Johnson discusses Nats' 9-1 rout of Cubs

Johnson discusses Nats' 9-1 rout of Cubs
The first start of Gio Gonzalez's 2012 season came against the Cubs at Wrigley Field. That day, the lefty went just 3 2/3 innings, allowing four runs on seven hits with three walks. Today was a bit different. Sure, it was a different Cubs lineup, one loaded with young guys suiting up for a team which is on pace for a 100-loss season. But Gonzalez was on-point all night tonight, throwing five no-hit innings before allowing a leadoff single to Darwin Barney in the sixth. He finished with seven...

David Huzzard: Remembering the bad old days

David Huzzard: Remembering the bad old days
Hindsight is never wrong and there is more than one path to winning. But for the Nationals, the willful awfulness of 2008 and 2009 are paying off. Without the 2008 and 2009 seasons, the Nationals wouldn't be as good as they are, and it isn't just Stephen Strasburg and Bryce Harper. Having the first pick overall means a team has the first pick in every round. A.J. Cole was the first pick of the fourth round of the 2010 draft and one of keys in the Gio Gonzalez trade. Early on, the Nationals...

This is getting ridiculous (Nats crush Cubs 9-1)

This is getting ridiculous (Nats crush Cubs 9-1)
A day after hitting six home runs in a game against the Cubs, tying a Nationals team record, the Nats have hit six home runs in a game against the Cubs. It's déjà vu all over again. The Nats have put eight runs up through seven innings and now have 12 homers in their last 15 frames. Are the Nationals this good or are the Cubs this bad? Can it be both? The Nats have hit back-to-back homers twice tonight. Roger Bernadina and Bryce Harper did it in the third and Ian Desmond and...

Gio on target again as talented southpaw reaches 18 wins

Gio on target again as talented southpaw reaches 18 wins
With left-hander Gio Gonzalez on the mound, it appeared it would be difficult for the light-hitting Chicago Cubs offense to generate much in the way of runs. Or even hits. Gonzalez was on target Wednesday, carrying a no-hitter into the sixth inning, and finishing with seven shutout innings, on three hits, no walks and striking out nine. The Nationals allowed only four hits in the 9-1 dispatch of the Cubs. Gonzalez matched the Mets' R.A. Dickey for the major-league lead with win No. 18. The...

Davey excited to see both Nationals and Orioles play so well

Davey excited to see both Nationals and Orioles play so well
It is the rarest of moments in the baseball lore for the D.C. and Maryland surrounding areas to have the Orioles and the Nationals both in first place at the same time. It is happening right now. Manager Davey Johnson, who used to be a player and manager for the Orioles, has noticed how well the team to the north has done this season and is excited for both clubs. "I think it is great," Johnson said. "I grew up in this area. I grew up an Oriole fan, seeing them playing like I always think...

More home runs for the Nats, more shutout innings for Gonzalez (updated)

More home runs for the Nats, more shutout innings for Gonzalez (updated)
Going back to last night, the Nationals hit nine home runs in a 12-inning span against the Cubs. They hit six jacks last night, two of which came off the bat of Adam LaRoche. They added three more through the first three innings tonight, and have a 5-0 lead on the hapless Cubs. All three homers so far tonight came in the third inning. Roger Bernadina led off the frame with a solo shot to center, his fourth on the season. One pitch later, Bryce Harper banged one off the back wall of the Cubs...

Burnett: "I was putting my team in jeopardy and it wasn't right to them"

Burnett: "I was putting my team in jeopardy and it wasn't right to them"
Up until about two weeks ago, Sean Burnett was putting up career numbers, despite the fact that he had battled tightness in his throwing elbow for a handful of weeks. After an appearance on August 10, Burnett's ERA sat at 1.81, he had a 0.96 WHIP and had become a dominant force in the eighth inning. Over his next eight games, however, Burnett looked like a different pitcher. He posted a 7.50 ERA over six innings, allowing 16 hits, a walk, a wild pitch and two hit-batters in that span....

Bernadina in center, G. Gonzalez takes mound

Bernadina in center, G. Gonzalez takes mound
As Davey Johnson said, Jayson Werth is getting the night off, shifting the Nationals' outfield alignment. Roger Bernadina starts in center and leads off against the Cubs, making just his seventh start since Aug. 1. Bryce Harper starts in right field. Gio Gonzalez is on the hill, seeking his 18th win one start after a complete-game shutout. For the Nationals: CF Roger Bernadina RF Bryce Harper 3B Ryan Zimmerman 1B Adam LaRoche LF Michael Morse SS Ian Desmond 2B Danny Espinosa C Kurt Suzuki P...

Hitting catching up with pitching, helping Nationals win again

Hitting catching up with pitching, helping Nationals win again
Starting pitching carried the Nationals for most of the first half of the season, but if this team is going to go far in the postseason, the offense will have to also carry a heavy load. On Tuesday, they looked like they could carry that burden with ease. The Nationals tied a team record with six homers in one game, two from Adam LaRoche, and cruised past the overmatched Chicago Cubs 11-5. "It feels good," LaRoche said. "On top of that, having guys surrounding us in the lineup, the way...

Chipping away at the magic number, enjoying a special debut

Chipping away at the magic number, enjoying a special debut
The Nationals' lead over the Braves in the NL East is now 7 1/2 games, the highest it's been this season. They're back to 31 games above .500, tying the high-water mark for the year. Their magic number to win the division is 20 with 27 games left on their schedule. By no means are the Nats looking ahead or counting their chickens. But they are starting to realize the end is in sight. You go into the clubhouse postgame and you'll notice the Braves game put up on every TV in sight. During...

Johnson discusses Nats' 11-5 win

Johnson discusses Nats' 11-5 win
The days when the Nationals scored six runs over a five-game span seem so long ago. In reality, it was only a week ago that the offensive skid came to an end. And since then, the bats have come alive in a big way. Tonight, the Nats exploded for 11 runs, 19 hits, six home runs from five different players and 11 extra-base hits. Adam LaRoche had two homers, Ian Desmond had a home run, a double and four RBIs and Danny Espinosa had two doubles as the Nats rolled to a lopsided victory over the...

Rachel Levitin: Nationals Park subhorn among the items defining Natitude

Rachel Levitin: Nationals Park subhorn among the items defining Natitude
Tuesday night's "laugher" of a game as MASNsports.com's Dan Kolko so aptly dubbed it was also the first time in team history that six home runs were hit. Or rather, I choose to see it as the first time we ever heard the subhorn go off six times (plus one for good luck since they sound it after each win) during a Nationals game. Washington decided early on last season to nix the home run fireworks that shot up after a crushed long ball and replace it with something unique, a brand...

Double digits and a D.C. record (Nats win a laugher 11-5)

Double digits and a D.C. record (Nats win a laugher 11-5)
The Nationals have hung double digits on the Cubs tonight, putting up 17 hits through seven innings. Nine of those hits have been for extra bases. Five have been home runs. The five homers has set a record for the most home runs ever by a D.C. baseball team in games played in the district. Five different Nats have connected for longballs: Ian Desmond, Jesus Flores, Adam LaRoche, Tyler Moore and Ryan Zimmerman. Backed by those homers, which have plated a total of seven runs, the Nats lead...

In his 15th baseball season, and first time with Nationals, Slowes calls a winner

In his 15th baseball season, and first time with Nationals, Slowes calls a winner
He has been the voice of the Nationals since their inception. His calls of "Bang! Zoom!" and "another curly W is in the books!" have become catch phrases every Nationals fan yearns to hear when their favorite team is on the airwaves. But something happened this year that has never happened in the 19-plus years Charlie Slowes has called professional baseball. Following Monday's win over the Chicago Cubs, the Nationals were guaranteed to end the season with more curly Ws than losses....

Nats do major damage early (it's a party for the home team)

Nats do major damage early (it's a party for the home team)
Chris Rusin wasn't fooling anyone. The Cubs' rookie left-handed starter faced 11 Nationals hitters tonight. He retired just two of them before being pulled from the game. Rusin leaves after surrendering five runs in just an inning plus four batters. He gave up eight hits (including two home runs and four extra-base hits) and walked a batter. Things could have been even worse if Michael Morse hadn't run into an out at third base in the first inning. Replacing Rusin is right-hander Jaye...

A bunch of lineup changes today (Brown recalled)

A bunch of lineup changes today (Brown recalled)
With the Nationals facing Cubs left-hander Chris Rusin, Bryce Harper will have a seat today. Jayson Werth will play center field, Michael Morse will move over to right and Tyler Moore will play left field and hit seventh. This is Moore's first start since Aug. 26. Morse is back in the lineup after being pulled from yesterday's game in the fourth inning due to what manager Davey Johnson said was a hand injury. Another interesting change to Davey Johnson's lineup is that Ian Desmond will...

Various odds and ends involving Harper, Morse, Lannan

Various odds and ends involving Harper, Morse, Lannan
Bryce Harper's getting a rare day off today, but it's not due to anything injury-related, manager Davey Johnson said this afternoon. With the Nationals facing a lefty starter, Johnson figured this was a good time to rest one of his normal left-handed-hitting position players. It was either going to be Harper or Adam LaRoche, and Harper ends up being the one who will take a seat today. Johnson said he wants to get his rookie outfielder a bit of a breather while also allowing guys who...

Wang activated, Brown back after strong season at Syracuse

Wang activated, Brown back after strong season at Syracuse
The Nationals have officially activated Chien-Ming Wang from the 15-day disabled list, giving manager Davey Johnson yet another option in relief. Wang has been around the Nats the last couple days after making his final rehab start Sept. 1 for Double-A Harrisburg. Realistically, the veteran righty doesn't stand much chance of pitching in meaningful situations, but he could be called on to eat innings at some point. Wang is 2-3 with a 7.61 ERA in seven games (four starts) with the Nats this...

Nationals reinstate RHP Chien-Ming Wang from 15-day DL

Nationals reinstate RHP Chien-Ming Wang from 15-day DL
The Washington Nationals today returned from rehab and reinstated right-handed pitcher Chien-Ming Wang from the 15-Day Disabled List. Nationals Executive Vice President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcement. Wang, who missed the last 58 games with a right hip strain, is 2-3 with a 7.61 ERA in seven games/four starts with Washington this season. The 32-year-old went a combined 4-6 with a 5.51 ERA during 15 minor-league rehab outings in 2012

Johnson: Lannan will get relief "tuneup" before returning to rotation

Johnson: Lannan will get relief "tuneup" before returning to rotation
The plan for the Nationals moving forward after September 12 is starting to take shape. On Sunday, manager Davey Johnson announced that Stephen Strasburg would have two more starts. During the season, many believed left-hander John Lannan would take Strasburg's place in the rotation once Strasburg was shut down. Tuesday, Johnson talked about the schedule for Lannan and when his first start will be since returning. "I talked to John today," Johnson said. "I gave him a rough idea of when...