nationals

Suzuki getting comfortable, excited about new challenge with Nationals

August 05, 2012, 11:19am

Nationals catcher Kurt Suzuki started his Sunday morning with a stroll through the clubhouse. Wearing a Nationals workout shirt and athletic long shorts with two white batting gloves, he was ready for work. Suzuki headed to the indoor batting cage for a session with Nationals hitting coach Rick Eckstein. Although Suzuki admitted he is not quite where he wants to be at the plate (.215), he believes he is making progress. "I feel good," Suzuki told me on 106.7 The Fan's "Nats Insider". "I...

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Nats lineup for finale vs. Marlins

August 05, 2012, 7:21am

Nationals

For today's series finale against Miami's Ricky Nolasco, the Nationals have Bryce Harper in center, Jayson Werth in right and Jesus Flores catching Stephen Strasburg. For the Nationals: 2B Steve Lombardozzi CF Bryce Harper 3B Ryan Zimmerman 1B Adam LaRoche LF Michael Morse RF Jayson Werth SS Danny Espinosa C Jesus Flores P Stephen Strasburg

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Johnson discusses Nats' big comeback win

August 04, 2012, 7:53pm

Nationals

Johnson discusses Nats' big comeback win

The Nationals didn't play great baseball through the first seven innings of tonight's game. They made three errors, they got a sub-par outing from Jordan Zimmermann (by his standards, at least), they allowed two more stolen bases and they got minimal offense from guys not named Adam LaRoche. Davey Johnson's group trailed 6-4 with two outs in the bottom of the eighth inning. Then, seemingly in the blink of an eye, the game was a laugher, there was a party in the Nationals' dugout and the...

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A clubhouse full of smiles

August 04, 2012, 8:45pm

Nationals

I guess Kurt Suzuki picked a decent game to make his Nationals debut. The Nats' new starting catcher went 0-for-4 today, but that didn't stop him from soaking up every moment of the postgame atmosphere in the clubhouse after the 10-7 win. "This is awesome!" he said. Pretty much everyone in the Nats' clubhouse acknowledged that the team came out a bit flat tonight, and the Marlins capitalized early on. "They took advantage of every mistake we made," Adam LaRoche said. "Stole a bunch...

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Martinson, Goodwin, Perry, Rendon and Walters notes and more

August 05, 2012, 3:40am

Nationals

Martinson, Goodwin, Perry, Rendon and Walters notes and more

Potomac Nationals shortstop Jason Martinson is an RBI machine. Martinson collected his 100th RBI of the season Saturday in a 10-8 loss at Winston-Salem. Martinson hit his 21st homer of the season in the fourth and had an RBI single in the ninth, which was his 100th RBI of the season between two teams. Martinson started the season at low Single-A Hagerstown. Outfielder Steven Souza, Jr., has been placed on the disabled list with a leg injury after running into the outfield wall in pursuit of...

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An offensive explosion in the eighth puts Nats on top (Nats win 10-7)

August 04, 2012, 6:05pm

Nationals

An offensive explosion in the eighth puts Nats on top (Nats win 10-7)

What looked like another tough loss to a less-than-star-studded Marlins lineup has turned into what will likely be a huge comeback win. The Nationals can thank a six-run eighth inning, with all six runs scoring with two outs, for the thrilling comeback. Back-to-back RBI singles by Steve Lombardozzi and Tyler Moore tied the game for the Nats in the eighth. But they weren't done yet. Not by a longshot. Danny Espinosa, who entered the game mired in a 3-for-37 slump, absolutely destroyed a 2-2...

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A rare rocky outing for Zimmermann (LaRoche stays red hot)

August 04, 2012, 4:49pm

Nationals

A rare rocky outing for Zimmermann (LaRoche stays red hot)

Jordan Zimmermann came into today having gone at least six innings in all 21 of his outings this season. He had allowed either one or zero earned runs in his last seven starts. He had surrendered five hits or fewer in each of his last five outings. Tonight, with Zimmermann working on six days of rest, all those streaks came to an end. The Nationals righty, who had the best ERA among qualified major league starters coming into tonight's game, allowed five runs (four earned) over five...

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Hearing from the Nationals' new starting catcher

August 04, 2012, 2:29pm

Nationals

As reporters chatted with Kurt Suzuki in the clubhouse this afternoon, the Nationals' new starting catcher learned exactly what type of team he was joining. About 20 feet across the room, Mark DeRosa had grabbed the mic of the new karaoke machine in his locker and was serving as an emcee of sorts, introducing everyone that walked by. He made up a nickname for certain players and gave others a shout out using the college they attended. Then, as Suzuki was in the middle of a sentence about...

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Johnson talks Flores' role, Zimmermann's health (Leon optioned)

August 04, 2012, 3:06pm

Nationals

Johnson talks Flores' role, Zimmermann's health (Leon optioned)

The Nationals announced today that they've optioned catcher Sandy Leon to Triple-A Syracuse, making room for Kurt Suzuki on the 25-man roster. Leon batted .250 (7-for-28) with two doubles, two RBI, three walks and two runs scored in 10 games with the Nats this season. Jesus Flores claimed after the second game of last night's doubleheader that he hadn't yet heard about the Nationals acquiring catcher Kurt Suzuki. Today, Flores and manager Davey Johnson had what Johnson described as a long...

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Suzuki to start his first game with Nationals (with Marlins lineup)

August 04, 2012, 11:40am

Nationals

New Nationals catcher Kurt Suzuki is in the starting lineup for tonight's game against the Marlins. The 28-year-old will catch Jordan Zimmermann and hit seventh. For the Nats: SS Danny Espinosa RF Bryce Harper 3B Ryan Zimmerman LF Michael Morse 1B Adam LaRoche CF Jayson Werth C Kurt Suzuki 2B Steve Lombardozzi P Jordan Zimmermann For the Marlins: LF Bryan Petersen RF Scott Cousins SS Jose Reyes 1B Carlos Lee 3B Greg Dobbs 2B Donovan Solano CF Gorkys Hernandez C John Buck P Mark Buehrle

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Notes and quotes on a slow Saturday

August 04, 2012, 7:50am

Nationals

After the second game of yesterday's doubleheader, Adam LaRoche summed things up as only Adam LaRoche can. "It could've been better, but we're all still alive after that, so we'll get them tomorrow," LaRoche said. The Nationals might have split the two games with the Marlins yesterday, but LaRoche is right - at least no one died on the field. That's always a plus. Splitting a doubleheader isn't anything to be too upset about. Unfortunately for the Nationals, however, the Braves are...

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Nats option catcher Sandy Leon to Syracuse

August 04, 2012, 12:29pm

Nationals

Nats option catcher Sandy Leon to Syracuse

The Washington Nationals today optioned catcher Sandy Leon to Syracuse of the Triple-A International League. Nationals Executive Vice President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcement. Leon, 23, played in 10 games for Washington as a true rookie and batted .250 (7-for-28) with two doubles, two RBI, three walks and two runs scored. In Leon's eight starts behind the plate, the Nationals went 6-2. This is the corresponding move as 28 year-old catcher Kurt...

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One All-Star outpitched by another

August 03, 2012, 8:12pm

Nationals

Gio Gonzalez was good tonight. Very good. Facing the Marlins in the second game of today's doubleheader, the Nationals lefty thought he might've had the best stuff he's had all season. He worked eight innings, going deeper into a game than he had all season. He struck out ten, marking the third time this season that he's reached the double-digit K mark. Still, he ended up with a loss. Gonzalez was good tonight, Josh Johnson was just better. "It was all Josh Johnson really," manager...

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Flores taken aback by Suzuki trade

August 03, 2012, 8:21pm

Nationals

Today's roster move of the day which surprises absolutely no one: The Nationals optioned John Lannan back to Triple-A Syracuse following today's doubleheader. Lannan was added as the 26th man on the roster due to a new rule which gives teams an extra player for doubleheaders. The Nationals will be making another roster move shortly. This one apparently did surprise someone. Word of today's trade which brought catcher Kurt Suzuki to Washington apparently didn't reach Jesus Flores, who was...

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Game 1 thoughts from the skipper and starter

August 03, 2012, 4:09pm

Nationals

Game 1 thoughts from the skipper and starter

Twice now, John Lannan has been brought up from Triple-A to start one half of a Nationals doubleheader. Twice now, Lannan has gotten off to a slow start but earned a win. The lefty allowed five baserunners in the first two innings of the Nats 7-4 win over the Marlins, then shut Miami down for the next four frames. He got into a bit more trouble in the seventh, allowing two walks and a double. He allowed five walks overall, but still did enough to move to 2-0 on the season. "I thought he ran...

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Marlins basehit Gonzalez to death in sixth (Nats lose game two, 5-2)

August 03, 2012, 5:36pm

Nationals

Marlins basehit Gonzalez to death in sixth (Nats lose game two, 5-2)

Gio Gonzalez was cruising right along through the first five innings of tonight's game against the Marlins. He'd given up just two hits, faced only one over the minimum and had registered five strikeouts. Gonzalez had a 1-0 lead going into the sixth, and seemingly in the blink of an eye, trailed 3-1. The Marlins notched five singles in a six-batter span in the sixth inning, bringing in three runs to take the lead. It all started with a single to deep right by Marlins starter Josh Johnson,...

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Skole's walk-off grand slam highlights amazing season in Hagerstown

August 03, 2012, 8:09pm

Nationals

Skole's walk-off grand slam highlights amazing season in Hagerstown

Third baseman Matt Skole connected on a walk-off grand slam, his third homer in as many games, to lift low Single-A Hagerstown over the Lexington Legends, 6-3, Saturday night at Municipal Stadium. The grand slam completed a five-RBI night for the Georgia Tech product. He has three homers and 11 RBIs in his last three games. His season statistics are getting ridiculous. Skole now has 25 homers and 18 doubles with 87 RBIs in 94 games for a .292 average. The 25 homers lead the South Atlantic...

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Rizzo discusses the acquisition of Kurt Suzuki

August 03, 2012, 12:05pm

Nationals

Rizzo discusses the acquisition of Kurt Suzuki

The Nationals and Athletics had been discussing a trade centering around Kurt Suzuki in the days leading up to the non-waiver trade deadline, but they couldn't get it all finalized before 4 p.m. struck on Tuesday afternoon. Once the trade was finally settled on by both teams and Suzuki cleared waivers, Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo got his guy, a guy who he has thought highly of for some time. "Kurt gives us a veteran presence in the clubhouse," Rizzo said. "He's a terrific guy....

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Nats bite the Hand that fed them (Nats win game one 7-4)

August 03, 2012, 1:52pm

Nationals

Nats bite the Hand that fed them (Nats win game one 7-4)

Poor Brad Hand. Not only did the Marlins starter allow a whopping seven runs over 3 2/3 innings before being pulled from the first game of today's doubleheader, he also teed up reporters in the press box, who fired off jokes playing on his last name. Things got out of Hand in the third inning. The Marlins Handed the Nationals a few runs today. Ozzie Guillen told his starter to Hand him the ball. I know, I know. Awful stuff. The Nationals broke things open against Hand and the Marlins by...

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Nats trade for catcher Kurt Suzuki (Maldonado DFA)

August 03, 2012, 10:47am

Nationals

Nats trade for catcher Kurt Suzuki (Maldonado DFA)

Attempting to add a veteran presence to their thinned crop of catchers, the Nationals have acquired veteran backstop Kurt Suzuki from the Oakland Athletics for minor league catcher David Freitas. Suzuki, 28, is likely to replace Jesus Flores as the Nationals' starting catcher. "He's a No. 1 catcher," said manager Davey Johnson, who managed Suzuki five years ago during qualifying for the 2008 Olympics. "I liked his catching skills and I liked his bat potential then. And that was (five)...