available to pinch hit if I need him," Johnson said. "It is nothing different than I was doing with the other guys, give them a day off or a couple of days off like I did for (Denard) Span and (Adam) LaRoche." Johnson...