nationals

Chien-Ming Wang making first start since June 19

September 23, 2012, 7:45am

For the first time in over three months, Chien-Ming Wang will start a major league game today. The Nationals will give the ball to their veteran sinkerballer and hope he can cool down a red-hot Brewers lineup. Wang threw 2 1/3 scoreless innings in the second game of Wednesday's doubleheader against the Dodgers, but he hasn't started a game since June 19. Wang battled hamstring and hip injuries this season, and when he has pitched, either at the major league or minor league levels, he...

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Nats glide their way to an early lead (it's a party at Nats Park)

September 22, 2012, 10:44am

Nationals

Nats glide their way to an early lead (it's a party at Nats Park)

Prior to this afternoon's game, Nationals manager Davey Johnson talked about how Bryce Harper has started to glide when chasing down balls in the outfield, instead of taking short, choppy steps like he did when he first moved to the outfield. We've seen a whole lot of that gliding from Harper through three innings today. Harper tracked down a deep fly ball off the bat of Rickie Weeks to end the top of the third, a fly which sailed straight over his head. He used his impressive speed to...

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G. Gonzalez joins some elite company (also notches 20th win)

September 22, 2012, 11:36am

Nationals

G. Gonzalez joins some elite company (also notches 20th win)

Leading 9-2 after six innings of work, it would take a complete collapse by the Nationals for Gio Gonzalez to not become the first 20-game winner in the majors this season. Assuming it happens, that will be quite an accomplishment. But that won't be the only numerical milestone Gonzalez will reach today. He also has notched his 200th strikeout of the season, making him the first Washington pitcher to get to 200 strikeouts since Walter Johnson did it in 1916. How's that for some decent...

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Nationals high on outfielder Destin Hood's athleticism (update)

September 22, 2012, 10:10am

Nationals

Outfielder Destin Hood fought through injuries and sickness this season in the minors. Battling through an injured wrist, Hood managed to come back and get on track by the end of the season. The Alabama native is now playing in the instructional league. Hood, a second-round selection in 2008, hit .242 in the minors for Double-A Harrisburg and a few rehab games at short-season Single-A Auburn, with 21 doubles, three triples, three homers, six stolen bases and 21 RBIs. He struck out 89 times in...

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Despite recent struggles, Clippard "still confident as heck"

September 21, 2012, 8:23pm

Nationals

Despite recent struggles, Clippard "still confident as heck"

After blowing his fifth save of the season and putting up another disappointing outing during a rough three-week stretch, Tyler Clippard stood at his locker for over five minutes and calmly answered question after question about his performance. You won't find many guys more stand-up than the 27-year-old Clippard. The Nationals' right-handed reliever is clearly frustrated with himself right now, partly because he blew a save in tonight's 4-2 loss to the Brewers, but also because he can't...

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Nats, Brewers Saturday lineups

September 22, 2012, 7:37am

Nationals

The Nationals will have their regular starters on the field behind Gio Gonzalez this afternoon as the left-hander again tries for his 20th win of the season. Gonzalez got stuck with the loss his last time out, allowing two runs over five innings against the Braves on Sunday night. His record sits at 19-8 entering today, and he still could become the first guy in the majors to hit the 20-win mark. The Nats will face Brewers righty Wily Peralta, who is 2-0 with a 2.14 ERA in four appearances...

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Harper shows off his arm (Nats lose 4-2 after blown save)

September 21, 2012, 4:53pm

Nationals

Harper shows off his arm (Nats lose 4-2 after blown save)

Edwin Jackson retired just one batter he faced in the fourth inning and allowed three hits in the frame. Somehow, he still escaped with a scoreless inning of work. The Nationals put on a defensive display in the fourth, helping Jackson get through an inning in which he didn't make many great pitches. Ryan Braun doubled leading off the fourth, his second double in as many at-bats tonight. Aramis Ramirez followed with a single to center, a sharply hit ball which Bryce Harper charged quickly....

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Jackson leads by example with eight solid innings

September 21, 2012, 7:38pm

Nationals

Jackson leads by example with eight solid innings

Edwin Jackson did not join the other four Nationals starters in double-digit wins Friday night. In a heartbreaking 4-2 loss to Milwaukee, Jackson's no decision might have been literally lost in the shuffle. It should not be. Instead, it might be his biggest and most important no-decision of the season for the Nationals. Jackson went eight strong innings, allowing a solo homer to Jonathan Lucroy but virtually nothing else. He walked none, struck out six and gave up only five other...

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Johnson sticking with Clippard as co-closer

September 21, 2012, 7:41pm

Nationals

Johnson sticking with Clippard as co-closer

Tyler Clippard's rough stretch continued tonight. Clippard, who was lights out for much of the season, blew his fifth save of the year tonight and earned his third loss in his last seven appearances after allowing three Brewers runs in the ninth inning. It stuck the Nationals with a 4-2 loss, wasting a fantastic outing by Edwin Jackson, who threw eight innings of one-run ball. "Well, that one hurt," manager Davey Johnson said. "Jackson pitched a great ballgame. I was tempted to let him...

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Johnson says Storen, Clippard now co-closers

September 21, 2012, 2:12pm

Nationals

Johnson says Storen, Clippard now co-closers

Tyler Clippard has done an exceptional job stepping into the closer's role this season, saving 32 games in 35 chances and providing some stability in the ninth inning after numerous early-season injuries to late-inning relievers. Drew Storen saved 43 games last season, appears to be completely recovered from elbow surgery and is on a roll right now. Manager Davey Johnson has faith in both Clippard and Storen when it comes to shutting down games. And that's why he says he'll use both guys...

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Knorr believes Nationals' team chemistry key component to postseason drive

September 21, 2012, 1:32pm

Nationals

Team chemistry in baseball can be an undervalued commodity. Take the Los Angeles Dodgers. They can pretty much put an All-Star lineup on the field every night. Players like Shane Victorino, Matt Kemp, Adrian Gonzalez and Hanley Ramirez. You look down that Dodgers lineup and gasp. It is filled with on-base guys, home run hitters, powerful pitchers and battle-tested postseason players. But the one thing this talented crew does not possess? It has not worked together from spring training,...

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Some possible tweaks to the rotation

September 21, 2012, 3:06pm

Nationals

In addition to announcing that he's going to go with co-closers for the time being, Nationals manager Davey Johnson also announced his plans for the starting rotation through the next handful of days. We already knew that Chien-Ming Wang will start Sunday against the Brewers, and Johnson had two options for who would start Monday's series finale against Milwaukee due to the doubleheader played Wednesday. He's decided to go with Jordan Zimmermann on Monday on normal rest, and will have...

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Fittingly, Storen puts final touches on clinching win

September 21, 2012, 8:15am

Nationals

Fittingly, Storen puts final touches on clinching win

It's been a bit of a rough year for Drew Storen. Elbow surgery wiped out the entire first half of his season and forced him through a lengthy and trying rehab process. When he did come back, his closer job had been taken by his good friend and roommate, Tyler Clippard. You won't hear Storen complain about what he's been through or the situation that he's currently in. He'd love to be closing games, sure, but he's more than happy contributing to a winning Nationals team and being one of...

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Jackson aiming for double-digit wins

September 21, 2012, 11:49am

Nationals

Should Edwin Jackson pick up the win tonight, the Nationals would have five starters with double-digit win totals. Not too shabby. It'll be Jackson against Brewers right-hander Shaun Marcum tonight at Nats Park. Marcum is 5-4 with a 3.91 ERA this season. For the Nats: RF Jayson Werth CF Bryce Harper 3B Ryan Zimmerman 1B Adam LaRoche LF Michael Morse SS Ian Desmond 2B Danny Espinosa C Jesus Flores P Edwin Jackson For the Brewers: RF Norichika Aoki 2B Rickie Weeks LF Ryan Braun 3B Aramis...

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The Davey Johnson effect

September 21, 2012, 12:05am

Nationals

The last time Davey Johnson managed a playoff team, the year was 1997 and he was in Baltimore. Johnson led the Orioles to a 98-win season and a spot in the American League Championship Series. He was named AL Manager of the Year after that season, and then, due to a disagreement with ownership, was promptly was out of a job the same day that he was given the award. Fifteen years later, Johnson again has managed his team to the postseason and again finds himself in the Manager of the Year...

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Nats celebrate, "but the next one will not be as subdued"

September 20, 2012, 8:49pm

Nationals

Nats celebrate, "but the next one will not be as subdued"

The Nationals have been talking for the last couple weeks about how they didn't have their eyes set on a mere playoff berth. Loftier goals were ahead, they said, like the NL East title. Once they clinched a wild card spot tonight, they weren't about to get too caught up in this moment. After all, as Ian Desmond noted tonight, "This pretty much means that if we lose every game from here on out, we get to play one more game." Still, the Nats couldn't help but pop open a little champagne...

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Johnson discusses Nats' playoff-clinching win

September 20, 2012, 7:45pm

Nationals

Johnson discusses Nats' playoff-clinching win

When Davey Johnson walked into the press conference room following tonight's 4-1 win over the Dodgers, a large group of fans looking on through a glass window in the Presidents' Club started applauding. "What's the big deal?" Johnson said, a giant smile creeping across his face. Oh, nothing. You just locked up a postseason berth for the first time in team history and gave D.C. its first playoff baseball team in the last 79 years. That's all. "That was fun but that's not what I had...

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Marty Niland: Memories of 1981 Expos, franchise's last playoff team

September 21, 2012, 4:23am

Nationals

Marty Niland: Memories of 1981 Expos, franchise's last playoff team

Nationals fans no longer have to dream of the day their team makes the playoffs. It's a reality. Thursday's night's win over the Dodgers put the city of Washington, D.C., in the baseball postseason for the first time since 1933 and this franchise in the playoffs for the first time in 31 years. The team that moved to Washington to become the Nationals, the Montreal Expos, made its first - and only - National League playoff appearance in 1981. In a year when baseball fans endured a nearly...

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Playoff bound

September 20, 2012, 6:03pm

Nationals

Congratulations, D.C. For the first time in 79 years, you now officially are the home of a playoff baseball team. The same Nationals who lost 103 games three seasons ago are now heading to the postseason, this after notching a 4-1 win over the Dodgers tonight. There is no giant pile-up on the field as the Nats celebrate, and we don't expect to see any champagne in the clubhouse. The Nats have their eyes set on a bigger goal - winning the National League East, and there's still a little ways...

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Detwiler continues to build on his starts with playoffs ahead

September 20, 2012, 7:10pm

Nationals

Detwiler continues to build on his starts with playoffs ahead

Left-hander Ross Detwiler became the fourth Nationals pitcher to win at least 10 games this season, twirling six innings and allowing just one run in a 4-1 playoff-clinching win at Nationals Park. Detwiler did not allow a hit through three innings, allowed a solo homer to Mark Ellis in the fourth, but then only two other singles to improve to 10-6. At one point, he threw his fastball 13 out of 15 pitches, and 43 times on the night. He walked just one hitter to lead off the sixth, which could...