nationals

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

September 15, 2012, 2:16pm

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...

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A chance to put the final nail in the divisional race

September 13, 2012, 10:57pm

Nationals

A chance to put the final nail in the divisional race

Yesterday sure made for an interesting off-day. We had Nationals third base coach Bo Porter, who lives in the Houston area, interviewing for the Astros' managerial job. Porter is highly thought of within the Nationals organization and is considered a candidate to eventually replace Davey Johnson once Johnson decides to step out of the managerial role. Porter missed out on two past managerial openings after interviewing for the position; he was up for the Pirates job in 2010 and the Marlins...

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Marty Niland: G. Gonzalez primed to join elite company

September 14, 2012, 4:30am

Nationals

Marty Niland: G. Gonzalez primed to join elite company

Nationals left-hander Gio Gonzalez will be looking to join an exclusive club this weekend in Atlanta. He's set to take the mound Sunday bidding for his 20th win of the season. If he gets it, he'll not only be the first 20-game winner in the major leagues this year, he'll be the first player in a Washington uniform to do it in 59 years. With a win in Atlanta or another of his final starts this season, Gonzalez will join a club that includes Walter Johnson, who won at least 20 a dozen times...

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Who's your most surprising National?

September 13, 2012, 10:31am

Nationals

As Ian Desmond's 23rd homer of the season sailed over the fence last night at Citi Field, I thought to myself, "Self, there's no way you could've seen this coming." Desmond hit .253 with eight home runs and a .656 OPS last season. Anyone that says they expected the Nationals' shortstop to be batting .295 with 23 homers and a .854 OPS and to have a suddenly near-flawless glove this season is lying to themselves. Given what he's done this season, Desmond is a sure candidate for the most...

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A quiet start for Lannan, and that's a good thing (Nats sweep Mets)

September 12, 2012, 4:19pm

Nationals

A quiet start for Lannan, and that's a good thing (Nats sweep Mets)

If you were thinking that John Lannan might be a little too hyped up for his first major league start in over five weeks, you don't really know John Lannan all that well. The veteran lefty, who isn't the type to let his emotions affect him too much on the mound, has thrown three scoreless innings to start tonight's ballgame. Lannan's allowed three hits so far, but he hasn't walked a batter (walks were his issue during his last start with the Nats) and he's gotten six groundball...