nationals

The sounds of a playoff push, the signs of a potent lineup

August 18, 2012, 6:08am

Get this: When Ryan Zimmerman and Michael Morse have both been in the starting lineup this season, the Nationals are 44-21 (.677). That's a 110-win pace. Not too shabby. Given the way things have been going lately, the Nats could seemingly win 110 games and still end up taking the National League East by a slim margin. While Washington has won 11 of its last 13, the Braves keep on matching them, and with their 11-inning walkoff win last night, they've now won 11 of their last 15. The...

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Harper gets a day off, Moore in left

August 18, 2012, 11:42am

Nationals

As Davey Johnson mentioned last night, Bryce Harper will get today off, with Tyler Moore sliding in to play left field and hit seventh. Harper smacked his 11th home run of the season last night, but Johnson is giving his rookie outfielder a day to rest while also giving his other rookie outfielder - Moore - a chance to stay fresh with some at-bats against a lefty. Jesus Flores will be behind the plate catching Nationals starter Edwin Jackson, who is 1-0 with a 3.75 ERA in two starts against...

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Johnson: Chien-Ming Wang's delivery "cleaner"; minor leaguer suspended

August 17, 2012, 1:14pm

Nationals

Johnson: Chien-Ming Wang's delivery "cleaner"; minor leaguer suspended

Manager Davey Johnson got a good report on rehabbing right-hander Chien-Ming Wang, who started Thursday for Double-A Harrisburg. Nursing hip soreness, Wang went 4 2/3 innings, allowed three hits, two runs, both earned, two walks and struck out three. It was the fewest number of earned runs he had allowed in four rehab starts since July 23. Wang was back in the clubhouse Friday and Johnson said the right-hander "said he felt pretty good." "The report I got on him yesterday was his delivery...

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Johnson talks after Nats 6-4 win

August 17, 2012, 7:36pm

Nationals

Michael Morse wasn't in the clubhouse postgame to talk about his monster grand slam which gave the Nationals a 4-2 lead in the fourth inning, but his manager talked about it for him. In Davey Johnson's mind, that grand slam was just another big moment in what's been a really hot stretch for Morse over the last couple weeks. "Michael Morse, he had a rough road to hoe, being out for a long time (with a strained lat) and then coming back, and just off this last homestand, I think it started...

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Postgame thoughts from Werth, Desmond

August 17, 2012, 8:00pm

Nationals

As pumped up as Michael Morse was after his grand slam in the fourth inning tonight - and he was plenty pumped up - his teammates were just as animated. Guys gave him high fives, low fives, pats on the helmet. They pushed him out of the dugout for a curtain call, tossed bubble game at him and messed with his hair. You can tell this group is thrilled to see the guy that clubbed 31 homers last season back producing the way he did in 2011. "Morse is unbelievable," Ian Desmond said. "Last...

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Detwiler battles through tough first inning, controls sinker to notch win

August 17, 2012, 7:26pm

Nationals

Detwiler battles through tough first inning, controls sinker to notch win

Friday's start was certainly the measure of how far Ross Detwiler's career has advanced. In the past, two runs, three hits and 23 pitches in the first inning would have been the beginning of the end. In this game it was his sinker. It wasn't sinking. And that caused problems. But Detwiler was able to diagnose that the Mets were realizing they could get hits off his sinker. Without the sink, it was a very hittable pitch. So he went to his fastball more than usual, and tried to cut the zone...

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Now healthy, Nats lineup looks dangerous

August 17, 2012, 3:04pm

Nationals

Now healthy, Nats lineup looks dangerous

With all the injured guys the Nationals have had return to the lineup lately, Davey Johnson is getting a little greedy. "Where the heck is Willy Ramos? Let's get him up here, too," Johnson joked today. "Everybody seems to healing well. Might as well get him." Johnson won't get his top catcher back until spring training at the earliest, but he does have the seven position players in his lineup tonight all in there for the first time together this season. After a host of injuries...

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Morse's grand slam sends Nats Park into a frenzy (Nats win again)

August 17, 2012, 4:43pm

Nationals

Morse's grand slam sends Nats Park into a frenzy (Nats win again)

Johan Santana retired the first nine Nationals he faced tonight. He then gave up hits to the next four Nats hitters. The fourth left the ballpark, giving the Nationals their first grand slam of the season. Michael Morse crushed a 1-1 fastball over the scoreboard in right-center, turning a 2-0 Nats deficit into a 4-2 Nats lead and sending what looks like a nearly sold out crowd into a frenzy. It was Morse's third career grand slam, and he enjoyed every second of the experience. He gave...

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Desmond discusses his return, Johnson hopes Izturis clears waivers

August 17, 2012, 2:07pm

Nationals

Desmond discusses his return, Johnson hopes Izturis clears waivers

For the first time in nearly a month, Ian Desmond finds his name back in the Nationals' lineup for tonight's game against the Mets. The Nats obviously would have preferred Desmond never landed on the DL with a torn left oblique, but given the 19-6 record they put up without him, Desmond joked that he wasn't missed too much. "They got better (without me)," the shortstop said. Regardless of how the Nats performed without Desmond in the lineup, they'll welcome their All-Star shortstop...

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Desmond activated, Izturis DFA

August 17, 2012, 11:29am

Nationals

The Nationals have activated shortstop Ian Desmond from the disabled list today, a move which shouldn't surprise anyone. To make room for Desmond on the 25-man roster, the Nats have designated infielder Cesar Izturis for assignment, a move which, well, surprises me. Izturis only was with the Nationals for nine games after they claimed him off waivers from the Brewers. In that time, he was pretty productive, going 2-for-4 with a double and four runs scored in five games. With Desmond back...

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Nats reinstate shortstop Ian Desmond, designate infielder Cesar Izturis for assignment

August 17, 2012, 11:56am

Nationals

Nats reinstate shortstop Ian Desmond, designate infielder Cesar Izturis for assignment

The Washington Nationals today reinstated shortstop Ian Desmond from the 15-Day Disabled List and designated infielder Cesar Izturis for assignment. Nationals Executive Vice President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcement. Desmond, who missed the last 25 contests with a left oblique strain, is batting .286 with 24 doubles, two triples, 17 home runs, 53 RBI, 15 stolen bases and 51 runs in 89 games this season with the Nationals. At the time of his DL...

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Alex Meyer transitioning well to new challenge in Potomac

August 17, 2012, 8:30am

Nationals

Alex Meyer transitioning well to new challenge in Potomac

Nationals right-handed prospect Alex Meyer toes the rubber in his sixth start tonight for high Single-A Potomac at Salem. Meyer has gone 2-1 with a 0.93 ERA in five outings so far for the P-Nats, striking out 26 while allowing just 17 hits and three walks in 29 innings. Recently, I got the chance to sit down with Meyer and see how his first season has played out, especially his recent promotion to Potomac from low Single-A Hagerstown. "It has been a transition period," Meyer said. "I...

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Leaving the comfort of the road

August 15, 2012, 10:25pm

Nationals

The Nationals come back home from a lengthy 10-game road trip happy to see their families and excited to return to their home clubhouse. No team will ever say it would prefer to play its games on the road. That just won't happen. But the Nats sure play like a team that doesn't mind hitting the road for a while. They're a remarkable 41-23 on the road this season, which already gives them more road victories than the franchise has had in a full season since 1994. They've outscored their...

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Marty Niland: Road-warrior Nats overcome past failures

August 17, 2012, 5:21am

Nationals

Marty Niland: Road-warrior Nats overcome past failures

The Nationals are returning home this weekend as conquering heroes. Not only have they completed one of the best road trips in team history at 8-2 and amassed the best road record in the majors, they have been passing key tests that they failed earlier in the season, showing how they have grown and matured as a team. Remember back in late April when the Nats hit the West Coast for the first time? After taking two in San Diego, they stumbled in the series finale against the Padres before...

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MASN's Social Media Weekend returns to Nats Park

August 16, 2012, 1:39pm

Nationals

MASN's Social Media Weekend returns to Nats Park

As a thank you to all fans taking advantage of MASN's digital and social platforms, MASN's Social Media Weekend returns to Nationals Park from Friday through Sunday. Fans will have the opportunity to win exclusive MASN prizes, such as autographed gear, seat upgrades, MASN Nationals T-shirts and gift cards to this weekend's sponsor, Hair Cuttery, including free haircuts for a year. The only way you can win these prizes is by following us on Facebook and on Twitter, and by signing up for...

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Balanced offensive attack knocks out Lincecum (Nats close road trip with 6-4 win)

August 15, 2012, 1:59pm

Nationals

Balanced offensive attack knocks out Lincecum (Nats close road trip with 6-4 win)

The days when Tim Lincecum was nearly unhittable seem oh so long ago. The two-time National League Cy Young Award winner went just four innings today, allowing eight hits and four runs before being yanked from the game. The Nationals hit Lincecum hard, notching three extra-base hits off him, including Danny Espinosa's long two-run homer to center which broke a 2-2 tie and gave the Nats a 4-2 lead. How well did Espinosa strike that ball? Well enough to cut it through the San Francisco breeze...

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Potomac's Ray struggles early in loss, but team maintains drive

August 15, 2012, 6:42pm

Nationals

Potomac's Ray struggles early in loss, but team maintains drive

WOODBRIDGE, Va. -- Potomac Nationals left-hander Robbie Ray had his shortest outing of the season Wednesday in a 9-1 loss to Wilmington. Ray managed to get only two of the first eight batters out as the Blue Rocks scored seven runs in the first inning. Ironically, before the game manager Brian Rupp said one rocky inning had been the southpaw's undoing recently. Unfortunately, that inning was the first frame on Wednesday afternoon at Pfitzner Stadium. "He has been pretty good," Rupp said....

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Lombardozzi and Espinosa hot as Desmond nears return

August 16, 2012, 10:40am

Nationals

Lombardozzi and Espinosa hot as Desmond nears return

Nationals infielders Danny Espinosa and Steve Lombardozzi have become quite a pair on defense the last two weeks. They have also delivered at the plate, combining for 34 hits. Espinosa said he doesn't even think twice about Lombardozzi at second base. That is the best compliment he could give to his gifted teammate. "Good, it is comfortable," Espinosa said on "Nats Xtra" recently. "I don't even think about it, actually. You just go out there and you know what he can do. I feel 100...

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David Huzzard: It's a wonderful life in Natstown

August 16, 2012, 5:07am

Nationals

David Huzzard: It's a wonderful life in Natstown

This week, the focus on Stephen Strasburg's innings limit has kicked into a higher gear, and as far as the national media is concerned, Mike Rizzo is the Grinch who stole Strasmas. Most of the stories this week have painted the citizens of Natstown as ignorant little Whos too caught up with the winning to be as enraged as they should be. Let us not hover too long on that tale, but shift instead to a different tale of morality. Instead of casting Rizzo as the mean old Mr. Grinch we will have...

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Morse returns to Nationals lineup in finale vs. Giants (with Giants lineup)

August 15, 2012, 9:58am

Nationals

It's taken a while, but the Nationals have finally posted their lineup for this afternoon's 3:45 p.m. finale at AT&T Park in San Francisco. Michael Morse, who sat out last night's game after jamming his right thumb Monday night, is back in left field. Here's Davey Johnson's batting order against San Francisco's Tim Lincecum: 2B Steve Lombardozzi CF Bryce Harper 3B Ryan Zimmerman 1B Adam LaRoche LF Michael Morse RF Jayson Werth SS Danny Espinosa C Kurt Suzuki P Stephen Strasburg The...