nationals

Johnson discusses Haren, offensive struggles after 3-2 loss

April 22, 2013, 6:59pm

As Davey Johnson sat down in front of reporters for his postgame press conference tonight, he let out a deep sigh. The Nationals are now 10-9 on the season after tonight's 3-2 loss to the Cardinals. They're treading water at the moment, searching for signs that they're making progress and on the way to snapping out of this funk to open the 2013 season. Dan Haren failed to retire a batter in the sixth inning for the fourth straight start but, compared to his previous three outings, tonight...

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Dan Haren: "It's close. It's going to turn around"

April 22, 2013, 7:29pm

Nationals

Dan Haren: "It's close. It's going to turn around"

Dan Haren was asked after tonight's game whether he viewed his outing - in which he allowed three runs on six hits over five-plus innings - as a step in the right direction after failing to reach the sixth inning in any of his previous three starts. "Not really," Haren said. "I want more out of myself than five innings, giving up three runs and (Craig) Stammen bailing me out of that jam. I've been around for 10 years. I'm used to throwing seven, eight innings every time. I've thrown 200...

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Ted Leavengood: DÃƒÂ©jÃƒÂ vu all over again

April 22, 2013, 6:46pm

Nationals

Ted Leavengood: DÃƒÂ©jÃƒÂ vu all over again

There was something eerie watching Drew Storen work a perfect eighth inning against the Cardinals last night. More uncanny is the similarity of Ryan Zimmerman going on the DL on both April 20, 2012 and April 21, 2013. Zimmerman was hitting a lusty .224 with a single home run and seven RBIs last year and fast forward to Sunday, and Zimmerman is hitting .226 with a single homer. Last year, Bryce Harper was summoned just a week later. He was well ahead of schedule and started slow. But he caught...

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A mixed bag from Haren (Nats lose 3-2)

April 22, 2013, 4:58pm

Nationals

We saw two sides of Dan Haren tonight. For most of his first five innings of work, we got the sharp, effective Haren. That Haren has good control, works quickly and shows impressive movement with his sinker and offspeed stuff. Haren looked especially good in his first two innings, as well as the fourth, where he was able to work around a couple hits and let his defenders put in work behind him. In the sixth inning, we saw the other Haren - the one that was on the mound through the veteran...

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Desmond thinks Nats made "huge step in the right direction" despite loss

April 22, 2013, 7:13pm

Nationals

Desmond thinks Nats made "huge step in the right direction" despite loss

Monday's 3-2 setback to the Cardinals was the Nationals' second straight loss and seventh in their last 10 games. But shortstop Ian Desmond saw something in the tough defeat, which he believes the team can use to build on for their next game. "We played a much better game," Desmond said. "This was one of our better games of the year. We played good. That one ball just drops in. We are close. That was a good sign." Desmond was up in a critical situation with men on second and third base...

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Haren trails again (Rendon's first major league hit is a big one)

April 22, 2013, 3:54pm

Nationals

Haren trails again (Rendon's first major league hit is a big one)

There haven't been many innings that Dan Haren has completed this season in which he's held a lead. Four innings, to be precise. Haren trails again after three innings here tonight after allowing a two-run double to Allen Craig in the third. Denard Span nearly made a remarkable grab of Craig's deep fly ball to the wall in left-center, leaping at the fence and making a stab at the ball. The Nationals' center fielder got his glove on it but couldn't squeeze the third out, and the ball...

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Soriano unavailable after birth of child, plus notes on Haren, Rendon, Ramos

April 22, 2013, 1:38pm

Nationals

Soriano unavailable after birth of child, plus notes on Haren, Rendon, Ramos

A little more than six months after Drew Storen allowed four runs to the Cardinals in the ninth inning in Game 5 of the National League Division Series, he might be called upon for another save opportunity against St. Louis. Rafael Soriano is not with the Nationals today after leaving to be with his wife in New York for the birth of the couple's second child, a boy. As a result, Storen would get the ninth inning if the Nats get a save opportunity. "We've been kind of planning this day for...

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LaRoche on Nats' defensive struggles: "Very surprising"

April 22, 2013, 2:47pm

Nationals

LaRoche on Nats' defensive struggles: "Very surprising"

The Cardinals are back in D.C. for the first time since they rolled out of here with a dramatic series win over the Nationals in the National League Division Series last October, and while Nats players have put that loss behind them and know this is a new season, they admit it'd be nice to get a little payback over the next three days. "Are we going to make it a bigger deal than what it is? No," Danny Espinosa said. "Would it be nice to beat them? Yeah." Said Adam LaRoche: "I don't...

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Rendon excited for debut at Nationals Park

April 22, 2013, 1:56pm

Nationals

Nationals' top prospect Anthony Rendon is excited to make his home debut tonight against the St. Louis Cardinals. The former Rice star was eager to get back on the field after his first game in New York on Sunday. Rendon went 0-for-4 with two strikeouts and made a catch error at third base. Today, he returns to the starting lineup, batting sixth and at third base. "It was good," Rendon said. "Good to get the first one out of the way. I don't think you can do any worse. You can't go...

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Haren hoping to turn things around against the Cards

April 22, 2013, 11:35am

Nationals

Haren hoping to turn things around against the Cards

The Cardinals return to D.C. today for the first time since rudely knocking the Nationals out of the 2012 playoffs in Game 5 of the National League Division Series. I'm guessing Pete Kozma won't be getting too many free beers in the district over the next three days. The Cards, like the Nats, have a 10-8 record on the season. They've won six of their last 10. Shelby Miller, St. Louis' young stud, will take the mound tonight. He's gotten off to a really nice start to the season, going...

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Returning home still searching for some answers

April 22, 2013, 5:27am

Nationals

Returning home still searching for some answers

Leading into this week's sets of games against the Cardinals and Reds, two tough, talented playoff teams from a year ago, the Nationals went on the road last week to face the two National League East teams everyone expects to finish at the bottom of the division for a second straight season. Six games against the Marlins and Mets? That'll be the remedy for whatever has been ailing this Nationals team early on this season, right? Not really. Instead of getting things back on track in Miami...

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2013 D.C. Sports Hall of Fame inductees to be honored before April 28 Reds-Nats game

April 22, 2013, 7:21am

Nationals

2013 D.C. Sports Hall of Fame inductees to be honored before April 28 Reds-Nats game

Ten new members of the Washington, D.C. Sports Hall of Fame will be honored prior to the Washington Nationals series finale against the Cincinnati Reds on Sunday, April 28 at Nationals Park. This year, the renowned sports club will enshrine the following inductees: * Elgin Baylor - Former NBA All-Star and Basketball Hall of Famer * Bobby Beathard - Former General Manager, Washington Redskins * Dave Bing - Former NBA All-Star and Basketball Hall of Famer * Maurice "Maus" Collins - Former Head...

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Marty Niland: Keep expectations realistic for Anthony Rendon

April 22, 2013, 5:28am

Nationals

Marty Niland: Keep expectations realistic for Anthony Rendon

Welcome to the big leagues, Anthony Rendon. Making his major league debut Sunday against the New York Mets, the Nationals' 2011 first-round draft pick went 0-for-4 with a pair of strikeouts, including one to end a 2-0 loss. He made a nice foul catch in the first inning, but like the rest of the Washington offense, never got comfortable at the plate against Mets starter Dillon Gee. That might seem disappointing, but it's probably typical for a rookie who has fewer than 60 games of minor...

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Zimmerman officially lands on DL, Rendon recalled (Rendon hitting sixth)

April 21, 2013, 6:29am

Nationals

Zimmerman officially lands on DL, Rendon recalled (Rendon hitting sixth)

It's official: Anthony Rendon now finds himself on the Nationals' big league roster. The Nats have placed Ryan Zimmerman on the 15-day disabled list with a left hamstring strain this morning. The DL stint will be retroactive to April 18. Taking Zimmerman's spot on the roster - and in the Nationals' lineup - will be Rendon, the organization's top prospect according to Baseball America. The 22-year-old Rendon, who was the Nats' No. 1 pick (sixth overall) in the 2011 first-year player's...

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Harper leads extra-base barrage as Nats win 7-6

April 20, 2013, 12:41pm

Nationals

Harper leads extra-base barrage as Nats win 7-6

The Nationals treated Mets right-hander Jeremy Hefner like a guy with a 7.20 ERA, and had an lead to show for their efforts. Ian Desmond led off the second inning with his third homer of the season and Bryce Harper crushed a two-run homer into the left field stands at Citi Field in the third, staking the Nats to a 3-0 lead. But it's now 5-3 Mets in the fourth, as the Mets have battled back and taken advantage of some wildness that led to a troubling lack of composure from lefty Gio...

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Strasburg allows two homers, Mets hold Nationals to four hits (Mets win 7-1)

April 19, 2013, 3:47pm

Nationals

The Mets grabbed the early lead on Stephen Strasburg in the first inning. Ian Desmond committed his sixth error of the season on a Jordany Valdespin grounder. Later, a Strasburg wild pitch scored a run and John Buck had a two-out RBI single. Buck already has 20 RBIs early in the season. The Mets led 2-0 after one inning. The Nationals were unable to record a base hit against Matt Harvey in first two innings. Update: Strasburg and Harvey are in a pitcher's duel through five innings. The first...

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Another early miscue gets Strasburg and Nationals off on wrong foot

April 20, 2013, 3:42am

Nationals

For the second straight start, a key early fielding miscue allowed an opponent to put up multiple runs against Stephen Strasburg. Against the Braves on April 13, no score, two outs, top of the third. Atlanta's Justin Upton reaches on a throwing error by Ryan Zimmerman. Evan Gattis crushes a two-run homer. Braves win 3-1. Then last night, first batter of the game, no outs, top of the first. Mets Jordany Valdespin grounder to shortstop Ian Desmond is booted. The fielding error allows Valdespin...

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Zimmerman still missing from Nats lineup, but Espinosa returns (updated)

April 20, 2013, 8:53am

Nationals

Zimmerman still missing from Nats lineup, but Espinosa returns (updated)

Ryan Zimmerman's sore left hamstring remains an issue, and the third baseman is again out of the lineup for today's 3:05 p.m. game against the Mets at Citi Field. The game will air nationally on FOX. Zimmerman has not played since being removed from Wednesday's game against the Marlins in Miami, and Chad Tracy is again at third base in his place today. The Nationals, however, get second baseman Danny Espinosa back for today's game. Espinosa missed four games after being struck in the...

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A sweet Friday night matchup

April 19, 2013, 4:51am

Nationals

If you don't happen to have anything planned for tonight, I suggest you find a seat on your sofa or local bar stool around 7:05 p.m., and flip on MASN2 HD. Tonight's pitching matchup in New York is a really good one: Stephen Strasburg against Matt Harvey. The 24-year-old Harvey might have just 13 career starts under his belt, but he's already making quite an impression in the big leagues. Harvey has started this season 3-0 with a filthy 0.82 ERA in his three starts. He's gone 22 innings,...

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Zimmerman, Espinosa out as Nats face Mets

April 19, 2013, 11:13am

Nationals

Zimmerman, Espinosa out as Nats face Mets

The Nationals continue their road trip after a day off Thursday. Tonight it is the beginning of 17 games in 17 days with game one against the New York Mets at Citi Field. The pitching matchup features a gem with right-hander Stephen Strasburg (1-2, 2.95 ERA) facing right-hander Matt Harvey (3-0, 0.82 ERA). The big news is Ryan Zimmerman is out of the lineup. Manager Davey Johnson had talked about Zimmerman's sore hamstring after Wednesday's win over Miami. Second baseman Danny Espinosa is...