nationals

Gonzalez holding form against Tribe (Indians walk off with 2-1 win)

June 14, 2013, 4:22pm

Gio Gonzalez is very familiar with the Indians after pitching the first four seasons of his career in the American League. In fact, the Tribe is a favorite opponent of the lefty. He really likes pitching at Progressive Field. His all-time mark of 5-0 with an 0.72 ERA against Cleveland includes a 4-0 record and 0.68 ERA on the shores of the Cuyahoga River. That's not just good, that's domination. Gonzalez is through four innings of Friday's interleague start against the Indians, and so far...

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Inconsistent offense needs spark Rendon provides

June 15, 2013, 1:22am

Nationals

Inconsistent offense needs spark Rendon provides

The Nationals' only run in Friday's opening series 2-1 loss to the Indians came on a bases-loaded wild pitch in the third inning. Cleveland's Justin Masterson was able to strike out 10 batters. Indians pitchers combined for 13 strikeouts. The Nationals managed just two hits, from Ryan Zimmerman and Steve Lombardozzi. Neither of those hits came after the third inning. The Nationals had their chances, as did the Indians, to get some scoring going. "We had right guys up with runners in...

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Desmond doing it big of late

June 13, 2013, 11:44pm

Nationals

Maybe the Nationals should start using Ross Ohlendorf and Ross Detwiler as some kind of new tag-team when they start slumping or get in trouble. You drop below .500 and need a couple wins? Call on the Rosses. Detwiler might not have picked up a win yesterday in the Nationals' series finale in Colorado, but he did his job in his first start back off the disabled list, allowing three runs over five innings. The Nats' bats then woke up late, with Ryan Zimmerman and Ian Desmond each...

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Zimmerman to DH; Nats lineup tonight vs. Indians

June 14, 2013, 11:36am

Nationals

Zimmerman to DH; Nats lineup tonight vs. Indians

For only the fifth time in his career, Ryan Zimmerman will be the designated hitter as the Nationals take on the Cleveland Indians. Ironically, on June 13, 2010, Zimmerman was the designated hitter and batted third as the Nationals beat the Indians, 9-4, in Cleveland. The game was Stephen Strasburg's second start of his career and his second win. The lineup also has Steve Lombardozzi at second base. That means this will be Anthony Rendon's first day off since returning to the roster for a...

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Rendon mixing up his tendencies to confuse pitchers

June 13, 2013, 8:37am

Nationals

Rendon mixing up his tendencies to confuse pitchers

Nationals second baseman Anthony Rendon continues to prove he can hit at the big league level. In just 14 games, Rendon is hitting .306 (15-for-49) with five doubles, five RBIs, six walks and 12 strikeouts. In the last 10 games, Rendon is hitting .382 (13-for-34) with four RBIs, seven strikeouts and all six of his walks. So that shows he is getting used to pitches he is seeing and is finding a way to make contact. His hand speed and balance at the plate are impressive. His approach can make...

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Ryan Zimmerman loves Coors Field (Nats win 5-4)

June 13, 2013, 12:21pm

Nationals

Ryan Zimmerman loves Coors Field (Nats win 5-4)

Most hitters love playing at Coors Field. That's no secret. The ball travels further at altitude. Breaking pitches have less spin, leaving more balls hanging up in the zone. Ryan Zimmerman really, really loves playing at Coors Field. Zimmerman smoked a two-run homer to left with two outs in the third inning, giving the Nationals a 2-1 lead and further inflating Zimmerman's career numbers in Colorado. In 29 games at Coors Field, Zimmerman is now batting .365 (42-for-115) with eight home...

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Detwiler returns, Davis optioned, Kobernus in left again (with All-Star note)

June 13, 2013, 9:34am

Nationals

Detwiler returns, Davis optioned, Kobernus in left again (with All-Star note)

Ross Detwiler's last start in a Nationals uniform came all the way back on May 15, when he left his start against the Dodgers after just three innings with a strained muscle in his lower back. Nearly a month later, after a painstakingly slow rehab process, the left-hander will finally return to the rubber in a big league game. Detwiler will get the ball for the Nats in this afternoon's series finale against the Rockies. He'll look to pick up where he left off in mid-May, having posted a...

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New group of call-ups generating a spark

June 12, 2013, 10:59pm

Nationals

New group of call-ups generating a spark

Last season, when the Nationals had players go down due to injuries, their call-ups and reserves stepped up in a big way and played a major factor in the team's overall success. Bryce Harper and Tyler Moore got called up from Triple-A Syracuse and Steve Lombardozzi and Roger Bernadina came off the bench to help the Nats overcome injuries to Michael Morse and Jayson Werth. After the season-ending knee injury to Wilson Ramos, Kurt Suzuki came in, managed the pitching staff beautifully and...

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Nationals reinstate Detwiler from DL, option Davis to Triple-A

June 13, 2013, 9:34am

Nationals

The Washington Nationals today recalled from rehab and reinstated left-handed pitcher Ross Detwiler from the 15-Day Disabled List and optioned right-handed pitcher Erik Davis to Syracuse of the Triple-A International League. Nationals Executive Vice President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcement. Detwiler, who missed the last 24 games with a right back muscle strain, is 2-4 with a 2.76 ERA in eight starts this season with Washington. The 27-year-old held...

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Washington Nationals Youth Baseball Academy set to launch this fall

June 13, 2013, 7:09am

Nationals

The Washington Nationals are excited to announce several major developments in the creation of the Washington Nationals Youth Baseball Academy in Ward 7's Fort Dupont Park. Ian Desmond steps up to the plate Nationals shortstop Ian Desmond has signed on to champion the ongoing efforts of the Youth Baseball Academy. Desmond will serve as a member of the Academy's Board of Directors, allowing him to play a major role in stewarding the program's future. Citing the power of using baseball as a...

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Rachel Levitin: Time to focus on the 2013 Nationals' positives over negatives

June 13, 2013, 5:30am

Nationals

With a win against the Colorado Rockies last night, the Nationals are back at .500 with a 32-32 record and are six games behind the first-place Atlanta Braves in the NL East. There's been a lot of talk about expectations for the 2013 Nationals and how they're not living up to the alleged hype. Instead of getting bogged down in that, it may be best to realign expectations moving forward for the rest of the season. It's time to focus on what is working as opposed to what's not. Ian...

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Nats win 5-1 in Ohlendorf's dazzling debut

June 12, 2013, 7:59pm

Nationals

Nats win 5-1 in Ohlendorf's dazzling debut

Even if you had faith that Ross Ohlendorf was going to follow up his last three starts at Triple-A Syracuse - in which he allowed just three earned runs and struck out 27 over 17 1/3 innings - and pitch pretty well tonight, you probably couldn't have imagined this. Pitching in Coors Field against a Rockies team with the third-highest batting average in the majors and third-most home runs of any big league squad, Ohlendorf held the Rockies to just two hits and one run over six fantastic...

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Ohlendorf off to a good start (a heck of an outing)

June 12, 2013, 5:41pm

Nationals

Ohlendorf off to a good start (a heck of an outing)

I had seen Ross Ohlendorf messing with an old-school wind-up when he threw back in spring, but forgot just how awesome it was until he fired his first pitch to Dexter Fowler tonight. I love the arms rocking back and forth and the slow turn on the rubber. Feels like I'm watching a game in the early 1900s. Ohlendorf is off to a fantastic start to his Nationals debut, throwing three scoreless innings thus far out at Coors Field. The veteran right-hander has retired nine of the 10 hitters he's...

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Space Coast Stadium beer vendor - yes, that one - coming north

June 12, 2013, 6:43pm

Nationals

Space Coast Stadium beer vendor - yes, that one - coming north

You might not know Vincent Rainey's name, but you know him - well, you know him if you've ever watched a spring training game on MASN, caught a broadcast on the radio or taken in a Grapefruit League contest at Space Coast Stadium. He's the beer guy with the phrase and unique delivery that pays dividends. In the middle of an inning, you'll hear him - above the din of the crowd, the chatter on the field, the fire engines screaming from the nearby station. "Ice ... cold ... beer," he...

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Ramos suffers setback in return from hamstring injury (with Espinosa note)

June 12, 2013, 3:09pm

Nationals

Ramos suffers setback in return from hamstring injury (with Espinosa note)

Nationals catcher Wilson Ramos, who has already landed on the disabled list twice this season due to a hamstring strain, suffered a setback in his rehab and likely won't be returning before the All-Star break, according to MASN's Julie Alexandria, who is with the team in Colorado. Manager Davey Johnson told reporters that Ramos pulled up doing first-to-third drills while at the Nationals' minor league complex in Viera, Fla. Ramos had reported to Viera last Wednesday night and had been...

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Ohlendorf coming up, Garcia transfered to 60-day DL

June 12, 2013, 9:36am

Nationals

Ohlendorf coming up, Garcia transfered to 60-day DL

The Nationals have announced they've officially selected the contract of right-hander Ross Ohlendorf from Triple-A Syracuse, and they'll hand the ball to the 30-year-old tonight out in Colorado. To make room for Ohlendorf on the 25-man roster, the Nats optioned right-hander Nathan Karns to Double-A Harrisburg. Karns went 0-1 with a 7.50 ERA in three starts with the Nats. To make room for Ohlendorf on the 40-man roster, which is currently full, the Nats have transferred right-hander...

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Ohlendorf making Nats debut at Coors Field

June 12, 2013, 2:01pm

Nationals

Ohlendorf making Nats debut at Coors Field

The Nationals send right-hander Ross Ohlendorf to the mound at Coors Field tonight, hoping the veteran can square the series at a game apiece in his Washington debut. In three career starts in the Mile High City, Ohlendorf is 1-1 with a 6.94 ERA, having only lasted a combined 11 2/3 innings and yielding four homers in the thin Denver air. Maybe Ohlendorf can use his Princeton education to come up with a game plan to keep the ball in the park. He hasn't pitched in the majors since last...

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Unable to go streaking

June 12, 2013, 5:17am

Nationals

You ready for something remarkable? The Nationals, a team loaded with talent and built up by expectations of a deep playoff run, have not won more than two consecutive games in over a month. It's pretty tough for a team not to run off a simple three-game winning streak at some point over an extended stretch. The lowly Marlins put together three wins in a row a couple of weeks ago. Bo Porter's Astros had a six-game winning streak recently. The Nats, however, continue to be stuck in neutral,...

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Nationals select right-hander Ross Ohlendorf from Syracuse, option right-hander Nathan Karns to Harrisburg

June 12, 2013, 9:25am

Nationals

The Washington Nationals selected right-handed pitcher Ross Ohlendorf from Syracuse of the Triple-A International League and optioned right-handed pitcher Nathan Karns to Harrisburg of the Double-A Eastern League. Additionally, the Nationals transferred right-handed pitcher Christian Garcia to the 60-Day Disabled List. Nationals Executive Vice President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcements. Ohlendorf, who is scheduled to make his Nationals debut tonight...

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Nationals announce finalists in "Tribute for Heroes" campaign

June 11, 2013, 10:31am

Nationals

Major League Baseball and People magazine today announced the 90 finalists (three per MLB Club) for the "Tribute for Heroes" campaign, a national initiative that recognizes veterans and military service members and builds upon MLB and People magazine's commitment to honoring our country's heroes. The Washington Nationals are proud to announce the three finalists selected to represent the team: John Belcher, Lori Kelly and Julie Weckerlein. Fans are encouraged to visit...