nationals

Brian Goodwin to be activated Friday and start

May 17, 2012, 2:48pm

Nationals

Brian Goodwin to be activated Friday and start

HAGERSTOWN, Md. - Low Single-A outfielder

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Matt Skole's two-homer game helps him shake off slump

May 17, 2012, 2:37pm

Nationals

Matt Skole's two-homer game helps him shake off slump

HAGERSTOWN, Md. - Low Single-A Hagerstown Suns third baseman

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Purke has positive outing in Florida, could make pro debut next week

May 17, 2012, 6:21pm

Nationals

Purke has positive outing in Florida, could make pro debut next week

Southpaw

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Comeback bid comes up short

May 17, 2012, 6:07pm

Nationals

Down 4-0 in the sixth inning and getting no-hit, the Nationals woke up and pounded out three runs to make it a ballgame and chase Pirates starter James McDonald. They just couldn't do quite enough to get over that final hump to even things up or take the lead. The Nats missed out on a couple late opportunities, leaving a runner stranded at third to end the sixth, then stranding runners at second and third in the seventh, and they fell to the Pirates 5-3. Washington hitters struck out 14...

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There goes the no-hitter... and the shutout

May 17, 2012, 5:13pm

Nationals

There goes the no-hitter... and the shutout

Remember when James McDonald had a no-hitter through five innings? That seems so long ago. McDonald, who had a perfect game through four innings and had struck out 10 through five, had a disastrous sixth inning, allowing three runs on four hits. He got pulled from the game with two outs in the sixth, ending an outing which had started in dominating fashion. Jesus Flores was the one to get it all rolling for the Nationals, with his leadoff double in the sixth breaking up McDonald's no-no and...

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McDonald dominant; McCutchen, Barajas continue to kill Nats

May 17, 2012, 4:20pm

Nationals

McDonald dominant; McCutchen, Barajas continue to kill Nats

Andrew McCutchen entered today hitting .439 in 23 career games against the Nationals. Rod Barajas came into tonight's game batting just .188 on the season, but was the one who smacked the walk-off two-run home run off Henry Rodriguez last week. Both guys continued terrorizing the Nats tonight. McCutchen smacked a solo homer off Jordan Zimmermann in the first inning to put the Pirates up 1-0. The blast gave him a ridiculous nine homers and 20 RBIs in 23 games against Washington. Those are...

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Lineups for Thursday's Pirates-Nats matchup

May 17, 2012, 12:45pm

Nationals

Lineups for Thursday's Pirates-Nats matchup

Jordan Zimmermann is on the mound tonight for the Nationals, who are looking to sweep the brief two-game series from Pittsburgh. Zimmermann is seeking his second victory in a row after dropping his previous two starts. For the Nationals: Ian Desmond SS Roger Bernadina LF Ryan Zimmerman 3B Adam LaRoche 1B Bryce Harper RF Danny Espinosa 2B Rick Ankiel CF Jesus Flores C Jordan Zimmermann RHP For the Pirates: Jose Tabata LF Neil Walker 2B Andrew McCutchen CF Pedro Alvarez 3B Garrett Jones...

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Nady trying to slowly lift himself from early-season funk

May 17, 2012, 10:21am

Nationals

Nady trying to slowly lift himself from early-season funk

You look at Xavier Nady's season numbers, and they're still less than ideal. Far less than ideal. Nady is batting just .147, has a .489 OPS and has driven in only four runs in 68 at-bats. But if you look at the last few games, you'll see that perhaps the Nationals' veteran outfielder is slowly starting to trend upward. Nady now has home runs in each of his last two games and has driven in a run in three of his last five contests. His average - down to .119 on May 6 - has jumped nearly 30...

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Standings, saves and strikeouts

May 16, 2012, 8:44pm

Nationals

If you're the type who enjoys monitoring the division standings in May, you'll be thrilled to know that the Nationals wake up this morning atop the National League East. Washington's win over the Pirates last night coupled with the Braves' loss to Miami puts the Nats a half-game ahead of Atlanta in the division. Who's got the champagne? If you're the type who enjoys keeping track of all the latest with the Nationals' closing situation, you'll be interested to know that manager Davey...

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For LaRoche, a milestone moment and another huge hit

May 16, 2012, 7:40pm

Nationals

For LaRoche, a milestone moment and another huge hit

Remember back a few months ago, when a large portion of the Nationals fan base was pushing for the team to sign Prince Fielder, a move which would have essentially kicked Adam LaRoche to the curb? Yeah, Davey Johnson does, too. And he's plenty happy the Nats stuck with LaRoche. "He's making that move look real good. That lack of move," Johnson chuckled after tonight's game. Considering the year LaRoche had last season, with the .172 batting average, the boos he received at Nationals...

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Former Longhorn Keyes making steady progress in Potomac

May 16, 2012, 7:27am

Nationals

Former Longhorn Keyes making steady progress in Potomac

Potomac Nationals outfielder Kevin Keyes made a big splash as one of the top home run hitters in the system with his play in 2011, and although the competition has ramped up in high Single-A, Keyes believes he is making progress in preparing for the better pitching he sees now at this advanced level. "The Carolina League is an adjustment," Keyes said. "It is a harder league than the South Atlantic League. As a team, we are making adjustments that are making everybody better at the plate. We...

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Dave Nichols: Is there reason to be concerned about Tyler Clippard's performance?

May 17, 2012, 5:16am

Nationals

Dave Nichols: Is there reason to be concerned about Tyler Clippard's performance?

So far this season, a lot of things have gone right for the Nationals. The starting pitching has been phenomenal. The relievers, for the most part, have been very strong, as well, despite missing their two best closer options to injury most of the season. And the hitting - well, it looks like it might be coming around. Actually, they've been pretty good all season getting runners on base; it's been getting 'em in that's been the problem most nights. As the weather starts to heat up though,...

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Combo of stopper Gonzalez, closer Rodriguez helps Nats to 7-4 victory over Bucs

May 16, 2012, 7:08pm

Nationals

Combo of stopper Gonzalez, closer Rodriguez helps Nats to 7-4 victory over Bucs

There is a method to Davey's madness: leave him in. The strategy worked in two ways as starter Gio Gonzalez and closer Henry Rodriguez fought through varying threats to hold off the Pirates 7-4 on Wednesday. Gonzalez's line was impressive again, taking over the major league lead in strikeouts, momentarily, with 60 punch-outs courtesy of 10 strikeouts against Pittsburgh. Leading 4-1, Gonzalez gave up a two-run shot to Pirates third baseman Josh Harrison. And the seemingly comfortable...

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LaRoche and Nady smack back-to-back jacks (Nats win 7-4)

May 16, 2012, 4:54pm

Nationals

LaRoche and Nady smack back-to-back jacks (Nats win 7-4)

The Nationals now have three solo home runs so far tonight, and if Bryce Harper's blast in the first inning had traveled just a few more feet, that total would be four. After Ian Desmond went yard in the third, Adam LaRoche and Xavier Nady blasted back-to-back homers in the sixth, opening up a 4-1 Nats lead on Erik Bedard and the Pirates. Bedard had set down 11 hitters in a row following Desmond's homer, seven of which came via the strikeout. But LaRoche crushed a 1-2 fastball into the...

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Harper accomplishes another first

May 16, 2012, 4:31pm

Nationals

He might have missed out on notching his third home run in as many games by only a few feet, but Bryce Harper accomplished another first in the first inning tonight when he ripped a triple high off the wall in right-center. Harper seems to scratch something else off his major league to-do list pretty much every single night. Tonight it was the triple, which also registered as his ninth extra-base hit in 17 games. The rookie then came around to score one batter later on Ryan Zimmerman's RBI...

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Storen right on schedule in recovery from elbow surgery

May 16, 2012, 2:24pm

Nationals

Storen right on schedule in recovery from elbow surgery

Right-hander Drew Storen remains with the team in D.C. as he continues his rehab from elbow surgery to remove a bone chip. Storen soft-tossed 100 throws Wednesday, the same number he threw Monday. He did two sets of 50 throws, 25 at 45 feet and 25 from 60 feet. Storen will have another day off tomorrow. "It feels all right," Storen said. "It is right where I expected it to be. It is just different, playing catch, soft tossing. It's right on track, a day-by-day thing." Storen is not...

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Wang ready to return, open to coming out of the 'pen

May 16, 2012, 1:53pm

Nationals

Wang ready to return, open to coming out of the 'pen

Chien-Ming Wang was back with the Nationals today, throwing a bullpen session under the watchful eye of pitching coach Steve McCatty and talking with some teammates in the Nats' clubhouse. The veteran right-hander showed on Monday that he is nearing a return to the major leagues, working into the ninth inning in a rehab start with Triple-A Syracuse. Wang will now make at least one more start with Syracuse before getting called up to the big league club. The widespread speculation is that...

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Ramos done for the season, Morse feels "like a monkey riding a bike"

May 16, 2012, 3:02pm

Nationals

Ramos done for the season, Morse feels "like a monkey riding a bike"

These days, the Nationals' clubhouse isn't the most pleasant of places. That has nothing to do with the team's win-loss record, recent performance or the overall clubhouse atmosphere, which has been pretty cheery this season. It's just that everywhere you turn, there are injured guys slowly trudging around. Today, Wilson Ramos awkwardly maneuvered through a hallway on crutches, just days after tearing his ACL. Fellow catcher Sandy Leon limped up to his locker with his right ankle still...

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Harper in center, Nady in right

May 16, 2012, 12:42pm

Nationals

As the Nationals welcome the Pirates to town tonight, Bryce Harper is in center field for the third time of his young career while also batting second. Outfielder Xavier Nady also starts for the first time since May 11 and Tyler Moore is in the starting lineup for the first time since May 9, batting seventh and patrolling left field. For the Nationals: SS Ian Desmond CF Bryce Harper 3B Ryan Zimmerman 1B Adam LaRoche RF Xavier Nady 2B Danny Espinosa LF Tyler Moore C Jesus Flores LHP Gio...

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Tyler Moore ready for start against Pirates, not rusty from wait

May 16, 2012, 1:27pm

Nationals

Tyler Moore ready for start against Pirates, not rusty from wait

Nationals Tyler Moore gets the start in left field Wednesday in the series opener against the Pittsburgh Pirates. Finally. Moore started in his first game in a Nationals uniform against the Dodgers back on April 29. In only his ninth game - so far he has only gone 2-for-11 (.182) without an extra base hit - Moore gets a chance to start at Nationals Park against the Pirates. He says it has not been tough waiting for his opportunity. "No, not really," Moore said. "We got great coaches and...