nationals

Bryce Harper slams first Triple-A home run; Mandel adds new pitch

April 22, 2012, 6:24pm

Syracuse Chiefs center fielder Bryce Harper crushed his first homer at the Triple-A level off of Buffalo Bisons starter Jeurys Familia. Harper also added a single and finished 2-for-3, his average now standing at .242. Buffalo won the game 6-1. Double-A Harrisburg Senators starter Jeff Mandel has added a breaking ball to his repertoire. The breaking pitch has more depth and is "coming along," according to a team source. Mandel is 1-1 with a 0.96 ERA in three starts, striking out 10 and...

Comments

Tags:

bryce harper byron kerr danny rosenbaum frontstory_nationals1 jeff kobernus jeff mandel nationals

Ted Leavengood: A flood of riches

April 22, 2012, 8:55am

Nationals

The rain is falling on the mound, It's falling on the plate, But when the Nats are 12 and 4, The next game's worth the wait. - Ted Leavengood There is nothing cloudy or damp about the superlatives being used to describe the Nationals' pitching staff. However, it is dedicated Nationals fans who are most aware of what it all means as they behold the endless parade of goose eggs, the never-ending lust for just one run, any run, no matter what it takes to make another great pitching...

Comments

Tags:

guest blogger guestblogger nationals nationals buzz ted leavengood

Marlins-Nationals series finale postponed due to rain (updated)

April 22, 2012, 6:34am

Nationals

The highly anticipated matchup of Gio Gonzalez and Josh Johnson will have to wait for another day. The final game of a three-game set between the Marlins and Nationals has been postponed due to inclement weather. No makeup date has yet been announced, but it will definitely not be tomorrow, as the Nats are flying out to West Coast for their six-game road trip. This means the Nationals will conclude their homestand with an impressive 8-2 record. They just missed out on securing a four-game...

Comments

Tags:

dan kolko gio gonzalez marlins nationals frontfeatured_nationals

Marlins-Nationals game postponed

April 22, 2012, 7:39am

Nationals

Today's Nationals-Marlins game scheduled to begin at 1:35 p.m. at Nationals Park in Washington, D.C., has been postponed due to inclement weather. The make-up date will be announced in the coming days. Tickets for today's game can be exchanged at the Nationals Park Box Office for seats of equal or lesser value for the rescheduled makeup game or a Regular or Value game during the 2012 regular season.* For more information on exchanging tickets purchased through nationals.com or the...

Comments

Tags:

Nationals News Release nationals

Despite another blown save, Johnson committed to Lidge

April 21, 2012, 2:10pm

Nationals

Despite another blown save, Johnson committed to Lidge

Brad Lidge has blown two of his four save opportunities so far this season. Henry Rodriguez, meanwhile, has closed out all four games in which he's gotten the ball in a save situation. Don't read too much into those early results, however. Manager Davey Johnson said after today's game - which the Nationals won in 10 innings after Lidge lost a two-run lead in the ninth - that he still plans on giving Lidge opportunities to close games. Davey Johnson meets with the media to talk about the...

Comments

Tags:

brad lidge dan kolko davey johnson nationals featured_sidebar frontstory_nationals3

Two-run lead disappears in the ninth (Nats walk off with 3-2 win)

April 21, 2012, 11:36am

Nationals

Two-run lead disappears in the ninth (Nats walk off with 3-2 win)

Brad Lidge entered the game with a two-run lead and needing three outs to lock down the Nationals' second straight shutout of the Marlins. He couldn't deliver. Lidge got up on leadoff hitter Hanley Ramirez 0-2, then tossed four straight balls to put Ramirez on first and bring the tying run to the plate. Then, two pitches into Lidge's battle with Logan Morrison, the game was tied. Morrison crushed a 91 mph fastball that was basically sitting on a tee into the second deck in right,...

Comments

Tags:

brad lidge dan kolko nationals frontfeatured_nationals frontstory_nationals3

Zimmerman on shoulder injury: "It's nothing"

April 21, 2012, 1:32pm

Nationals

Zimmerman on shoulder injury: "It's nothing"

Given the injury luck that the Nationals have had so far this season, some might have feared the worst when they heard Ryan Zimmerman was scratched from this afternoon's starting lineup just prior to first pitch. But according to both Zimmerman and manager Davey Johnson, the right shoulder inflammation that Zimmerman is suffering is minor, and shouldn't keep him out for an extended period of time. "It's been bothering me a bit just from diving around and jammed it a little bit,"...

Comments

Tags:

dan kolko davey johnson nationals ryan zimmerman featured_sidebar frontfeatured_nationals frontstory_nationals1

What a difference a year makes for Ian Desmond

April 21, 2012, 1:45pm

Nationals

What a difference a year makes for Ian Desmond

Shortstop Ian Desmond has been a pleasant surprise through three weeks of the season. With a solo homer and a game-clinching sacrifice fly to center, Desmond helped to guide the Nationals to a 3-2 win in 10 innings over the Marlins. There were more than a few raised eyebrows when Desmond was chosen as the leadoff hitter and many wondered if the talented young player would have the patience at the plate to be the first man up. But through 16 games, the answer is pretty clear that Desmond is a...

Comments

Tags:

byron kerr davey johnson ian desmond nationals frontstory_nationals2

Strasburg, Sanchez dueling in D.C. (Nats lead 2-0)

April 21, 2012, 10:30am

Nationals

Strasburg, Sanchez dueling in D.C. (Nats lead 2-0)

We've got a good old fashioned pitcher's duel here at Nationals Park, as Stephen Strasburg and Anibal Sanchez are matching zeros. Through five innings of play, Strasburg has allowed just three hits and has struck out five Marlins hitters. He's thrown 71 pitches, 43 for strikes, and has overpowered Miami's lineup with a fastball that's topped out at 98 mph and a curveball which has been nasty. Sanchez, meanwhile, has completely held Nationals hitters at bay, allowing just two hits...

Comments

Tags:

dan kolko marlins nationals stephen strasburg frontfeatured_nationals

Tracy gets the start at first base

April 21, 2012, 5:55am

Nationals

As promised, Chad Tracy is in the Nationals lineup for this afternoon's game against the Marlins. And he's hitting cleanup. Raise your hand if you ever thought you'd see a Nationals lineup that had Chad Tracy in the four-hole. Tracy spells another left-handed first baseman, Adam LaRoche, who will get his first day off of the season. Here are your Nationals and Marlins lineups as Washington looks to lock up another series win: Nats SS Ian Desmond 2B Danny Espinosa 3B Ryan Zimmerman 1B...

Comments

Tags:

chad tracy dan kolko frontfeatured_nationals nationals lineups marlins

Ryan Zimmerman a late scratch from today's game (updated with diagnosis)

April 21, 2012, 9:19am

Nationals

Ryan Zimmerman a late scratch from today's game (updated with diagnosis)

Ryan Zimmerman was written into today's lineup. He was scheduled to hit third and play third base. He was introduced with the Nats' starters to the crowd here at Nationals Park. But Zimmerman wasn't the guy standing at third when Stephen Strasburg threw his first pitch of today's game. Zimmerman has been scratched from today's game, with Mark DeRosa taking over at third base and replacing the Nationals All-Star in the three-hole in Davey Johnson's lineup. No reason has yet been...

Comments

Tags:

dan kolko davey johnson mark derosa nationals ryan zimmerman frontfeatured_nationals frontstory_nationals1

Johnson talks attendance, hot start, plans to rest Zimmerman

April 21, 2012, 8:42am

Nationals

Johnson talks attendance, hot start, plans to rest Zimmerman

Davey Johnson brought his sense of humor to today's pregame press conference. Asked why he thinks Edwin Jackson's been traded so many times in his career (the total is now at six), Johnson took the comical approach with his response. "I don't know; why have I been fired so many times?" he said. A few minutes later, Johnson mentioned that he doesn't normally view left-handers as being good athletes. Why's that? Davey Johnson talks about how the Nats' recent success has attracted...

Comments

Tags:

dan kolko davey johnson nationals ryan zimmerman featured_sidebar frontfeatured_nationals frontstory_nationals3

Washington Nationals welcome 15 millionth fan in franchise history

April 21, 2012, 10:09am

Nationals

Earlier today, the Washington Nationals proudly welcomed the 15 millionth fan in franchise history before the team hosted the Miami Marlins at Nationals Park. Sarah McCarty from Fairfax, Va., was designated as the 15 millionth fan to attend a Nationals game in Washington since the franchise relocated from Montreal in 2005. McCarty was presented with a Jayson Werth autographed jersey during an in-game presentation shown on the NatsHD scoreboard. McCarty will also receive four Lexus Presidents...

Comments

Tags:

Nationals News Release nationals

Detwiler making his case to stick in Nats' rotation

April 20, 2012, 8:01pm

Nationals

Detwiler making his case to stick in Nats' rotation

It's long been assumed that when Chien-Ming Wang returns from his hamstring injury, the fifth spot in the Nationals' rotation is his, and Ross Detwiler will move to the bullpen. Wang is a proven veteran who twice has won 19 games in a season, and the Nationals loved what they saw from the 32-year-old this spring prior to the injury he suffered during a Grapefruit League start on March 15. But with Detwiler throwing the heck out of the ball to start the season (I'm now borrowing one of...

Comments

Tags:

dan kolko davey johnson nationals ross detwiler chien-ming wang frontfeatured_nationals frontstory_nationals3

Rodriguez showing confidence in closer role

April 21, 2012, 8:26am

Nationals

Rodriguez showing confidence in closer role

Quickly, name the leader in saves for the Nationals after 15 games. Brad Lidge? Drew Storen? Tyler Clippard? Keep guessing. It is right-hander Henry Rodriguez, who showed how far he has come as a closer Friday night in a tough ninth inning matchup with the Miami Marlins. Battling the heart of a lethal Marlins order while holding a 2-0 lead, Rodriguez got a couple of key outs, but also walked two batters and uncorked a wild pitch. Last year, that might have rattled the young reliever to...

Comments

Tags:

brad lidge byron kerr davey johnson drew storen henry rodriguez nationals tyler clippard frontstory_nationals2

Clippard's epic battle with Bonifacio signature moment in shutout win

April 20, 2012, 7:26pm

Nationals

Clippard's epic battle with Bonifacio signature moment in shutout win

Right-hander Tyler Clippard remembered an at-bat like the 14-pitch marathon he endured versus former Nationals infielder Emilio Bonifacio on Friday night. It wasn't last year or when he was starter with the Yankees in 2007. It was this season: the second game at Wrigley Field against the Chicago Cubs. In the eighth inning on April 7, Clippard squared off against outfielder Reed Johnson. The 11-pitch battle ended with a foul tip strikeout to end the frame. On Friday, also in the eighth...

Comments

Tags:

byron kerr cubs davey johnson emilio bonifacio hanley ramirez marlins nationals reed johnson tyler clippard frontstory_nationals2

A surprisingly quick hook for Detwiler (Nationals clinging to 1-0 lead)

April 20, 2012, 4:45pm

Nationals

Ross Detwiler's day is done after six strong innings of work. In his third start of the season, Detwiler held the Marlins scoreless over his six frames, allowing just three hits and a walk. He struck out seven, tying a career high, and needed just 79 pitches to get through the sixth. He leaves with a 1-0 lead and Craig Stammen coming out of the bullpen to take over in relief. I know Detwiler was used primarily as a reliever in spring training and the Nationals are still trying to stretch...

Comments

Tags:

craig stammen dan kolko nationals ross detwiler frontstory_nationals1

Ankiel delivers in Nats' 2-0 win over Miami

April 20, 2012, 5:39pm

Nationals

Ankiel delivers in Nats' 2-0 win over Miami

What a day for Rick Ankiel. Oh, and the Nationals' pitching staff fared pretty nicely, as well. Ankiel had a home run, single and double, and scored both of the Nats' runs tonight in a 2-0 win over the Marlins. The veteran center fielder went 3-for-3, while the rest of the Nationals' hitters combined to go 1-for-25. Ankiel's solo homer gave the Nats a 1-0 lead in the third inning, and his double in the bottom of the eighth helped provide a huge insurance run. On the double, right...

Comments

Tags:

dan kolko henry rodriguez nationals rick ankiel ross detwiler tyler clippard frontfeatured_nationals

Werth downplays hip issue, Nady looking to break out

April 20, 2012, 2:52pm

Nationals

Werth downplays hip issue, Nady looking to break out

While manager Davey Johnson pulled Jayson Werth from yesterday's game after six innings because of a minor hip injury, Werth insists he's fine. The Nationals right fielder told me today that he felt a little something in the hip a handful of days ago, but feels OK now. Werth, who is hitting .327 this season, says the injury is a non-issue going forward. Mark DeRosa might have gotten off to a rough start to the 2012 season, recording just two hits in 26 at-bats, but he's not the only...

Comments

Tags:

dan kolko davey johnson nationals xavier nady featured_sidebar frontstory_nationals3

Marlins have had Nationals' number, but tide is turning

April 20, 2012, 1:29pm

Nationals

The new-look Miami Marlins arrive this weekend for another critical series. The Nationals are off to their best start since arriving in D.C. in 2005, and face a confident Marlins squad that has won four straight and stands at 7-6. "I think they had a great offseason," manager Davey Johnson said of the Marlins. "They have a lot of quality players. We have had trouble with them in the past. We saw them quite a bit in spring training. I am looking forward to this series. They have a fine ball...