nationals

G. Gonzalez aiming for 20th win, Espinosa trying to snap a skid

September 16, 2012, 12:40pm

ATLANTA - Who better to send to the mound as you're trying to avoid a sweep at the hands of your chief division competitors than your NL Cy Young Award candidate? Gio Gonzalez gets the ball tonight, looking for his 20th win of the season and for the Nationals' win after dropping the last two to the Braves. The left-hander has been on a roll lately, allowing just one earned run over his last 22 innings, spanning three starts. He has 23 strikeouts over that span. Gonzalez is also 2-0 in his...

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Moore in left for series finale

September 16, 2012, 1:00pm

Nationals

ATLANTA - After two one-run losses vs. the Braves, Gio Gonzalez will try to get the Nationals back on track and earn his 20th win of the season. Tyler Moore will get his first start of the series, playing left and batting seventh. For the Nats: RF Jayson Werth CF Bryce Harper 3B Ryan Zimmerman 1B Adam LaRoche SS Ian Desmond 2B Danny Espinosa LF Tyler Moore C Kurt Suzuki P Gio Gonzalez For the Braves: CF Michael Bourn LF Reed Johnson RF Jason Heyward 3B Chipper Jones 1B Freddie...

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How big is tonight's game?

September 16, 2012, 6:40am

Nationals

ATLANTA - The Nationals' final trip to Atlanta this season hasn't gone as planned though the series' first two games. They've had close calls go against them. They've struck out a whopping 29 times. They've seen the Braves manufacture runs with groundball singles, walks and errors. Two games, two losses. The Nats' division lead over the Braves, which was 8 1/2 entering the series, is now down to 6 1/2. Nats fans might be a little antsy today, fearing a three-game sweep by the Braves...

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LaRoche's pop, Braves' sloppiness give Nats an early lead

September 15, 2012, 1:09pm

Nationals

LaRoche's pop, Braves' sloppiness give Nats an early lead

ATLANTA - Adam LaRoche has admitted that this season has felt pretty good on a personal level given all that he went through during a disastrous 2011 campaign. The 2012 season got even better for LaRoche in the top of the first inning today when he turned on an 0-1 pitch from Tommy Hanson and drove it out into the seats in right for his 30th homer of the year. LaRoche now has 94 RBIs to go along with his 30 jacks - quite an accomplishment for the veteran first baseman. He's just the fifth...

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Johnson ejected for first time this season (Nats lose 5-4)

September 15, 2012, 2:16pm

Nationals

Johnson ejected for first time this season (Nats lose 5-4)

ATLANTA - Davey Johnson has joked in recent weeks that he was going to pick his spot for his first ejection of the season. He wanted to save it for when it was really needed. That spot came in the bottom of the sixth inning this evening. Leading off the sixth, Martin Prado grounded a ball back to Nationals starter Edwin Jackson, who fired to first in time to get Prado by a step. First base umpire Marvin Hudson ruled that Adam LaRoche's foot had gotten pulled off the bag, however, and called...

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Johnson discusses blown call in Nats' 5-4 loss

September 15, 2012, 4:46pm

Nationals

Johnson discusses blown call in Nats' 5-4 loss

ATLANTA - Davey Johnson was already dressed in his street clothes when he met with reporters after today's game. He'd had a good bit of time to get showered and changed after getting ejected for the first time this season during the sixth inning of today's 5-4 Nationals loss. Johnson got tossed by first base umpire Marvin Hudson for arguing a play at first base in which Hudson ruled that Adam LaRoche was off the bag when he caught a throw from pitcher Edwin Jackson. Replays showed...

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Mattheus takes blame while LaRoche, Jackson discuss blown call

September 15, 2012, 5:13pm

Nationals

Mattheus takes blame while LaRoche, Jackson discuss blown call

ATLANTA - A despondent Ryan Mattheus sat at his locker after today's 5-4 loss to the Braves, quietly staring straight ahead at nothing in particular. Mattheus allowed the game-winning run in the bottom of the eighth inning tonight, loading the bases on two walks and a single. He then grazed the jersey of Andrelton Simmons with a sinker, plating Jeff Baker to give the Braves the lead. Only nine of Mattheus' 23 pitches were strikes, so it's obvious what the issue was. "I just couldn't...

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Some prime time exposure for lovable loser Teddy

September 15, 2012, 1:52pm

Nationals

Some prime time exposure for lovable loser Teddy

The Nationals are going to get some high-profile national media attention this week, and it doesn't involve a prime time game, a controversy about a pitcher not pitching or an inside look at a star player (though MLB Network's Saturday afternoon look at Ryan Zimmerman and his affinity for Washington, D.C., and effort to raise money for multiple sclerosis research was pretty sweet). Come 7 p.m. Tuesday on ESPN, the whole sporting world will be introduced to one of Nationals Park's most...

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Some surprising Moore stats, plus updates on Bernadina, Morse

September 15, 2012, 11:20am

Nationals

Some surprising Moore stats, plus updates on Bernadina, Morse

ATLANTA - Roger Bernadina said last night that he felt fine after slamming into the left field wall while making a leaping catch, but manager Davey Johnson reported today that Bernadina has a bit of a stiff neck. That factored into Johnson's decision to put Steve Lombardozzi in the lineup in left field. Another factor? "Lombo's got 50 percent of his home runs off this guy," Johnson said with a smile, referring to Braves starter Tommy Hanson. Lombardozzi has two career home...

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Nats lineup has Lombardozzi in left (plus Braves lineup)

September 15, 2012, 9:49am

Nationals

Nats lineup has Lombardozzi in left (plus Braves lineup)

For the first time since starting both halves of a July 21 doubleheader against the Braves in left, Steve Lombardozzi is getting a start in the outfield. Lombardozzi is appearing in left for just the third time since that date, but the two previous occasions had him moved there as a defensive replacement. Edwin Jackson takes the mound for the Nationals, seeking his 10th win as the team aims to bounce back from last night's walk-off loss. Tommy Hanson starts for the Braves sporting a 12-8...

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While waiting for the lineups

September 15, 2012, 8:40am

Nationals

ATLANTA - A quick reminder that today's 4:05 p.m. game between the Nationals and Braves won't be airing on MASN, as FOX has picked it up and will have the rights for today's broadcast. Daron Sutton and Eric Karros will have the call. I'll still have full coverage on MASNsports.com here from Turner Field, however. You can't get rid of me that easily. The Nats will send Edwin Jackson to the mound today as they look to take the middle game of this three-game set. Jackson has put up two...

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A taste of what's to come

September 15, 2012, 6:27am

Nationals

ATLANTA - Most of the Nationals beat writers covering last night's game at Turner Field felt that there was a bit of a playoff vibe surrounding the division battle between the Nats and Braves. The pitching was excellent, the game was tight, the crowd was large and rockin', and the game ended in dramatic fashion. Not all the guys in the Nationals' clubhouse agreed with our line of thinking. Some brushed off the idea that last night's game had a postseason feel to it, saying that it was...

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Clubhouse quotes from Desmond, Werth, Bernadina

September 14, 2012, 8:23pm

Nationals

Clubhouse quotes from Desmond, Werth, Bernadina

ATLANTA - Think the Nationals were emotionally beat-up after being on the losing end of a 2-1 walk-off loss to their chief division opponent? Think again. They'll be just fine. "No one in here is hanging their head," Ian Desmond said afterwards. "More scratching their head than hanging their head, I guess." "It's just one of those days, one of those games," Jayson Werth said. "You can't really hang your head too much. It was a tight game. Both teams battled, and they were able to...

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Johnson discusses Nats' 2-1 walk-off loss

September 14, 2012, 7:40pm

Nationals

Johnson discusses Nats' 2-1 walk-off loss

ATLANTA - From the Nationals' perspective, this was just one of those tip-your-hat type of games. They ran into a scorching hot starting pitcher in Atlanta's Kris Medlen, surrendered just two extra-base hits, faced arguably the best closer in the majors in the ninth and then allowed the game-winning run on an infield single, a soft line drive to right and a fielder's choice. They didn't play all that poorly, they just got beat. Ross Detwiler was pitching out of the stretch nearly the...

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Prospects Miller, Keyes and others work on new positions as instructional workouts commence

September 15, 2012, 5:13am

Nationals

Prospects Miller, Keyes and others work on new positions as instructional workouts commence

Instructional workouts begin today in Viera, Fla., with dozens of the Nationals prospects on hand to work on several aspects of their games. Players will work on refining their skills, glove work, plate organization and fielding techniques. Also, just like first baseman Tyler Moore getting his first chance to work in the outfield last season, some players will work out at different positions to add versatility to their games. Second baseman Justin Miller will work behind the plate after...

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More trouble with Medlen (Nats lose a tough one 2-1)

September 14, 2012, 5:00pm

Nationals

More trouble with Medlen (Nats lose a tough one 2-1)

ATLANTA - They're far from the only team which can say this lately, but the Nationals are having a really tough time against Braves right-hander Kris Medlen tonight. They trail 1-0 after four innings thanks to some solid work on the mound by Ross Detwiler, but Medlen has kept the Nats out of striking distance all night so far. He has a whopping nine strikeouts through four innings, six of which have been looking. Nationals hitters have been befuddled by Medlen's pinpoint-accurate two-seam...

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Congrats, top seed - now hit the road

September 14, 2012, 3:19am

Nationals

With the Nationals maintaining first place in the National League East and beginning a big division match-up tonight in Atlanta, the Nats have to feel good about having an 8 1/2-game lead over the Braves. Even if the Braves sweep the Nationals this weekend, the Nats will still have a 5 1/2-game lead. The wild card race has become very exciting with St. Louis and Atlanta still leading, but Milwaukee and Philadelphia joining Pittsburgh in the battle for the final slot. Oh, did I mention Arizona...

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Morse out of Nats lineup for second straight game

September 14, 2012, 11:57am

Nationals

Morse out of Nats lineup for second straight game

ATLANTA - For the second straight game, a left wrist injury is holding Michael Morse out of the Nationals' lineup. Morse has been bothered by the left wrist for some time now, and he told manager Davey Johnson after Tuesday night's game in New York that he felt he was hurting the team by trying to play through it. The initial plan was for Morse to try taking batting practice prior to tonight's game against the Braves, and then see how he feels. Once the clubhouse opens, we'll see if that...

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Morse likely out for full Braves series, Nats not ready to celebrate yet

September 14, 2012, 2:59pm

Nationals

Morse likely out for full Braves series, Nats not ready to celebrate yet

ATLANTA - It looks like the Nationals will be without Michael Morse for the entirety of this three-game series against the Braves. Morse did not take batting practice today, as the Nationals had originally planned. He's going to give his ailing left wrist more time to rest, and according to manager Davey Johnson, isn't likely to suit up and play until Tuesday's game against the Dodgers at the earliest. "He's still bothered by it, and I didn't think it was going to heal in 48 hours,"...

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Another meeting with Medlen

September 14, 2012, 9:21am

Nationals

ATLANTA - Greetings from Atlanta, where I'm all set up after an interesting journey through an airport which always seems to confuse the heck out of me. The weather is absolutely gorgeous down here, not anywhere close to the record temperatures that affected Stephen Strasburg and the Nationals so much when they last visited in late June. We're set up for three straight days in the mid-80s with what should be clear skies the whole weekend. It looks like the Nationals have gotten some good...