nationals

Zimmerman back in Nats lineup

May 23, 2012, 11:38am

PHILADELPHIA - The Nationals have a two-game sweep over the Marlins, but have yet to register a three-game sweep this season. They've got yet another shot tonight. Ryan Zimmerman, who sat out last night with shoulder soreness, returns to the Nationals lineup, playing third base. Here are the lineups for tonight's game: For the Nationals: 2B Danny Espinosa RF Bryce Harper 3B Ryan Zimmerman 1B Adam LaRoche SS Ian Desmond CF Rick Ankiel LF Xavier Nady C Jesus Flores P Edwin Jackson For the...

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Munching on a few mid-afternoon stats

May 23, 2012, 9:10am

Nationals

PHILADELPHIA - The Nationals will go for the sweep of the Phillies tonight when Edwin Jackson opposes Cole Hamels, but even before tonight's game, Washington has already locked up another series win, its 10th of the season. Of those 10 series wins, six have come on the road. How much better is this Nats team on the road than the 2011 version? Last season, the Nats didn't earn their sixth road series win until Sept. 12-14 when they swept the Mets. With last night's win, the Nats matched...

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Rachel Levitin: Regional rivalries add life to NatsTown

May 23, 2012, 5:53am

Nationals

Rachel Levitin: Regional rivalries add life to NatsTown

The argument can be made that Tuesday night's 5-2 conquest of the division rival Philadelphia Phillies, solidified by a two-RBI triple off the bat of Bryce Harper, was one of the most enjoyable for Nationals fans so far this season. The Nationals have beaten the Phillies six straight time, the first time in a 43-year franchise history that the Expos/Nationals have done so. The same argument can be made for Washington's 9-3 win on Sunday versus the regional rival Baltimore Orioles in which...

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Final notes, quotes from Johnson, Zimmermann, Desmond

May 22, 2012, 8:20pm

Nationals

Final notes, quotes from Johnson, Zimmermann, Desmond

PHILADELPHIA - Roy Halladay had gone 11-0 in his last 13 starts against the Nationals/Expos prior to tonight. Jordan Zimmermann entered tonight 0-3 in four career outings against the Phillies. Those scripts got flipped. Davey Johnson likes the line he got from Zimmermann tonight - six innings, seven hits, one run, two walks and two strikeouts - but he doesn't like how much of an effort it took the righty to get there. Zimmermann needed 98 pitches to get through five innings and he finished...

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Zimmerman battling shoulder soreness, will play tomorrow

May 22, 2012, 7:07pm

Nationals

Zimmerman battling shoulder soreness, will play tomorrow

PHILADELPHIA - Ryan Zimmerman was scratched from tonight's game against the Phillies because of soreness in his right shoulder - the same shoulder which sent him to the disabled list late in April when it became inflamed. But both Zimmerman and his manager say the soreness is nothing to worry about. During batting practice before tonight's contest, Zimmerman had a conversation with manager Davey Johnson about the shoulder, a conversation which turned a little heated when Johnson told his...

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A little run support was all Zimmermann needed to stun the Phillies

May 22, 2012, 7:19pm

Nationals

A little run support was all Zimmermann needed to stun the Phillies

You must have felt a measure of added joy for Jordan Zimmermann in the third inning. He finally got a chance to look up at the scoreboard and see four runs on the board for his team. 4-1. Alright, now we are talking. Zimmermann came in averaging just 2.4 runs of support per game when he is in the contest. So four runs had to feel like a big block of cheese for the Wisconsin native. Forget the "Summer of George", this might be the summer of Jordan. Zimmermann went six solid innings,...

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For once, Nats smack around Halladay (Nats beat Phillies 5-2)

May 22, 2012, 4:49pm

Nationals

For once, Nats smack around Halladay (Nats beat Phillies 5-2)

PHILADELPHIA - Roy Halladay normally dominates the Nationals. I mean dominates them. Coming into today, Halladay was 11-0 with a 2.09 ERA in his last 13 starts against Montreal/Washington. Today has been a different story, however. The Nats have struck for five runs and eight hits off Halladay through five innings, and hold a 5-1 lead over the Phillies as we go to the sixth. Halladay allowed four runs in the third inning, two coming on a triple to right-center off the bat of Bryce Harper....

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Clippard on closer's role: "I want it bad" (plus Chien-Ming Wang notes)

May 22, 2012, 3:19pm

Nationals

Clippard on closer's role: "I want it bad" (plus Chien-Ming Wang notes)

PHILADELPHIA - You've got to appreciate Tyler Clippard's honesty. Asked how he'd feel about being given a shot at the closer's role, the 27-year-old righty didn't mince words. "I want it bad," Clippard said today. "I've been fighting for the opportunity for three years now. I feel like I've been over-stepped a few times along the way for the opportunity to get those saves, for whatever reason. I don't really know. But they have a plan and I trust their plan. "We've had a good...

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Zimmerman scratched from lineup, Tracy to play third

May 22, 2012, 2:34pm

Nationals

Zimmerman scratched from lineup, Tracy to play third

PHILADELPHIA - Third baseman Ryan Zimmerman has been scratched from today's Nationals lineup less than an hour before first pitch. When it rains, it pours. The scratch was a "manager's decision", according to a Nationals spokesman, who said that Zimmerman will be available to pinch hit. Chad Tracy will take Zimmerman's place in the lineup straight up, meaning he'll play third and hit third. This is the second time this year a Nats player has scratched because of a "manager's...

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Lombardozzi gets second straight start in left

May 22, 2012, 11:36am

Nationals

Lombardozzi gets second straight start in left

PHILADELPHIA - For the second straight day, Steve Lombardozzi will start in left field for the Nationals and will hit out of the leadoff spot. Danny Espinosa again will hit in the six-hole and play second. Jordan Zimmermann gets the ball for the Nats tonight. The righty is 2-4 this season with a 2.58 ERA. This will be the second time Zimmermann has faced the Phils in a span of four starts. He got the loss back on May 6, allowing three runs on seven hits and four walks over six innings. In...

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Chien-Ming Wang activated, Mattheus placed on DL

May 22, 2012, 11:16am

Nationals

Chien-Ming Wang activated, Mattheus placed on DL

PHILADELPHIA - After a lengthy rehab process, Chien-Ming Wang has made it back to the majors. The Nationals have activated Wang off the disabled list and placed reliever Ryan Mattheus on the 15-day DL, retroactive to May 21, with a plantar fascia strain in his left foot. Wang will slide into the bullpen and serve as a long reliever. The right-hander will work on a starter's schedule, which will allow him to stay stretched out and eventually move to the rotation if a starter gets injured or...

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Move Stammen to closer's role, activate Wang

May 22, 2012, 6:35am

Nationals

Move Stammen to closer's role, activate Wang

With another extremely uncomfortable ninth-inning save opportunity almost thrown away, the Nationals and manager Davey Johnson need to make a decision. Johnson told the media he would sleep on what happened to reliever Henry Rodriguez on Monday in Philadelphia. Without the literal save by Sean Burnett, Rodriguez was on the rocky road to his fourth blown save of the season. It is obvious Rodriguez has the swing-and-miss stuff one covets in a closer, firing fastballs regularly at 101 mph. But...

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Nats will go with a closer-by-committee

May 22, 2012, 2:23pm

Nationals

PHILADELPHIA - Henry Rodriguez will not be closing ballgames for the Nationals for the near future. Manager Davey Johnson announced today that he's going to go with a closer-by-committee going forward, and will use Rodriguez - who has struggled in save situations of late - in spots where there is less pressure riding on him. "Henry has been great," Johnson said. "(Lately), he's been not so great. I think he might be trying too hard. Probably change his role, put him in a little less...

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Johnson believes Gonzalez can do more with less

May 21, 2012, 7:14pm

Nationals

Johnson believes Gonzalez can do more with less

Everyone loves to see the strikeouts. Left-hander Gio Gonzalez had plenty of them Monday in a 2-1 victory over the Philadelphia Phillies at a wet Citizens Bank Park. Finishing with nine strikeouts, Gonzalez yo-yoed back over Stephen Strasburg (64), for the team lead, and is now holding onto the major league top spot with 69 punchouts in nine starts. More importantly, Gonzalez tallied another team first: win No. 6 on the season. Plus, the win was against the perennial top seed in the NL East,...

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Examining the closer candidates

May 22, 2012, 6:33am

Nationals

PHILADELPHIA - Now that Davey Johnson is at the very least considering other options when it comes to the closer's role, it's probably worthwhile for us to take a look at the guys the Nationals' skipper has to work with. Henry Rodriguez's struggles have caused Johnson to look for alternatives in save situations, and while the Nationals don't have an obvious backup plan at this point, they do have some hurlers who Johnson could look to in the ninth inning. Johnson has indicated he might...

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Nationals reinstate right-hander Chien-Ming Wang from DL, place right-hander Ryan Mattheus on DL

May 22, 2012, 11:17am

Nationals

The Washington Nationals today returned from rehab and reinstated right-handed pitcher Chien-Ming Wang from the 15-Day Disabled List and placed right-handed pitcher Ryan Mattheus on the 15-Day Disabled List, retroactive to May 21, with a plantar fascia strain (left foot). Nationals Executive Vice President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcement. Wang missed the Nationals' first 42 games, after suffering a strained left hamstring during his final Spring...

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Desmond provides pop, Mattheus awaits further word on injured foot

May 21, 2012, 8:27pm

Nationals

Desmond provides pop, Mattheus awaits further word on injured foot

PHILADELPHIA - Last season, in 154 games, Ian Desmond hit eight home runs. In 2010, also in the span of 154 games, Desmond jacked 10 homers. This season, in just 41 games, the Nationals' shortstop already has seven home runs, tied with Adam LaRoche for most on the team. What's the reason for his newfound power stroke? Possibly his baby boy. "I think daddy strength," Desmond said. "They say when you have a kid, you get stronger. Thanks, Grayson." Desmond delivered his seventh longball...

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Johnson on closer role: "I'm looking at alternatives"

May 21, 2012, 7:32pm

Nationals

Johnson on closer role: "I'm looking at alternatives"

PHILADELPHIA - Davey Johnson has stood by Henry Rodriguez through his three blown saves, handfuls of wild pitches and bunches of baserunners allowed. But after tonight's performance, in which Rodriguez was pulled after putting the tying runners in scoring position and throwing two wild pitches over 1/3 of an inning, Johnson finally said he's considering a change when it comes to the closer role. "I'm going to sleep on it, but I'm looking at alternatives," Johnson said. There aren't...

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Will Yoder: Only a teen, Harper hitting in some elite company

May 22, 2012, 5:48am

Nationals

Will Yoder: Only a teen, Harper hitting in some elite company

Given the debut strategy taken with Stephen Strasburg in 2010, not many people thought going into this year that 19-year-old Bryce Harper would end playing at least 100 games in 2012. Now, barring injury, it seems almost a lock that the club's starting outfielder will surpass that mark, making him just the 18th player in Major League Baseball history to play 100 or more games as a teenager. Among those 18 players, Harper is currently on pace to have one of the best seasons ever. Below I've...

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Harper excited for Philly debut, plus Lidge and Morse updates

May 21, 2012, 2:50pm

Nationals

Harper excited for Philly debut, plus Lidge and Morse updates

PHILADELPHIA - There's a slight drizzle coming down here at Citizens Bank Park, but it looks like we'll likely avoid any heavy stuff and should be able to get tonight's game in. Unless I just jinxed it, and the sky suddenly opens up, which will probably happen. Bryce Harper will get his first taste of Philadelphia tonight, and the Nationals' outfielder says he's legitimately excited to play in this city and this ballpark over the next few days. "It's going to be a great experience,"...