nationals

Swept away by the pinstripes

June 17, 2012, 12:50pm

The much-anticipated battle of first-place teams at Nats Park this weekend turned out to be a complete dud for the Nationals. The Yankees punctuated a dominating weekend in the nation's capital with a 4-1 win today, finishing off a three-game sweep. This marks the third time the Nats have been swept this season, and the first of those sweeps which has come at home. Ivan Nova went 7 2/3 innings for the pinstripes today, holding the Nats to one run on seven hits, while Curtis Granderson,...

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Chien-Ming Wang's future now in doubt (Morse has his first homer)

June 19, 2012, 4:42pm

Nationals

Chien-Ming Wang's future now in doubt (Morse has his first homer)

With Chien-Ming Wang putting up three straight sub-par starts entering tonight, this might have been a statement game of sorts for the veteran right-hander. This wasn't the statement he was hoping to make. Wang got smacked around by the Rays tonight, and was pulled after just 3 1/3 innings. He allowed five runs on seven hits, gave up three extra-base hits, walked three batters (including Rays starter David Price) and tossed 77 pitches before being pulled. Ross Detwiler came on in relief of...

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Ryan knows Ryan: Nationals' Mattheus believes Perry's transition to starter will be smooth one

June 19, 2012, 2:00pm

Nationals

Right-hander Ryan Perry is now with the Double-A Harrisburg Senators as he prepares to transition from reliever to starter. The 6-foot-4, 213 lb. pitcher will make his professional debut as a starter Saturday night at the New Hampshire Fisher Cats. Perry is slated to pitch three innings, or to a limited pitch count, as he makes his initial attempt pitching as a starter. This will be the first time Perry has started at this level, having made 15 starts in his 62 games over three seasons at...

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Braves-Nationals game rescheduled

June 19, 2012, 2:13pm

Nationals

After rain washed out the game between the Braves and Nationals back on June 1, the team today released its plans to move the game to July 21. The two division foes will play a split doubleheader at Nationals Park, with the first game beginning at 1:05 p.m. and first pitch for the second game to follow at 7:05 p.m. The two games against the Braves on July 21 will require separate admission. Season Ticket Holders and Mini Plan Holders with game tickets to the postponed June 1 contest may use...

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Johnson tells Zimmerman, Morse to relax and "just go play"

June 19, 2012, 2:43pm

Nationals

Johnson tells Zimmerman, Morse to relax and "just go play"

After Sunday's game, a game in which Michael Morse went 0-for-4 at the plate, dropping his average to .211, he approached manager Davey Johnson and asked to be dropped in the batting order. "I'm killing the team," Morse told Johnson. "No, you're not killing the team," the Nats' manager replied. "You're going to be fine. You'll be carrying us in a minute. I'm not worried. I don't want you worrying." Morse and Ryan Zimmerman are frustrated with the way they've been swinging the...

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Moore starts in left against Rays (Rodriguez begins rehab assignment)

June 19, 2012, 11:36am

Nationals

Moore starts in left against Rays (Rodriguez begins rehab assignment)

Facing Rays left-hander David Price, Davey Johnson will send out what's become his typical lineup against lefties. Danny Espinosa will lead off, Michael Morse will hit cleanup and Adam LaRoche will be bumped down to the No. 5 spot. In addition, Tyler Moore will start in left field, hitting seventh. Here's how the lineup will look tonight: 2B Danny Espinosa CF Bryce Harper 3B Ryan Zimmerman RF Michael Morse 1B Adam LaRoche SS Ian Desmond LF Tyler Moore C Jesus Flores P Chien-Ming...

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It doesn't get any easier

June 19, 2012, 5:59am

Nationals

I can't believe I'm actually asking this question right now, but is there a better starting pitcher in baseball as of today than R.A. Dickey? The guy who spent time with four organizations over a five-year span from 2006-2010, the guy who two years ago started the season in Triple-A, the guy who throws a knuckleball for God's sake, is the pitcher who no one in the majors wants to face right now. Dickey dominated the Nationals nearly two weeks ago, holding them scoreless over 7 1/3 innings...

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Nationals' Chris Marrero reports to Triple-A Syracuse

June 19, 2012, 8:22am

Nationals

It is obvious that Nationals first baseman Chris Marrero is feeling better and his torn hamstring is not giving him any trouble as he quickly moves up the ranks of the franchise's minor league system. A club source confirmed that Marrero has completed his rehab stint with Double-A Harrisburg and has reported to Triple-A Syracuse. Marrero already made quick stops at Single-A Hagerstown and Potomac. He originally tore his hamstring in winter ball, has also battled back from a slight shoulder...

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Nationals ink catcher Hill to minor league deal

June 19, 2012, 11:30am

Nationals

In an effort to bolster their once deep organizational pool at catcher, the Nationals have signed veteran backstop Koyie Hill to a minor league contract. He will report to Triple-A Syracuse. The 33-year-old Hill became a free agent Monday when he refused an outright assignment by the Cubs to Triple-A Iowa. The Nationals are thin in healthy backstops with Wilson Ramos (season-ending knee surgery), Sandy Leon (ankle sprain) and Carlos Maldonado (back) all on the disabled list. Jesus Flores has...

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Nationals confirm trio of promotions, Perry to move to starter

June 18, 2012, 9:51am

Nationals

Nationals director of player development Doug Harris has confirmed that infielders Justin Bloxom, Zach Walters and Jason Martinson have been promoted. Bloxom and Walters are moving to Double-A Harrisburg and Martinson heads to high Single-A Potomac. Bloxom has hit .259 with 12 homers and 34 RBIs, while Walters has connected for a .269 average with five homers and 24 RBIs. Harris also announced that right-hander Ryan Perry will make the transition from reliever to starter and the Nationals...

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New-look bullpen continues to impress

June 18, 2012, 6:11am

Nationals

Remember when, coming out of spring training, the Nationals used Brad Lidge and Henry Rodriguez as their two ninth-inning arms out of the bullpen? Those days seem so long ago, don't they? With Drew Storen on the disabled list, Davey Johnson had Lidge and Rodriguez working the back-ends of his "A" and "B" bullpens. Things worked out well at first, as Lidge recorded two saves early in the season while Rodriguez looked like a new man for the first couple weeks of the year. Now, Lidge has...

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GCL Nationals open season today, full roster; Perez, Hood rehab updates

June 18, 2012, 8:43am

Nationals

The Gulf Coast League Nationals, directed by new manager Tripp Keister, open play today against the GCL Marlins. Right-hander Adam Carr and left-hander Josh Smoker are on rehab assignments with the GCL Nats. Double-A Harrisburg outfielder Eury Perez (oblique) is also listed on the roster on a rehab assignment with the GCL club. Meanwhile, a club source confirmed Harrisburg outfielder Destin Hood (wrist) will join short-season Single-A Auburn Doubledays on a rehab assignment for Tuesday's...

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What can we take out of the weekend?

June 18, 2012, 5:40am

Nationals

Well, I think it's fair to say this weekend didn't go exactly as the Nationals had hoped. Coming off six straight road wins over American League East teams, the Nats returned home with a chance to make a statement against another red-hot division leader, one with plenty of talent and experience on the big stage. Instead, it was the visiting Yankees who made the statement. The Nats were outscored 16-6 in the Yankees' three-game sweep, made four errors to New York's one and went a combined...

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Johnson concerned about Zimmerman, middle of the order

June 17, 2012, 2:41pm

Nationals

Johnson concerned about Zimmerman, middle of the order

In his opening remarks to the media after today's 4-1 loss to the Yankees, manager Davey Johnson cut right to the chase. He's starting to get worried about the prolonged slump Ryan Zimmerman has been in all season. "Only thing that really concerns me - we've got to get Zim going," Johnson said. "Need to get Zim in a happy place." Johnson's remarks come after yet another hitless game for Zimmerman, his 17th contest without a base knock in 50 games played this season. The Nationals...

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LaRoche after sweep by Yankees: "We got some work to do"

June 17, 2012, 6:32pm

Nationals Orioles

LaRoche after sweep by Yankees: "We got some work to do"

The Nationals rolled back into town after sweeping six in a row on the road. With the Yankees arriving just as hot, there was anticipation the Nats had a chance to make a statement. This statement would not just be to the mid-Atlantic region, but to the nation, if they could compete and beat the team that usually sets the tone for all of Major League Baseball. The Nationals competed for sure, but came up short, scoring just six runs in the series and falling in all three games. Panic time?...

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Ted Leavengood: Not ready for prime time

June 18, 2012, 5:20am

Nationals

Ted Leavengood: Not ready for prime time

Win six in a row, lose three in a row. Sometimes you eat the bear and sometimes the bear eats you. Such smug acceptance offers little consolation for Washington baseball fans. The six wins leading into the Yankees series only served to raise expectations. The idea was rampant going into the three-game weekend series that even the vaunted Yankees were fair game for the first-place Nationals. Only it did not turn out that way. The enthusiastic crowds that witnessed the Yankees series had playoff...

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Storen confirms he's on track for All-Star break return

June 17, 2012, 9:35am

Nationals

Storen confirms he's on track for All-Star break return

Right-hander Drew Storen is still on track to return by the All-Star break. Storen has been recovering from elbow surgery to remove a bone chip. He said he would actually like to get back into a few games while the team is at home, right before the break in mid-July, maybe against the Giants or Rockies from July 3-8. Storen said he is still in the building process to get back to being game-ready. He said the adrenaline level for a bullpen session is different from a game in spring training...

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Another quality start, another deficit

June 17, 2012, 11:51am

Nationals

In this series, the Nationals have thrice gotten six strong innings from their starter. Gio Gonzalez allowed three runs over six-plus frames on Friday, Jordan Zimmermann also allowed three runs in six innings yesterday, and today, Edwin Jackson gave up just two runs in six. All three times, the starter has left the game in line for the loss. Today, Jackson gives way to Tom Gorzelanny in the seventh with the Nats trailing 2-1. Washington has managed six hits off Yankees starter Ivan Nova,...

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Nationals Adam LaRoche tells Bryce Harper to "shake it off" after five-strikeout outing

June 16, 2012, 3:01pm

Nationals

It was a particularly rough afternoon at the plate for Bryce Harper. The talented rookie struck out five times against the Yankees in a 5-3, 14-inning loss before a sellout crowd of 41,287 at Nationals Park. Yankees starter Andy Pettitte used his slider to subdue Harper with three consecutive strikeouts. In his final pair of strikeouts, the frustration started to show as Harper had plenty to say to home plate umpire Tim Timmons. In the field, Harper did not miss a beat. He played masterful...

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Roster move coming (with Nats lineup)

June 17, 2012, 8:04am

Nationals

The Nationals will be making a roster move before today's series finale against the Yankees. Reliever Ryan Mattheus is listed on the lineup card among the available relievers for today's game. Mattheus will need to be activated off the disabled list, which he's been on due to plantar fasciitis since late May. Brad Lidge, who has allowed five runs over the last two days, is not listed among the available relievers for today. He was seen meeting with general manager Mike Rizzo this...