nationals

Johnson talks after Nats' 12-2 win

September 24, 2012, 2:18pm

Yesterday's 6-2 Nationals loss was a bit of a sloppy affair. The Nats made a couple errors, lost a couple balls in the sun and struggled to do much of anything offensively against Brewers pitching. Flip that script and you'll get an idea how this afternoon's series finale between the Nats and Brewers played out. The Nats benefited from a fly ball which Brewers center fielder Carlos Gomez lost in the sun, extending an inning and allowing five additional runs to score. They watched Milwaukee...

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Zimmermann hitting stride again at right time for Nationals

September 24, 2012, 2:03pm

Nationals

With nine games remaining in the regular season, the Nationals would like nothing better than their starting rotation to get into a groove right before the postseason begins. No. 1 starter Gio Gonzalez continues to roll, earning win No. 20 Saturday in a 10-4 gem over the Brewers. Two days later, the No. 2 starter Jordan Zimmermann dispatched Milwaukee 12-2. On cue, Zimmermann went 6 2/3 innings on Monday, allowing four hits with just one run, a solo shot by Corey Hart, with just two walks...

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Plenty of notes on the rotation, playoff planning and Morse

September 24, 2012, 8:55am

Nationals

Plenty of notes on the rotation, playoff planning and Morse

Davey Johnson has made it well known that he's not thinking ahead to the playoffs or how he'll manage the team in the final days of the regular season. He's fully focused on today (with an eye on tomorrow, as he likes to say) and often pumps the breaks when reporters ask questions that he feels are getting too far ahead of where the Nationals are at this point. But when Johnson was asked today how he feels about contending teams having a problem with him resting starters down the stretch...

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Johnson: Nationals' Garcia could be a starter next season

September 24, 2012, 8:01am

Nationals

The Nationals have been so impressed with reliever Christian Garcia and his power arm that manager Davey Johnson said today they would consider converting the right-hander to a starter next season. Garcia complained of right biceps fatigue following Saturday's win over the Brewers, in which he allowed a two-run shot in the ninth to the Brewers' Taylor Green. Johnson said Garcia was on "cruise control" before the homer, and after the homer he got "amped up." Did he ever - Garcia struck...

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Down the stretch they come

September 24, 2012, 5:32am

Nationals

Over their last 15 games, the Nationals are 7-8. Reason to be concerned? No, not yet. But it's not exactly the way you want to be playing with the postseason quickly approaching and meaningful regular season games still to come in the next week and a half. The Nationals' competition down the stretch is fairly stiff. They've got one more game with the Brewers this afternoon, three at Philadelphia against a Phillies team that definitely won't roll over with the Nats in town, three in St....

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Johnson talks after Nats' 6-2 loss

September 23, 2012, 2:03pm

Nationals

The Nationals held a "jerseys off their backs" promotion today, giving their game-worn jerseys to fans. The promotion was perfectly timed. "It was a good day to give the jersey away," Johnson said. "I don't wanna wear that one. That one was unlucky." You'd have a hard time finding a game the Nationals have played this season which was as sloppy as the one they played today. The Brewers hit few balls all that hard, but they still notched 15 hits. The Nats made two errors and lost two...

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Morse sits in finale against Brewers

September 24, 2012, 6:33am

Nationals

The Nationals have posted their lineup for today's 1:05 p.m. game against the Brewers and Michael Morse isn't in it. Roger Bernadina will get the start in left field against ex-Nats right-hander Marco Estrada. Here's the Nationals lineup: RF Jayson Werth CF Bryce Harper 3B Ryan Zimmerman 1B Adam LaRoche SS Ian Desmond 2B Danny Espinosa LF Roger Bernadina C Kurt Suzuki P Jordan Zimmermann

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How Nationals might factor into NL postseason awards

September 24, 2012, 6:26am

Nationals

As the Nationals take aim at wrapping up the National League East, here's a look at how they're shaping up in the postseason awards voted on by the Baseball Writers' Association of America: Cy Young Award: Gio Gonzalez has 20 wins, the gold standard for pitchers, but that might not be enough to win, especially when new-age statistics are redefining how pitchers are judged. Consider that Tim Lincecum (16 wins), Zack Greinke (16) and Felix Hernandez (13) won the award in the last two...

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Ted Leavengood: The teapot tempest over turnout

September 24, 2012, 5:32am

Nationals

Ted Leavengood: The teapot tempest over turnout

On Saturday, Nationals Park was awash in an unbroken sea of red jerseys and caps as 40,000 loyal fans came to enjoy baseball played in remarkably clear, crisp autumn weather. Much has been written about the disappointing attendance at Nationals games. Too much has been said about the preponderance of Philadelphia fans who overrun the loyal Washington rooters when their team is in town. Too many have said this is a football town and always will be. Put that teapot away, the tempest fugit. (From...

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Blinded by the light, Nationals outfielders must figure out how to block out the sun

September 23, 2012, 2:33pm

Nationals

It was an uneven defensive performance for the Nationals Sunday, as they committed two errors and lost two fly balls in the sun in a 6-2 loss to Milwaukee. Outfielders Bryce Harper and Jayson Werth each lost fly balls in the sun. The fly balls dropped to the ground in front of them for base hits. Harper said it was tough to see the ball as the afternoon sun moved through the sky. "You can't catch what you can't see," Harper said. "Nothing you can do about it. The sun monster got me and...

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LaRoche's bounceback season just keeps getting better

September 23, 2012, 8:14am

Nationals

LaRoche's bounceback season just keeps getting better

After last night's game, Adam LaRoche was asked about the season he's put together, a season which is setting up to possibly be the strongest of his nine-year big league career from a statistical standpoint. "I'm not one to brag on myself, so it's hard for me to say a whole lot about it," LaRoche said. Fine, I'll do the bragging for him. LaRoche leads all National League first basemen in home runs (32) and RBIs (98) after he slugged a homer and drove in two yesterday afternoon. With...

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A strong outing by Wang, even if the numbers say otherwise (Nats lose 6-2)

September 23, 2012, 11:21am

Nationals

A strong outing by Wang, even if the numbers say otherwise (Nats lose 6-2)

You look at the pitching line of Chien-Ming Wang this afternoon, you assume it was another tough outing for the veteran right-hander. Wang went four innings today, allowing two runs on eight hits. He struck out two, walked none and leaves with the Nats trailing 2-0 in the fifth. The numbers are deceiving, however. Wang actually pitched pretty darn well. His sinker had great movement, and he was able to locate it down in the zone and get Brewers hitters to beat it into the ground. He had good...

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Gonzalez on 20 wins: "This is like a dream"

September 22, 2012, 2:08pm

Nationals

Gonzalez on 20 wins: "This is like a dream"

If you've seen Gio Gonzalez either in person or on TV this season, you might have noticed he's constantly smiling. It's hard to miss. There was a lot of that today after Gonzalez became the first pitcher in the majors to record 20 wins this season. He got a giant bear hug from pitching coach Steve McCatty immediately after the game, among many others, and was the target of a postgame water-cooler shower dished out by reliever Ryan Mattheus. But there was also a bit more. Gonzalez seemed...

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Nats react to Gonzalez' achievement, talk offensive explosion

September 22, 2012, 2:36pm

Nationals

Nats react to Gonzalez' achievement, talk offensive explosion

Some of the guys in the Nationals' clubhouse knew Gio Gonzalez was pretty darn good when he came aboard via a trade with the Athletics this offseason. Adam LaRoche, on the other hand, hadn't faced Gonzalez before and didn't know a ton about him, given the two guys played in different leagues. Now that Gonzalez has reached 20 wins and leaves the park today with a 2.84 ERA, LaRoche has a pretty good read on what type of pitcher the lefty is. "If he was anything like this in Oakland, it's...

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Chien-Ming Wang making first start since June 19

September 23, 2012, 7:45am

Nationals

Chien-Ming Wang making first start since June 19

For the first time in over three months, Chien-Ming Wang will start a major league game today. The Nationals will give the ball to their veteran sinkerballer and hope he can cool down a red-hot Brewers lineup. Wang threw 2 1/3 scoreless innings in the second game of Wednesday's doubleheader against the Dodgers, but he hasn't started a game since June 19. Wang battled hamstring and hip injuries this season, and when he has pitched, either at the major league or minor league levels, he...

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Nats glide their way to an early lead (it's a party at Nats Park)

September 22, 2012, 10:44am

Nationals

Nats glide their way to an early lead (it's a party at Nats Park)

Prior to this afternoon's game, Nationals manager Davey Johnson talked about how Bryce Harper has started to glide when chasing down balls in the outfield, instead of taking short, choppy steps like he did when he first moved to the outfield. We've seen a whole lot of that gliding from Harper through three innings today. Harper tracked down a deep fly ball off the bat of Rickie Weeks to end the top of the third, a fly which sailed straight over his head. He used his impressive speed to...

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G. Gonzalez joins some elite company (also notches 20th win)

September 22, 2012, 11:36am

Nationals

G. Gonzalez joins some elite company (also notches 20th win)

Leading 9-2 after six innings of work, it would take a complete collapse by the Nationals for Gio Gonzalez to not become the first 20-game winner in the majors this season. Assuming it happens, that will be quite an accomplishment. But that won't be the only numerical milestone Gonzalez will reach today. He also has notched his 200th strikeout of the season, making him the first Washington pitcher to get to 200 strikeouts since Walter Johnson did it in 1916. How's that for some decent...

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Nationals high on outfielder Destin Hood's athleticism (update)

September 22, 2012, 10:10am

Nationals

Outfielder Destin Hood fought through injuries and sickness this season in the minors. Battling through an injured wrist, Hood managed to come back and get on track by the end of the season. The Alabama native is now playing in the instructional league. Hood, a second-round selection in 2008, hit .242 in the minors for Double-A Harrisburg and a few rehab games at short-season Single-A Auburn, with 21 doubles, three triples, three homers, six stolen bases and 21 RBIs. He struck out 89 times in...

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Despite recent struggles, Clippard "still confident as heck"

September 21, 2012, 8:23pm

Nationals

Despite recent struggles, Clippard "still confident as heck"

After blowing his fifth save of the season and putting up another disappointing outing during a rough three-week stretch, Tyler Clippard stood at his locker for over five minutes and calmly answered question after question about his performance. You won't find many guys more stand-up than the 27-year-old Clippard. The Nationals' right-handed reliever is clearly frustrated with himself right now, partly because he blew a save in tonight's 4-2 loss to the Brewers, but also because he can't...

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Nats, Brewers Saturday lineups

September 22, 2012, 7:37am

Nationals

The Nationals will have their regular starters on the field behind Gio Gonzalez this afternoon as the left-hander again tries for his 20th win of the season. Gonzalez got stuck with the loss his last time out, allowing two runs over five innings against the Braves on Sunday night. His record sits at 19-8 entering today, and he still could become the first guy in the majors to hit the 20-win mark. The Nats will face Brewers righty Wily Peralta, who is 2-0 with a 2.14 ERA in four appearances...