nationals

Upon further review, Nationals have really gotten to those Phillies

August 11, 2012, 7:47am

The Nationals have become a machine. Rolling through the National League, they have amassed 70 wins, the first team in the majors to do so. With Jayson Werth back in the lineup and Michael Morse swinging the hottest of bats, the Nationals have added consistent offense to what has been the best pitching in the league for the first 100 games. And then there are the Phillies. Wait a minute, you mean, and then there are the Braves. Absolutely, the Braves are also humming along. They have...

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A slow start, a nice comeback (Nats win 6-5)

August 11, 2012, 6:12pm

Nationals

A slow start, a nice comeback (Nats win 6-5)

After a slow start, the Nationals have stormed back to take the lead over the Diamondbacks thanks to a monster fifth inning. Jayson Werth, Ryan Zimmerman, Michael Morse and Jesus Flores all delivered run-scoring hits in the fifth, with Zimmerman's single plating two. That five-run inning turned a 4-1 Nats deficit into a 6-4 Washington lead. Seven Nationals hitters reached in the fifth, knocking Diamondbacks starter Wade Miley out after just 4 1/3 innings. The Nats put up a run in the top...

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A beatdown on the way to No. 70

August 10, 2012, 10:27pm

Nationals

After a four-day stretch which featured three absolute nailbiters against the worst team in the majors, you've got to believe last night's 9-1 throttling of the Diamondbacks was highly appreciated in the Nationals dugout. The Nats smacked 11 hits, seven for extra bases. They held the D'backs to just three hits all night, including one through the first eight innings. They went 4-for-11 with runners in scoring position and outscored the opposition by eight runs, their largest margin of...

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Bring on the bullpens (Nats three-hit D'backs)

August 10, 2012, 7:34pm

Nationals

Bring on the bullpens (Nats three-hit D'backs)

We'll be getting a heavy dose of both the Nationals and Diamondbacks bullpens tonight. Stephen Strasburg and Trevor Cahill have both thrown well tonight, but through five innings, each starter has a pitch count in the 90s. Strasburg has tossed 93 pitches, while Cahill has needed 92 to get through his five frames. Strasburg might very well be done before reaching the sixth, and if he is indeed finished, he leaves with at least a three-run lead. The righty uncharacteristically walked four,...

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Harper back in Nats lineup (with D'backs lineup)

August 10, 2012, 2:36pm

Nationals

Harper back in Nats lineup (with D'backs lineup)

After getting a day off yesterday, Bryce Harper is back in the Nationals lineup for tonight's series opener against Diamondbacks. Stephen Strasburg will face off against D'backs righty Trevor Cahill, who is 9-9 with a 3.76 ERA this season. Michael Morse will hit fifth, but instead of looking to extend his hitting streak to 19 games, he'll try and boost that hitting streak to eight. Major League Baseball has announced that Morse's third inning single against the Phillies on August 2...

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Starting to really hit their stride

August 10, 2012, 5:42am

Nationals

Michael Morse's first home run last night was measured at 434 feet by hittrackeronline.com. Call me shocked the thing wasn't projected to travel at least 460 feet. That ball was crushed. It registers as Morse's second-longest homer of the season, apparently not even coming all that close to his mammoth 465-foot blast back at Nats Park on July 20. Outside the Mid-Atlantic region, you probably won't hear Jordan Zimmermann's name tossed around during many discussions about the top pitchers...

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Nationals' schedule turns in their favor after San Francisco (with notes)

August 09, 2012, 8:50pm

Nationals

After the Nationals finish this 10-game, three-city tour, they will have 27 regular season home games left and 17 on the road. Put another way, the Nationals will have 27 of their final 44 regular season games at Nationals Park. That will be big as they drive to control the NL East. The home schedule includes visits from the Dodgers, Cardinals and Phillies to end the regular season. With 37 road wins, the Nationals have the most road victories of any major league team. Next closest? Try...

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Beasley: Syracuse's Christian Garcia is like having Strasburg in the bullpen

August 10, 2012, 11:31am

Nationals

Beasley: Syracuse's Christian Garcia is like having Strasburg in the bullpen

The amazing statistic almost defies reality. One earned run allowed in 19 appearances. In a span of 23 1/3 innings, the right-hander has allowed one earned run. He has not allowed a run since June. While in the Yankees organization, he underwent Tommy John surgery...twice - in 2006 and in 2010. And he can throw his fastball consistently from 95-97 mph. Right-hander Christian Garcia has been tearing up the International League. The 27 year old has been through a lot, but now with Triple-A...

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Looking a few months, and a few hours, ahead

August 09, 2012, 12:15pm

Nationals

Looking a few months, and a few hours, ahead

Major League Baseball has officially released its 2012 postseason schedule, and hopefully I can pass along a few of the key dates without being considered a jinx. Since I plan on taking full credit if the Nationals make the playoffs this season (I come aboard and look how quickly things turn!), I'll certainly be the one to blame if things go south for the Nationals over these next couple months. The new Wild Card "play-in" games will both be held on Friday, Oct. 5, with the winner in each...

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Harper getting a mental break (with lineups)

August 09, 2012, 12:49pm

Nationals

Harper getting a mental break (with lineups)

Davey Johnson suggested last night that he would probably give Bryce Harper a day off today, and that's what he's done. Mired in a slump, which has seen him hit just .176 since the All-Star break, Harper is not in the Nationals lineup today. The rookie outfielder also made an ill-advised throw in the ninth inning last night, allowing the Astros to put the potential game-winning run in scoring position. It was after that play that Johnson said he decided Harper could use a breather, or a...

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Syracuse's Rivero realizing the time is now, hits stride at plate

August 09, 2012, 8:08am

Nationals

Syracuse's Rivero realizing the time is now, hits stride at plate

Triple-A Syracuse Chiefs third baseman Carlos Rivero is hitting his stride at just the right time. These next two months are critical to Rivero's career. Out of options and only 24 years old, Rivero is close to getting his shot, either with the Nationals or with another team next season. And sensing the importance, Rivero is not shying away from the challenge but relishing it. Syracuse manager Tony Beasley has seen the 6-foot-3, 215 lb., Rivero find his rhythm at the dish. The last 10...

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Zimmermann back in the saddle again (Nats sweep Astros)

August 09, 2012, 5:44pm

Nationals

Zimmermann back in the saddle again (Nats sweep Astros)

Hey, the game's in Texas; I figured I should toss a country reference in there. After struggling a bit (and getting some bad breaks) in his last outing, Jordan Zimmermann is back to his dominant self tonight down in Houston. Zimmermann has cruised through five innings, allowing just two hits and striking out nine. He has a 2-0 lead going to the sixth. The righty has already tied his season high for strikeouts in a game, which he posted back on May 12. Zimmermann needed seven innings to...

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Marty Niland: The last Washington pennant race in 1945

August 10, 2012, 4:59am

Nationals

Marty Niland: The last Washington pennant race in 1945

The kind of success the Nationals are seeing this year isn't even a once-in-a-generation thing. It's more like several generations. A ballclub from the nation's capital hasn't contended for a title this late in the season since 1945, when a Senators team full of rookies, castoffs and even an amputee pitcher made an improbable run that went down to the last week of the season and ended all too early, literally. If it wasn't for Senators owner Clark Griffith, baseball might have been called...

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Talking umpiring and positive signs from G. Gonzalez

August 09, 2012, 5:52am

Nationals

Talking umpiring and positive signs from G. Gonzalez

It's never a good thing when an umpire becomes a hot topic of discussion. Umpires are a lot like long snappers in football - you only really hear about them when they've made a mistake. Unfortunately, Angel Hernandez's name was brought up a lot last night. Hernandez, who isn't shy about putting his stamp on a game, called two balks from behind home plate and had what seemed like a shaky strike zone most of the night. He got quite a few nasty glares from players after what they felt were...

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Five Auburn players invited to NY-Penn All-Star game

August 08, 2012, 6:45pm

Nationals

Five Auburn players invited to NY-Penn All-Star game

Several Single-A Auburn Doubleday players have had great starts to their seasons with five of them being rewarded with invites to the New York-Penn League All-Star Game. The game is August 14 at Mahoning Valley. The five invitees are right fielder Wander Ramos, left fielder Estarlin Martinez, first baseman Shawn Pleffner, shortstop Wes Schill and catcher Craig Manuel, according to Auburn manager Gary Cathcart. Pleffner, a 26th rounder in 2011 and born in Washington, D.C., is hitting .322 in...

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The series just keeps getting weirder (Gonzalez carries Nats to 4-3 win)

August 08, 2012, 5:05pm

Nationals

The series just keeps getting weirder (Gonzalez carries Nats to 4-3 win)

We've had a sacrifice bunt which scored a runner from first and left the bunter standing on third base. We've had a leaping catch against the wall in left-center which was one of the best grabs you'll see all season. We've had a sacrifice fly called back because the pitcher was called for a balk, scoring a run. We've had two extra-inning games in consecutive nights played between the best team in the majors and the worst team in the majors. Now, we have Gio Gonzalez crushing a two-run,...

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David Huzzard: Nats capitalize on their schedule to find success

August 09, 2012, 5:12am

Nationals

David Huzzard: Nats capitalize on their schedule to find success

At 68-43 with 479 runs scored and 396 runs allowed, the Nationals have played great baseball. But one of the best things the Nationals have done is take advantage of opportunities on their schedule. The Nationals started the season on the road against the Cubs, who were believed to be in rebuilding mode before the season began, and the Mets, who were projected to be a last-place club in the NL East. Starting against these two teams was viewed as an opportunity for the Nationals to get off to a...

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Chris Marrero could return to Syracuse lineup in one week (updated)

August 08, 2012, 8:19am

Nationals

Chris Marrero could return to Syracuse lineup in one week (updated)

Good news this week for Triple-A Syracuse Chiefs first baseman Chris Marrero, who has been slowed the last month as he recovers from an offseason torn hamstring. Manager Tony Beasley said Marrero has made big progress the last few weeks. "He has been running the bases," Beasley said. "He will run them again (today). He has been taking batting practice. He is feeling pretty good right now. We anticipate him back in probably (five) days or so. He will probably go and get some A-Bs...

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Werth returns to Nats lineup (with Astros lineup)

August 08, 2012, 12:37pm

Nationals

Werth returns to Nats lineup (with Astros lineup)

Outfielder Jayson Werth returns to tonight's lineup after sitting out last night's 12-inning win with tightness in his legs. Kurt Suzuki is also back in the lineup and will catch left-hander Gio Gonzalez as he aims for his 14th victory. Suzuki and Gonzalez were teammates out in Oakland, and the two batterymates will reunite tonight. For the Nats: 2B Steve Lombardozzi CF Bryce Harper 3B Ryan Zimmermann 1B Adam LaRoche LF Michael Morse RF Jasyon Werth SS Danny Espinosa C Kurt Suzuki P...

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Reliving Bernadina's 12th-inning heroics

August 07, 2012, 9:28pm

Nationals

Reliving Bernadina's 12th-inning heroics

Tyler Clippard owes Roger Bernadina a big, juicy steak. Or 12. If not for Bernadina's dazzling defense, we'd be talking about how Clippard had blown four saves since the All-Star break, including two in as many nights. Instead, Clippard gets his 23rd save of the season thanks to a scoreless 12th inning. Looks pretty nice in the box score. I know Mike Trout's home run-robbing grab at Camden Yards earlier this season was just an insane play. There have been a few other ridiculous outfield...