nationals

Some initial post-clinch reactions

October 01, 2012, 8:04pm

There's a ton to digest and type up after the Nationals clinched the National League East, setting off a wild celebration in the clubhouse and on the field tonight, and I'll have plenty for you throughout the next couple hours and into tomorrow. For now, here are some quotes from the guys who got to do all the celebrating to hold you over, transcribed by a reporter who now reeks like beer: Drew Storen On clinching: "Speechless. It's something you really dream for and ever since I got...

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Nationals are NL East champions (Nats lose 2-0, but who cares?)

October 01, 2012, 5:48pm

Nationals

Ladies and gentlemen, the Washington Nationals are your 2012 National League East champions. It sure didn't come easily. The Nats had lost nine of their last 16 games coming into tonight and are currently trailing the Phillies 2-0 in the ninth inning here in Washington. The division clincher came 250 miles away from D.C., as the Braves lost to the Pirates 2-1, giving the NL East to the Nationals. The Nats should ship a fruit basket - or a few thousand of them - to their new friends in...

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Strasburg, Rizzo and Detwiler reflect on clinching night at Nats Park

October 01, 2012, 7:47pm

Nationals

Strasburg, Rizzo and Detwiler reflect on clinching night at Nats Park

"It has been a long three years, and everybody in here has had their ups and downs. We all pushed on and kept trying to get better and, you know what, now we are NL East champs," right-hander Stephen Strasburg said, speaking on how this team was built and on what the Nationals went through to get to this point. "I don't think this is going to be our only time," he added. "We are living in the now, and we got lot of work to do. But we are going to make the most of it, play in the moment,...

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For one night, Morse's power returns and Clippard shuts them down

September 27, 2012, 8:51pm

Nationals

For one night, Morse's power returns and Clippard shuts them down

The Nationals certainly showed they are the better team after taking two of three against the Phillies, winning the series finale, 7-3. Some of the headlines include Gio Gonzalez winning his career-high 21st game and Bryce Harper hitting his 21st homer. But how about the two home runs from Michael Morse and four RBIs? The second home run was a mammoth shot, travelling 451 feet and landing in Tom Gorzelanny's hat in the second level where the visitor's bullpen is situated in Citizens Bank...

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Remembering 2010: Nationals have chance to turn tables on Phillies

October 01, 2012, 2:08pm

Nationals

The Phillies defeated the Nationals 8-0 on September 27, 2010, before 14,309 at Nationals Park, to clinch the NL East crown. The Nationals managed just two hits that day, as Roy Halladay tossed a complete game for his 21st win. A look back at the starting lineups that day: Phillies Victorino CF Polanco 3B Utley 2B Howard 1B Werth RF Ibanez LF Ruiz C Valdez SS Halladay P Subs: Wilson Nationals Espinosa 2B Morgan CF Desmond SS Dunn 1B Morse RF Bernadina LF Ramos C Gonzalez 3B Lannan...

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Gunning for top seed, Johnson sticking with Suzuki

October 01, 2012, 2:19pm

Nationals

Gunning for top seed, Johnson sticking with Suzuki

At the start of his afternoon press conference today, Davey Johnson was asked about the Orioles, his former team both as a player and a manager, clinching their first playoff spot since Johnson managed them in 1997. "It was great. Great," Johnson said. "Beat the Yankees. Finish ahead of the Yankees." Johnson then paused. "That'll get you fired," he said with a laugh. A couple minutes later, Johnson was asked how he feels about being mentioned as a candidate for the Manager of the...

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A whole lot of nothing against Kyle Kendrick (we're through seven)

October 01, 2012, 4:49pm

Nationals

A whole lot of nothing against Kyle Kendrick (we're through seven)

Through five innings, the Nationals have not managed a single run and have put up just three base hits - all singles - off Kyle Kendrick. Kendrick, who the Nats lit up on Wednesday, has let just four balls out of the infield. Of the 15 outs he's retired, 12 have been via the ground ball, and the Nationals' best threat so far only came after the Phillies starter chucked a pickoff throw down the right field line, allowing Kurt Suzuki to move from first to third. The play brought a large crowd...

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Suzuki gets 10th straight start

October 01, 2012, 11:37am

Nationals

Kurt Suzuki has told manager Davey Johnson in the past that he has no problem starting every single game. Until the Nationals clinch the NL East title, Johnson is taking Suzuki up on his offer. Suzuki's getting the start behind the plate for the 10th straight day, a very lengthy streak for a catcher. In the last nine games, Suzuki is batting .294 with a home run and seven RBIs, so Johnson doesn't want to go away from the hot hand. He'll stick with Suzuki until the Nats are able to lock up...

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Lannan gets the call to clinch division for Nationals on Monday

September 30, 2012, 8:30pm

Nationals

It is with a bit more than just a little irony that the Nationals have three chances to clinch their first NL East title, at home, against the Phillies, and with none other than left-hander John Lannan getting the call. Lannan gets the start because it is his turn in the rotation in a season where he has made only five starts with the Nationals. Right-hander Stephen Strasburg? No, he reached his innings limit. Gio Gonzalez? He gets the chance Tuesday. Edwin Jackson, Jordan Zimmermann and...

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Johnson discusses Nats' 10-4 loss

September 30, 2012, 3:07pm

Nationals

ST. LOUIS - The Champagne celebration won't take place on this road trip. The Nationals came into today needing only a win or a Braves loss to pop open the bubbly as NL East champions, but they fell behind 5-0 after two innings and 7-0 after three, and then let the Cardinals put up two big tack-on runs in the bottom of the fourth to turn a 7-4 game back into a comfortable five-run lead. Ross Detwiler gave up seven runs (three of which were earned) over 2 1/3 innings. He struggled in finding...

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Postgame quotes from Detwiler, Espinosa and Desmond

September 30, 2012, 3:43pm

Nationals

Postgame quotes from Detwiler, Espinosa and Desmond

ST. LOUIS - Toward the end of a lengthy session with reporters after today's 10-4 loss to the Cardinals, Ross Detwiler, who was hit hard in his 2 1/3 innings of work, was able to inject a little humor to lighten the mood in a quiet Nationals clubhouse. "This was for all the fans back in D.C.," Detwiler deadpanned. "(I) wanted them to see the team clinch." Don't take that quote the wrong way; by no means did Detwiler take his rough start lightly. He was frustrated with his inability to...

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Coming back home, still looking for the clincher

September 30, 2012, 10:11pm

Nationals

Coming back home, still looking for the clincher

ST. LOUIS - Each of the last two days, I'd brought a bag containing a change of clothes with me to Busch Stadium. If the Nationals happened to clinch the division and I ended up with champagne all over my button down and pants, I didn't want to then have to spend the next couple hours working while stinking like alcohol. My college friends can insert their own jokes here. The change of clothes never left the bag, however. Saturday night, a Braves win prevented the Nationals from popping...

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Ted Leavengood: A tale of two seasons

October 01, 2012, 5:47am

Nationals

It was the best of times; it was the worst of times. The Washington Nationals have ascended the heights. They have one of the best records in the game. But the pitching staff that was masterful in the first five months of the season, had the wheels come off as the Cardinals scored 26 runs over the past three days. Ross Detwiler and Edwin Jackson -- both pitchers with some history in St. Louis--looked as bad as any two Washington pitchers have all season long. In less than four innings, they...

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A disastrous start for Detwiler (Nats blown out 10-4)

September 30, 2012, 11:21am

Nationals

A disastrous start for Detwiler (Nats blown out 10-4)

ST. LOUIS - Given a chance to clinch the division title in his hometown, Ross Detwiler did not bring his A-game to the table. Detwiler has allowed five runs through two innings, walked four hitters and served up a two-run homer to Carlos Beltran. The Nationals trail the Cardinals 5-0 after two. Detwiler pitched a scoreless first inning, but fell apart in the second. He walked the first two hitters he faced, then got an awful break when Danny Espinosa booted a tailor-made 4-6-3 double play...

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Pitching in his hometown, Detilwer can notch the clinching win

September 30, 2012, 9:37am

Nationals

Pitching in his hometown, Detilwer can notch the clinching win

ST. LOUIS - Ross Detwiler was pretty down on himself after his last start, calling his performance in the Nationals' series-opening loss at Philadelphia "embarrassing." Detwiler allowed five runs over five innings Tuesday against the Phillies, an outing which you could tell stayed with him in the days afterward. Today, Detwiler has a chance to atone for that outing by helping the Nationals clinch the NL East, and he has a chance to do it in his hometown in front of dozens of family members...

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The Suzuki trade keeps looking better and better

September 29, 2012, 11:11pm

Nationals

The Suzuki trade keeps looking better and better

ST. LOUIS - When the Nationals acquired Kurt Suzuki from the Athletics back in early August, they expected him to provide some veteran experience behind the plate, manage the pitching staff and use his strong arm to stop teams from running all over them on the basepaths. In the minds of General Manager Mike Rizzo and manager Davey Johnson, any offensive production they got from Suzuki on top of his defensive play was gravy. The Nationals are getting plenty of gravy. Plates and plates worth of...

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Johnson discusses Nats' 6-4, 10-inning win

September 29, 2012, 8:46pm

Nationals

Johnson discusses Nats' 6-4, 10-inning win

ST. LOUIS - Well this one sure didn't lack excitement. The Nationals jumped on top of the Cardinals 4-0 in the first inning on the most bizarre grand slam you'll ever see, punctuated by a Michael Morse fake swing. They then allowed three runs in the seventh inning and blew a save in the ninth, sending the game to extra innings. Kurt Suzuki followed that just minutes later with a two-out, tie-breaking double off the wall in left-center, and Craig Stammen earned his first career save in the...

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Morse on his grand slam and fake swing: "It was just such a crazy moment"

September 29, 2012, 9:19pm

Nationals

Morse on his grand slam and fake swing: "It was just such a crazy moment"

ST. LOUIS - Michael Morse has been playing baseball for the bulk of his 30 years on this earth. I think it's fair to say he's never seen anything like what we saw in the first inning of tonight's game, when Morse needed to run the bases backwards and then essentially hit a grand slam without a bat in his hands. "I think anybody (has)," Morse said with a smile. "That was something different." If you haven't seen the clip of Morse's grand slam, do yourself a favor and check it out now....

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Save the champagne for at least another day (Nats win 6-4 in 10 innings)

September 29, 2012, 5:57pm

Nationals

Save the champagne for at least another day (Nats win 6-4 in 10 innings)

ST. LOUIS - The Nationals will not clinch the National League East title tonight, regardless of what happens here at Busch Stadium. The Braves have just put the finishing touches on a 2-0 win over the Mets down in Atlanta, meaning that even with a win over the Cardinals tonight, the Nationals' magic number will only be cut to one. They'll have to wait until tomorrow, at the earliest, to wrap up the division title. The Mets threatened in the ninth against Braves closer Craig Kimbrel, but...

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The most bizarre grand slam in the history of Major League Baseball (updated)

September 29, 2012, 3:53pm

Nationals

The most bizarre grand slam in the history of Major League Baseball (updated)

ST. LOUIS - The Nationals lead 4-0 after the top of the first thanks to what is easily one of the strangest scenes I've ever witnessed on a baseball field. Up with the bases loaded and none out, Michael Morse went with a Kyle Lohse, first-pitch, two-seam fastball and drove it to right. The ball bounced off an advertisement banner just above the right field wall and kicked back on the field. The guys on the bases for the Nationals all seemed to think the ball was gone and Morse should have...