nationals

Patrick Reddington: An early test for a strengthened strength

April 12, 2013, 5:46am

The signing of Rafael Soriano came as a surprise to most, including Nationals manager Davey Johnson. Washington Post writer Adam Kilgore explored the possibility before the two-year, $28 million deal with the veteran reliever was announced, but the baseball world at large was caught off guard by the defending NL East champions' decision to strengthen a strength and add another closer to an already strong bullpen that had helped them get within one strike of the National League Championship...

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Zimmerman makes Ventura's gamble look silly (Nats sweep White Sox)

April 11, 2013, 5:20pm

Nationals

Zimmerman makes Ventura's gamble look silly (Nats sweep White Sox)

Coming into tonight, the hitter in front of Ryan Zimmerman in the Nationals' batting order had only been intentionally walked once since 2009. That one time, on Sept. 3, 2011, Zimmerman responded with a walk-off homer over the Mets. Zimmerman, after all, has been the Nats' most fearsome hitter for some time now. There's very rarely a reason to put a runner on base in front of him, regardless of most circumstances. Apparently, that's changing. The White Sox decided to intentionally walk...

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Ventura, Zimmerman and Harper on the questionable intentional walk

April 11, 2013, 8:02pm

Nationals

Ventura, Zimmerman and Harper on the questionable intentional walk

The big topic of discussion in the press box during tonight's 7-4 Nationals win was White Sox manager Robin Ventura's decision to intentionally walk Bryce Harper with two outs and Ryan Zimmerman on deck in the fifth inning. Harper, while he's on fire and possesses a world of talent, has played just 148 games in his big league career. Zimmerman has a proven track record, having performed at a high level over nine major league seasons. We're just nine games into the season. You don't often...

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Johnson talks after Nats pick up sweep of White Sox

April 11, 2013, 7:36pm

Nationals

Johnson talks after Nats pick up sweep of White Sox

The Nationals have played two series at home this season. They've swept them both. Tonight's 7-4 win over the White Sox gave the Nats another three-game sweep at Nats Park and made a winner of Dan Haren for the first time this season. While Haren allowed 10 hits, hit a batter and threw 101 pitches over five innings, he allowed just three runs and kept his team in the game. "You know, he's still not where he wants to be, I'm sure," manager Davey Johnson said of his starter. "They've...

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Nationals developing home-field advantage and opponents notice

April 11, 2013, 1:47pm

Nationals

First baseman Adam LaRoche talks about it all the time. When he would come in to play the Nationals while with the Diamondbacks, they knew they could beat the Nationals, and they expected to beat the Nationals. That is not the case anymore. The Nationals are 5-0 at Nationals Park to start this season and were 50-31 at home last season, second only to the Yankees (51-30). Since 2008, the Nats have steadily improved at home. In 2008, they were 34-46 at Nationals Park, 33-48 in 2009, 41-40 in...

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John Wall returning to Nats Park, hoping for better first-pitch results (updated)

April 11, 2013, 1:55pm

Nationals

John Wall returning to Nats Park, hoping for better first-pitch results (updated)

The last time Wizards guard John Wall threw out a ceremonial first pitch at Nationals Park, back in 2011, things, uh, didn't go so well. Wall wound up and spiked the ball so short of home plate that it didn't even reach the dirt, forcing Drew Storen, who was behind the dish awaiting Wall's toss, to lunge to his right to snag the ball before it got by him. If you haven't seen the video,

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A lot of pitches, a lot of runners stranded (updated)

April 11, 2013, 4:31pm

Nationals

A lot of pitches, a lot of runners stranded (updated)

Through three innings, the White Sox have put six men on base off Nationals starter Dan Haren. The Nats, in turn, have put seven on against Chicago starter Dylan Axelrod, who has already thrown 74 pitches. Still, it's just a 3-1 ballgame, with the Nats holding the lead as we go to the fourth. The two teams have combined to strand nine runners and have gone 2-for-10 with runners in scoring position. Haren has given up three doubles already tonight, one in each inning, but he's managed to...

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Nats, White Sox lineups for series finale

April 11, 2013, 11:42am

Nationals

Nats, White Sox lineups for series finale

There's plenty of action on the field at Nationals Park right now. Out in left field, White Sox pitchers are stretching. Down the first base line, Kurt Suzuki is in full catching gear, throwing a football with a team trainer. First base coach Tony Tarasco is standing in the left-handed hitter's batter's box, hitting flips from a batting practice pitcher out to Roger Bernadina and Tyler Moore, who are standing in center field getting work on their jumps off the bat. Just another day in a...

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McCatty provides a fresh perspective on Haren

April 10, 2013, 11:21pm

Nationals

McCatty provides a fresh perspective on Haren

When the Nationals take the field around 7:05 p.m. tonight aiming for a sweep of the White Sox, they'll give the ball to Dan Haren, their 32-year-old right-hander, who will be making his Nationals Park debut. Haren got smacked around pretty good in his first start as a National last Friday against the Reds, allowing six runs on nine hits over just four innings. The veteran righty served up a whopping four home runs, although two of them just cleared the Great American Ballpark fence and...

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Desmond erasing memories of early-season errors with extra-base hits

April 10, 2013, 7:21pm

Nationals

Desmond erasing memories of early-season errors with extra-base hits

Shortstop Ian Desmond rolled to another big day at the plate in Wednesday's 5-2 Nationals win over the White Sox. Desmond went 3-for-4 with two doubles and a triple, scoring two runs. On Tuesday, he also had a pair of hits, including his second homer of the season. He now has seven extra-base hits in eight games. Saturday was his first homer, which came after he had made two errors in a game the Nationals won 7-6 in 11 innings at Cincinnati. Desmond said he was itching for the opportunity...

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Nationals announce 2013 Patriotic Series and military branch days

April 11, 2013, 12:19pm

Nationals

The Washington Nationals today announced the games that will comprise the 2013 Patriotic Series presented by Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC), during which the team will encourage fans to celebrate the American spirit while enjoying the national pastime at Nationals Park. In addition, the Nationals will launch a special series of games that will pay tribute to each of the five branches of our nation's military throughout the season. To mark Military Appreciation Day, the...

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Rachel Levitin: A changing of the guard?

April 11, 2013, 5:24am

Nationals

Rachel Levitin: A changing of the guard?

When I moved to D.C. in 2005, I learned all I needed to know about the Nationals (at the time) rather quickly. It was the middle of August, the team was decent and they were on the verge of a winning season. Truth be told, I only went to a couple games before August turned into September. Then Ryan Zimmerman made his major league debut on Sept. 1. My memory's fading and I honestly can't recall whether or not I was physically at that game, but I do know I spent an awful lot of time at RFK...

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Hearing from Desmond and Harper

April 10, 2013, 7:28pm

Nationals

The umpires might have hit a traffic jam on their way to the stadium this afternoon, causing a 16-minute delay, but there are plenty of guys in the Nationals clubhouse who can relate. Ian Desmond is one of them. "I've got no problem with it. I've been stuck in traffic many a time here in D.C.," Desmond said. "I'm surprised they got here as fast as they did. It's always an adventure." White Sox starter Gavin Floyd had a bit of an adventure in the middle innings tonight. After putting...

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Johnson on bullpen struggles, plus Garcia and Kimball updates

April 10, 2013, 2:33pm

Nationals

Johnson on bullpen struggles, plus Garcia and Kimball updates

Apparently, the Nationals experienced some technical difficulties during last night's game when the video system they use to track pitches and locations in real time went down. The system eventually was fixed by the time the game was in the middle innings, but the Nats had to adjust their normal in-game plan without the video. "We couldn't follow it," Davey Johnson said. "Rick (Eckstein, hitting coach) usually goes in there and then reports to everybody about what (the pitcher is) doing....

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Johnson discusses Nats' 5-2 win

April 10, 2013, 7:04pm

Nationals

Some starting pitchers map out their pregame routine so carefully that an unexpected 16-minute delay would totally throw them out of whack. Jordan Zimmermann is not one of those pitchers. Zimmermann needed to wait a bit longer than normal to throw his first pitch tonight because the umpires got stuck in traffic and were late to the stadium. There apparently was an immigration rally at the Capital today, which caused a massive backup, and the unsuspecting umps got caught up in it. The game...

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No delay is going to slow Zimmermann now

April 10, 2013, 6:59pm

Nationals

No delay is going to slow Zimmermann now

The Nationals' Jordan Zimmermann put together another quality start Wednesday night. A delay because the umpires were stuck in traffic was no distraction for the right-hander. He went seven innings and allowed just two runs in a 5-2 victory over the White Sox. Did the delay at the start of the game shake his preparation? "I had plenty enough time," Zimmermann confirmed. "They let me know pretty early. They told me to be prepared to sit around a little bit." So what did Zimmermann...

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Harper visits the second deck (that's all for Zimmermann)

April 10, 2013, 4:28pm

Nationals

Harper visits the second deck (that's all for Zimmermann)

Tonight's game was delayed 16 minutes - not because of rain, but because the umpires were stuck in traffic. C'mon, fellas. Plan ahead here. In Adam Dunn's return to Nationals Park, Bryce Harper crushed a home run to the seats that Dunn used to visit on a consistent basis. Leading off the bottom of the fourth, Harper took the first pitch he saw from White Sox starter Gavin Floyd - an 86 mph cutter - and smoked it into the second deck in right field. The solo shot was Harper's fourth home...

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Zimmermann, Desmond lead Nats to 5-2 win

April 10, 2013, 5:57pm

Nationals

Zimmermann, Desmond lead Nats to 5-2 win

Backed by a strong seven innings of work by Jordan Zimmermann and three extra-base hits from Ian Desmond, the Nationals beat the White Sox 5-2 in front of 24,586 at Nats Park. The Nats' second win over Chicago in as many nights gives them the series win, and Dan Haren will take the mound tomorrow night as Washington will shoot for the sweep. Zimmermann allowed two runs and seven hits over seven tidy frames. He needed just 90 pitches to get his way through seven and surely could've gone...

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Renda ready to get going after move up to Hagerstown

April 05, 2013, 11:27am

Nationals

Renda ready to get going after move up to Hagerstown

Second baseman Tony Renda has moved his way up from short-season Single-A Auburn to Single-A Hagerstown and is the leadoff hitter for the Suns. The second-round 2012 selection (80th overall) says manager Gary Cathcart was instrumental in his improvement and experience for the Doubledays. "Auburn was a great experience for me," Renda said. "I got to play for a great manager in Gary Cathcart. I got to learn how to become a professional, how to go about your business in a professional way....

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Adam Dunn playing left field, batting cleanup for White Sox

April 10, 2013, 11:37am

Nationals

Adam Dunn playing left field, batting cleanup for White Sox

He didn't make an appearance in last night's 8-7 Nationals win, but Adam Dunn is in the White Sox lineup for tonight's contest. Dunn will hit cleanup for Chicago and will play left field. It'll be interesting to see what type of response Dunn gets from the Nats Park crowd in his first plate appearance tonight. This will be Dunn's first game played at Nats Park since 2010. He wore a Nats jersey from 2009-2010 and slugged 78 home runs during his tenure in D.C. Dunn spoke yesterday about...