nationals

Big sixth inning gives Gonzalez a cushion (Nats beat Mets 5-2)

July 24, 2012, 4:47pm

FLUSHING, N.Y. - The Nationals had done very little against R.A. Dickey through five innings tonight, notching just three hits and going down on strikes seven times. The sixth was a different story. The Nats exploded with five straight two-out hits, scoring four runs and turning a 1-1 tie into a 5-1 lead. The outpouring of offense started with Adam LaRoche's two run homer off Dickey, a monster shot which was launched about halfway up the second deck in right field. It was LaRoche's 17th...

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Souza taking full advantage of second chance

July 24, 2012, 11:44am

Nationals

Souza taking full advantage of second chance

At the tail end of last season with the high Single-A Potomac Nationals, first baseman Steven Souza was frustrated with his play and ended his season earlier than he had originally intended. After an offseason to think and to rededicate himself to game he loved, Souza came into spring training with a new attitude and an open mind with his new team, the Single-A Hagerstown Suns. Through hard work, concentration and a positive mental state, Souza felt better about himself, and it showed in his...

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Gonzalez looking to get back on track (with lineups)

July 24, 2012, 11:39am

Nationals

Gonzalez looking to get back on track (with lineups)

FLUSHING, N.Y. - This is kind of remarkable given where his season numbers lie at this point, but over his last nine starts, Gio Gonzalez has pitched to a 4.93 ERA. Over that time, he's given up 27 runs and 49 hits over 49 1/3 innings. The last time he threw, Gonzalez delivered his worst start as a member of the Nationals, going just 3 1/3 innings and allowing six earned runs. That start, ironically enough, came against the same Mets team he'll face tonight. He'll again oppose R.A....

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Chien-Ming Wang "impressive" in Double-A victory

July 23, 2012, 7:15pm

Nationals

Chien-Ming Wang "impressive" in Double-A victory

Right-hander Chien-Ming Wang displayed a signature performance Monday, earning the victory for Double-A Harrisburg, 5-1 over New Hampshire. Wang (1-1) went 6 1/3 innings, allowing just two hits, striking out six and walking none. He fired 85 pitches, 52 for strikes, and lowered his ERA to 1.74. It was his second Double-A rehab start and eighth overall in the minors. He faced 21 hitters and forced them into 12 groundouts and one flyout. "Wang had excellent sink on his best pitch," according...

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Morse heating up, lifting off

July 24, 2012, 10:29am

Nationals

FLUSHING, N.Y. - Over the Nationals' last four games, Michael Morse has nearly torn the cover off two baseballs. The first such incident came at Nationals Park on Friday, when Morse took a Tommy Hanson pitch and deposited it over the red seats in left-center and off a railing just short of the Red Porch, a spot 465 feet from home plate. That ball was the longest home run in the history of Nats Park, according to HitTracker. The second massive longball came last night, when Morse crushed a...

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Zimmermann excelling, but being handled carefully

July 24, 2012, 7:19am

Nationals

Zimmermann excelling, but being handled carefully

FLUSHING, N.Y. - Once the Nationals blew open last night's game in the 10th inning and took a four-run lead, Davey Johnson decided he didn't need to waste another bullpen arm for the bottom of the frame. Instead, he just left Tom Gorzelanny in the game, asking him to notch the final three outs. Before Gorzelanny could work the bottom of the 10th, however, he had to hit in the top half. Getting a rare plate appearance, Gorzelanny, who already had two singles this year, looked at five pitches...

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Taylor and Karns double up for weekly honors in Carolina League

July 23, 2012, 6:30pm

Nationals

Taylor and Karns double up for weekly honors in Carolina League

Single-A teammates Michael Taylor and Nathan Karns have been recognized with Player of the Week honors in the Carolina League. Taylor was selected as the Hitter of the Week thanks to a 14-for-29 surge (.483) in seven games, with three home runs, eight RBIs and eight runs. One of the homers was a grand slam, giving Taylor a .931 slugging percentage for the week. He also had hits in eight consecutive plate appearances during the weekend against Myrtle Beach. Taylor is batting .245 for the...

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Stephen Walker: Why the 2005 Nationals melted down against the Braves and the 2012 Nats didn't

July 24, 2012, 4:24am

Nationals

The brand-new Washington Nationals, attracting 35,000 fans a per game in D.C., visit Atlanta tied for first place with the Braves, who have ruled the National League East since 1991. The team that wins the three-game series will own first place. In Game 1, after eight innings, the Nationals lead 2-1. Ace and All-Star Livan Hernandez is masterful, baffling the Braves with his pinpoint control. However, to quell the Braves' strong lineup, he has thrown more than 100 pitches. Manager Frank...

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Battling against Young, coming up large late

July 23, 2012, 8:29pm

Nationals

Battling against Young, coming up large late

FLUSHING, N.Y. - Chris Young's fastball tops out at about 85 mph. He doesn't have a dazzling curveball or possess any dynamite secondary pitch. Still, he manages to keep the Nationals at bay. Including tonight's seven-inning performance in which he allowed just two runs, Young has pitched to a 3.00 ERA over 18 innings against the Nats this season. "Chris pitched against us the last few times and he's been tough," Ryan Zimmerman said. "He's done a great job keeping that ball right...

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Johnson discusses Nats' hard-fought, extra-inning win

July 23, 2012, 7:59pm

Nationals

Johnson discusses Nats' hard-fought, extra-inning win

FLUSHING, N.Y. - For much of tonight's game, the Nationals couldn't touch whoever was standing on the mound for the Mets, Chris Young or otherwise. After the first inning, which featured a two-run homer from Bryce Harper, the Nats went seven straight innings without a hit and went eight innings without getting on the scoresheet. Then, they finally broke through in a big way in the 10th, pounding out six runs and grooving to an 8-2 win. "It was nice that the bats woke up," said a muted...

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Harper back in the homer column (bullpen maneuvers backfire)

July 23, 2012, 4:28pm

Nationals

Harper back in the homer column (bullpen maneuvers backfire)

FLUSHING, N.Y. - In his first trip to the Big Apple as a big leaguer, Bryce Harper didn't take long to make a statement. Harper smacked a two-run home run off Chris Young in the top of the first inning, giving the Nationals what's now a 2-1 lead. Welcome to New York, rook. It was Harper's first home run since all the way back on June 28. He had gone 81 at-bats without a homer prior to launching an 85-mph fastball from Young into orbit. Can we really call an 85-mph four-seamer a fastball?...

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We go to extras in New York (Nats put a thumping on Mets in 10th)

July 23, 2012, 6:01pm

Nationals

We go to extras in New York (Nats put a thumping on Mets in 10th)

FLUSHING, N.Y. - As the rain continues to fall, the Nationals and Mets continue to play. We're heading to extra innings, tied 2-2. A combination of Michael Gonzalez, Ryan Mattheus and Tom Gorzelanny held the Mets scoreless in the eighth and ninth innings, and we go to the 10th at Citi Field. Gorzelanny allowed a two-out double to Daniel Murphy in the ninth, but was able to retire Jason Bay on a grounder to third to end the inning. Ryan Zimmerman made a sparkling play on Bay's ground ball,...

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Nats waiting on Flores, Brown searching for first big league hit

July 23, 2012, 2:33pm

Nationals

Nats waiting on Flores, Brown searching for first big league hit

FLUSHING, N.Y. - Tonight marks the third straight game that Jesus Flores will watch from the bench, with rookie catcher Sandy Leon taking over behind the plate. Leon's major league tenure has gotten off to a nice start, as he's hitting .385 in 13 at-bats. But the Nationals are looking forward to getting Flores back in the starting lineup once his back tightness has subsided. Manager Davey Johnson said today that he'll still play things carefully with Flores, wanting to make sure that the...

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Flores out of lineup for third straight game

July 23, 2012, 12:05pm

Nationals

Flores out of lineup for third straight game

FLUSHING, N.Y. - The Nationals have posted their lineup for tonight's 7:10 p.m. game against the Mets at Citi Field, and Jesus Flores isn't in it - or behind the plate - for a third straight game. Sandy Leon will catch Jordan Zimmermann tonight. Here are tonight's lineups: For the Nationals: 2B - Steve Lombardozzi RF - Bryce Harper 3B - Ryan Zimmerman LF - Michael Morse 1B - Adam LaRoche SS - Danny Espinosa CF - Roger Bernadina C - Sandy Leon P - Jordan Zimmermann For the Mets: SS -...

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Brown officially recalled, Braves making things interesting (updated)

July 23, 2012, 11:38am

Nationals

Brown officially recalled, Braves making things interesting (updated)

FLUSHING, N.Y. - The Nationals have made it official, placing Ian Desmond on the 15-day disabled list with what they're calling a left oblique strain and recalling outfielder Corey Brown from Triple-A Syracuse. Desmond's DL stint is retroactive to July 22, the day after his last game played. Chien-Ming Wang will make a rehab start for Double-A Harrisburg tonight, which will be his third outing since landing on the DL with a hip strain. Meanwhile, the Braves made the first big pre-trade...

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Wang start tonight for Harrisburg; Pucetas returns

July 23, 2012, 10:27am

Nationals

Wang start tonight for Harrisburg; Pucetas returns

With speculation the Atlanta Braves have acquired pitcher Ryan Dempster, the pressure intensifies for right-hander Chien-Ming Wang to figure out what is wrong with his approach. A step in that direction could occur tonight as the right-hander gets another shot to prove he is good enough to get outs for the Nationals when he starts for the Double-A Harrisburg Senators. This will be his second start for the Senators this season. He lost that earlier outing, going four innings, allowing seven...

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Another big loss, another chance to overcome

July 23, 2012, 5:48am

Nationals

Another big loss, another chance to overcome

So far this season, the Nationals have seen their opening day catcher, shortstop, third baseman, left fielder, center fielder and right fielder land on the disabled list. Their closer missed over half the season. Their top pinch hitter is still on the DL. Multiple relievers have missed time. Their projected fifth starter has suffered two separate injuries. Three backup catchers have been placed on the disabled list, all within two weeks of getting brought up to the big leagues. "I know a lot...

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Desmond placed on disabled list, Brown recalled from Triple-A Syracuse

July 23, 2012, 11:12am

Nationals

Desmond placed on disabled list, Brown recalled from Triple-A Syracuse

The Washington Nationals today recalled outfielder Corey Brown from Syracuse of the Triple-A International League and placed shortstop Ian Desmond on the 15-Day Disabled List (retroactive to July 22) with a left oblique strain. Nationals Executive Vice President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcement. Brown batted .300 with 19 doubles, seven triples, 21 home runs and 58 RBI in 95 games this season with Syracuse. The 26-year-old ranks among International...

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A satisfying split

July 22, 2012, 3:07pm

Nationals

In Davey Johnson's eyes, today was "bittersweet." The Nationals lost Ian Desmond for at least a couple of weeks with a torn left oblique. They also dominated the Braves, notching a 9-2 win over their NL East rivals. That gave them a big series split and allowed them to retake a 3 1/2-game lead in the division. If you're going to lose your All-Star shortstop, you might as well do some damage to your top division contender, as well. "We didn't want them to come into our house and leaving...

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Espinosa's offense ramping up at right time as he returns to shortstop

July 22, 2012, 2:25pm

Nationals

Espinosa's offense ramping up at right time as he returns to shortstop

It certainly is never a good thing when you lose a starting position player, especially one as important as shortstop Ian Desmond. But Danny Espinosa, who is a natural shortstop, has gotten hot at the plate at just the right time. And the Nationals are going to need him now for what could be an extended period of time with the news that Desmond is out with a tear in his left oblique. "That is a big loss," Espinosa said. "Ian has done unbelievable for this year. From defense to hitting,...