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After ceremonial first pitch, Robinson reflects on baseball's return to D.C.

October 10, 2012, 11:02am

Hall of Famer Frank Robinson threw out the ceremonial first pitch of Game 3 of the National League Division Series. Donning his trademark No. 20 jersey, Robinson threw a strike to Ian Desmond, much to delight of the soldout crowd at Nationals Park. "It was very delightful and quite an honor," Robinson said. "I enjoyed doing it. I thank the Lerner family for asking me to do it." Robinson was able to wear his No. 20 jersey, the same number that Desmond switched to this season in honor of...

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Jackson in trouble early (Nationals missing offensive opportunities)

October 10, 2012, 9:56am

Nationals

For the second straight game, a Nationals starter has fallen behind big before the end of the second inning. On Monday, it was Jordan Zimmermann putting the Nats in a 4-1 hole after two innings. Today, it's Edwin Jackson who has allowed four runs in the first two frames, leaving the Nats trailing 4-0. Jackson retired the first two hitters he faced to start the game, but allowed a two-out single to Matt Holliday and an RBI double down the left field line to Allen Craig, getting the Cardinals...

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The wait is over

October 09, 2012, 9:30pm

Nationals

Anything going on today? Anyone got any afternoon plans? Myself, I'm thinking about just going back to sleep and hitting the links a little later on. Maybe I'll stop by Bed Bath & Beyond. I don't know; I don't know if I'm going to have enough time. What's that? Today will mark the first big league postseason game in D.C. in 79 years, a sellout crowd will be on hand to watch and the Nationals have a chance to move within one win of the National League Championship Series? OK, I guess...

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Nats, Cards lineups for NLDS Game 3

October 10, 2012, 5:56am

Nationals

Today's Nationals and Cardinals lineups look exactly the same as the ones we saw in the first two games of the National League Division Series - with the exception, of course, of new pitchers. The Nationals will send Edwin Jackson to the mound for Game 3. He'll oppose Cardinals righty Chris Carpenter, who made only three regular season starts this season but is the franchise's all-time leader in postseason wins. For the Nats: RF Jayson Werth CF Bryce Harper 3B Ryan Zimmerman 1B Adam...

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Johnson believes Espinosa can get on track at home

October 10, 2012, 7:54am

Nationals

Johnson believes Espinosa can get on track at home

Nationals manager Davey Johnson is not worried about second baseman Danny Espinosa and his slow start in the National League Division Series. Espinosa went 0-for-4 with three strikeouts in Game 1. In Game 2, he fared much better. Espinosa walked, had a groundout, hit a ball that could very easily have been extra bases if not for an amazing catch by Cardinals' outfielder Jon Jay and smacked a clean single in the eighth inning. Overall, the second baseman is 1-for-7 with a single, walk and...

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Morse and Desmond ready for challenge of Cardinals back home

October 09, 2012, 12:34pm

Nationals

Morse and Desmond ready for challenge of Cardinals back home

Nationals left fielder Michael Morse said the St. Louis Cardinals were very good, as expected, at Busch Stadium in the first two games of the National League Division Series. After the Nationals won Game 1, 3-2, the Cardinals rebounded to take Game 2, 12-4. "They are a tough team at home," Morse said. "If you look at their numbers home and away, they are a tough team to beat. Just like when we were there a couple of weeks ago, they put up some big numbers." This season, the Cardinals were...

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Which Edwin Jackson will we see?

October 09, 2012, 1:51pm

Nationals

There's plenty to have our eyes on tomorrow. Chris Carpenter is starting for St. Louis despite making just three regular season appearances this season. The Nationals are trying to improve on their .188 average with runners in scoring position in this series. Washington appears practically unable to touch Cardinals flame-throwing rookie reliever Trevor Rosenthal (whose stuff Bryce Harper referred to today as "fuego"). It all could factor in tomorrow afternoon. But in my mind, no storyline...

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Tickets for potential NLCS games go on sale Wednesday, Oct. 10 at 9 a.m.

October 10, 2012, 3:17am

Nationals

Tickets for potential NLCS games go on sale Wednesday, Oct. 10 at 9 a.m.

The Washington Nationals announced today that tickets for potential National League Championship Series (NLCS) games at Nationals Park, including a limited number of Standing Room Only tickets, will go on sale to the general public Wednesday, October 10 at 9:00 a.m. ET. A maximum of two tickets for each game may only be purchased online at nationals.com/postseason or by calling 888.632.NATS(6287) on a first come, first served basis. In addition, a limited number of Standing Room Only tickets...

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Start times set for NLDS Games 4 and 5

October 09, 2012, 11:14am

Nationals

Major League Baseball has announced the start times for Games 4 and 5 of the National League Division Series between the Nationals and Cardinals, and the schedule will bring the Sun Monster into play on Thursday. Game 4 is currently set to begin at 4:07 p.m., on Thursday, although it could be moved back an hour to 5:07 p.m., if the Tigers-Athletics series has ended by then. Essentially, if the Tigers, who hold a 2-0 lead in that series, win tonight or tomorrow, the Nats-Cardinals will play...

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Matheny goes with rookie Shelby Miller to replace injured Garcia

October 09, 2012, 11:47am

Nationals

Matheny goes with rookie Shelby Miller to replace injured Garcia

St. Louis Cardinals manager Mike Matheny announced Tuesday that right-hander Jaime Garcia has been removed from the postseason roster due to a right rotator cuff strain with some inflammation. The Cardinals and Nationals were in Washington on Tuesday and completed scheduled workouts at Nationals Park. The National League Division Series is even at one game apiece, with Game 3 scheduled to begin a 1:07 p.m. Wednesday afternoon. Matheny said Garcia will get a second opinion on the shoulder. The...

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Meeting with the manager, plus some ballpark tweaks

October 09, 2012, 12:37pm

Nationals

Meeting with the manager, plus some ballpark tweaks

Nationals Park has undergone some minor playoff renovations while we've been gone. There are new banners gracing the top of each dugout - one that reads "#Natitude" on the visitors' dugout, and another that reads "October Natitude" on top of the Nationals' dugout. The MLB Postseason logo has been painted onto the grass down the first- and third-base lines, and bunting has been added to the facades of the second and third decks. Red towels will be handed out to fans tomorrow, and if...

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Nats starting to need more from the starters

October 09, 2012, 4:44am

Nationals

Nats starting to need more from the starters

ST. LOUIS - After three days in chilly Missouri, it's back to the DMV. I'm waiting at my gate for a 7:45 a.m. CT flight, which should get me back home just in time to shower, hop in my car and head to Nationals Park for today's optional workout and media availability. The Nats got home late last night and will take the field today, take some BP and get treatment on various bumps and bruises. We'll hear from Edwin Jackson after the workout, the guy who will get the ball for the Nats...

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What they're saying about NLDS Game 2

October 08, 2012, 6:40pm

Nationals

The Nationals and Cardinals will leave St. Louis with the best-of-five National League Division Series tied at one game apiece. By now you've read the wall-to-wall coverage of the NLDS on MASNsports.com from Dan Kolko and Byron Kerr. Here's a round-up of what other media outlets are saying about Game 2 of the National League Division Series between the Nationals and Cardinals. * In case you forgot, Cardinals starter Jaime Garcia only lasted two innings, despite the Cards taking the lead in...

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Despite loss, Nats feel they did their job

October 08, 2012, 6:58pm

Nationals

Despite loss, Nats feel they did their job

ST. LOUIS - Bryce Harper, who is 1-for-10 with six strikeouts over his first two career postseason games, was asked after today's game whether he feels like he's overanxious at the plate or trying to do a bit too much. "You think I'm overanxious? You think so?" Harper asked the reporter, who responded in the affirmative. "Well, you should be our hitting coach." Harper delivered a big double in the seventh inning to give the Nationals a chance to get back into the ballgame, but he was...

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Hearing from Zimmermann, Stammen after a rough day for the pitchers

October 08, 2012, 6:21pm

Nationals

Hearing from Zimmermann, Stammen after a rough day for the pitchers

ST. LOUIS - It didn't really matter who was on the mound for the Nationals today. Four of the seven Nats pitchers gave up at least a run. All but Ryan Mattheus allowed at least a baserunner. The Cardinals teed off this afternoon, jumping out big and not easing up. "They have a great lineup. It's tough," said Nationals starter Jordan Zimmermann. "You get a few guys out, then you look up and you've got (Carlos) Beltran coming up, (David) Freese. It just never stops. Their lineup, you...

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Johnson discusses Nats' 12-4 loss in Game 2

October 08, 2012, 5:51pm

Nationals

Johnson discusses Nats' 12-4 loss in Game 2

ST. LOUIS - As I try and move past the fact that someone asked Davey Johnson postgame whether Stephen Strasburg, who is not on the Nationals' roster for this series, can "offer something" in Games 3 or 4 ... The Nationals got hit around pretty hard today in St. Louis. They were touched up for 12 runs on 13 hits, seven of which went for extra-bases. Every starting Cardinals position player reached base, and all eight of them scored a run. Yesterday, in a Game 1 win, the Nats saw a patient...

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Cardinals' bold move in second inning pays off (updated)

October 08, 2012, 4:30pm

Nationals

Cardinals' bold move in second inning pays off (updated)

Cardinals manager Mike Matheny took a huge gamble early in Game 2 of the series. Already down a game in the best-of-five National League Division Series and watching his game two starter Jaime Garcia struggle through the top of the second, Matheny opted to go to pinch-hitter Skip Schumaker and sit his starter down after just two innings. St. Louis scored four runs in that second frame and never looked back. Garcia's replacement, Lance Lynn, came on to go three innings and allowed two late...

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Series evened up as Nats lose 12-4 in Game 2

October 08, 2012, 4:07pm

Nationals

Series evened up as Nats lose 12-4 in Game 2

ST. LOUIS - The Nationals will head back to D.C. needing to win two out of three games at home. And they'll do all they can to put the memory of this shellacking behind them. The Cardinals took Game 2 of the National League Division Series by a score of 12-4 today, evening the best-of-five series in what was close to a must-win game for them. After going down in order in the first inning, the Cards jumped all over Nationals pitching. They knocked Jordan Zimmermann from the game after just...

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A similar script, except it's flipped (a rookie mistake by Harper)

October 08, 2012, 1:29pm

Nationals

A similar script, except it's flipped (a rookie mistake by Harper)

ST. LOUIS - The first two innings of this game have been an exact replica of the first two innings yesterday. Only this time, it's the Cardinals with the wild left-handed starter with a pitch count over 50 and the Nationals missing the chance to put their opponent in a big early hole. Jordan Zimmermann got the Nats on the board in the second inning today, dropping a single into right field off Jamie Garcia after Zimmermann had faked a bunt and pulled the bat back. Ian Desmond, who was on...

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LaRoche looking good against lefties

October 08, 2012, 12:52pm

Nationals

ST. LOUIS - The Nationals will face Cardinals left-hander Jaime Garcia today, something that might have spelled bad news for Adam LaRoche in the past. Traditionally a significantly better hitter against right-handed pitching, the left-handed hitting LaRoche has really improved against lefties this season. Not only did he hit .268 against lefties this season, but he also had 11 home runs and an .825 OPS off southpaws in 188 plate appearances. When you factor in the sample size, those are...