nationals

Hagerstown's Goodwin, Skole shine; Perry solid in Double-A; Marrero optioned to Chiefs

June 23, 2012, 7:54pm

The Single-A Hagerstown Suns put on another offensive show Saturday night with a 10-8 victory over the Lakewood Blueclaws. A big part of that power display was from outfielder Brian Goodwin, the 34th overall selection in 2011, who smashed two homers and drove in four runs. Goodwin has four homers in the past five games with nine RBIs. It was his first four-hit game of the season. Hagerstown pitching coach Mark Harris said the 21-year-old has made good progress at the plate since returning...

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Ted Leavengood: Pitching to contact

June 25, 2012, 4:44am

Nationals

The three contests played by the Orioles and Nationals this weekend were more like soccer matches, as fans watched for small shifts in momentum amid long scoreless stretches. Each team had their scoring chances, but it was the sudden, late scoring strike by Matt Wieters on Sunday that tilted the series toward Baltimore. What made it work for the Orioles, however, was how well their three best starters matched up well against the bottom three in the Nationals rotation in a series that was all...

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Storen reacts to news he'll work in set-up role

June 24, 2012, 8:42am

Nationals

Storen reacts to news he'll work in set-up role

Last night, Davey Johnson announced that when Drew Storen is activated after his rehab stint, he'll likely work out of a set-up role with Tyler Clippard remaining the Nationals' closer. Today, Storen reacted to that news. "It's fine. He's supporting the guys that have gotten this team where it's at," Storen said. "Tyler's been that guy, and he's been that guy for the two to three years that he's been here. So he's supporting him. At the same time, I know when I come back, I'm...

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Detwiler back with a bang (Nationals lose 2-1)

June 24, 2012, 11:19am

Nationals

Remember what Ross Detwiler looked like for the first month of the season? If you're watching today's game, you sure do. Making his first start in nearly a month, Detwiler has found his old form. He's thrown five shutout innings, allowing just four hits and striking out three. Detwiler did get into some trouble a few times this afternoon, loading the bases in the fourth and allowing runners to reach second and third in the fifth. But both times he got a fly ball out to end the inning,...

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Kimball pitches another shutout inning in rehab stint; Rendon update

June 22, 2012, 7:48pm

Nationals

Kimball pitches another shutout inning in rehab stint; Rendon update

Nationals right-hander Cole Kimball, recovering from major rotator cuff surgery in his right shoulder, made another successful rehab appearance, this time at low Single-A Hagerstown. Kimball started for the Suns, going one inning, allowing one hit and no runs and striking out two batters. The Suns started him because there were weather concerns in Hagerstown, and they wanted to make sure Kimball got his work in. No details on his velocity were immediately available, but Kimball threw a...

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No no-no for Jackson (Nats win 3-1)

June 23, 2012, 4:59pm

Nationals Orioles

The first 12 Orioles hitters that stepped to the plate tonight were all set down by Edwin Jackson. I'm no expert, but I believe if Jackson had retired the next 15 batters he saw, that would have been kind of a big deal. Instead, the perfect game and no-hitter both were blown up in the span of three hitters in the fifth inning. Adam Jones reached on a Ryan Zimmerman fielding error leading off the frame, (and man, was that a tough error considering how hard the ball was hit,) and two batters...

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Zimmerman remains in Nationals lineup for finale against O's

June 24, 2012, 7:48am

Nationals

For at least another day, Ryan Zimmerman will stay in the Nationals lineup, hitting third and playing third. Zimmerman and manager Davey Johnson said last night that the third baseman might have to land on the DL and receive a cortisone shot because of inflammation in his right shoulder, but he'll be out on the field today as the Nats look to take their rubber game with the Orioles. Here's the Nationals lineup: LF - Steve Lombardozzi RF - Bryce Harper 3B - Ryan Zimmerman 1B - Adam...

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When Storen returns, Clippard likely remaining the closer

June 23, 2012, 8:09pm

Nationals

When Storen returns, Clippard likely remaining the closer

What seemed like a nice, quiet 3-1 Nationals win turned into a lot more shortly after the game. We learned Ryan Zimmerman might need to get another cortisone shot in his inflamed right shoulder and could land on the disabled list. And, we also learned that even when Drew Storen returns to the Nationals, he's unlikely to take over the closer's role that he's held for much of his major league career. Manager Davey Johnson said tonight that given how Tyler Clippard has been performing in save...

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Ryan Zimmerman could be heading back to DL

June 23, 2012, 7:31pm

Nationals

Ryan Zimmerman could be heading back to DL

It's been clear for a while now that Ryan Zimmerman's not healthy. He's just too good a hitter to be batting .218 with three home runs on the season. After tonight's 3-1 Nationals win, both Zimmerman and manager Davey Johnson acknowledged that the shoulder inflammation, which landed Zimmerman on the disabled list back in late April, is still a problem, and it might be something that will send him to the DL yet again. "I'm obviously not 100 percent," a somber Zimmerman said in the...

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If Jackson is No. 4, then Nationals might have four No. 1 starters

June 23, 2012, 7:26pm

Nationals

Edwin Jackson didn't have his best stuff Saturday night, but the stuff he had was good enough to hold the Orioles hitless for 4 1/3 innings as the Nationals evened the series following a 3-1 victory before 46,298 at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. "It was one of those days when you don't have blow-away stuff," Jackson said. "You just have to just go out and pitch. That is pretty much what it was from the time I started throwing the 'pen. I knew what kind of day it was going to be. It is not...

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DeRosa could return in next couple days

June 23, 2012, 4:03pm

Nationals

How does a player who's on a rehab assignment get in touch with his manager to find out when he'll be back in the majors? In Mark DeRosa's case, he shoots his skipper an email. DeRosa, who is currently rehabbing from a strained left oblique at Single-A Potomac, punched up a few lines that told his manager he's feeling great after two games. He then asked Davey Johnson what the plan was regarding his eventual promotion to the bigs. "I said,'Well, the plan was for you to get some...

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Nationals exude confidence and stability with Davey Johnson at the helm

June 23, 2012, 2:51pm

Nationals

It has been one year. June 23, 2011, fresh off a hot streak, Jim Riggleman resigned as manager of the Nationals, and Davey Johnson was asked to take over. The Nationals were 38-37. After that day, the team finished 42-44 and have gone 82-72 since Riggleman resigned. Flash forward 365 days. Under the direction of Davey Johnson, the Nationals have gone 40-28 this season and are 80-71 since that stunning Thursday. "It was a very sad day for me," Johnson recollected. "I like Jimmy. I hate to...

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Johnson unwilling to address managerial future

June 23, 2012, 2:59pm

Nationals Orioles

Johnson unwilling to address managerial future

Davey Johnson's had some entertaining press conferences lately. The ones during the Tampa Bay series certainly qualify, with Johnson calling Rays manager Joe Maddon a "weird wuss," a "guru" and telling him to read the rule book after the GloveGate incident with Joel Peralta. Today, Johnson took a playful jab at 49-year-old hurler Jamie Moyer, who was granted his release this afternoon by the Orioles. "I think he's had a remarkable career," Johnson said. "I thought he was 50. I felt...

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Nats lineup vs. Orioles, Hammel

June 22, 2012, 11:52am

Nationals

The Nationals will take on Orioles righty Jason Hammel tonight from Camden Yards. That is, if the weather allows it. Here's the Nats lineup: LF Steve Lombardozzi CF Bryce Harper 3B Ryan Zimmerman 1B Adam LaRoche DH Michael Morse SS Ian Desmond 2B Danny Espinosa RF Roger Bernadina C Jesus Flores P Jordan Zimmermann

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Nationals' Perry, DeRosa, Perez, Maldonado and Moore news

June 23, 2012, 2:02pm

Nationals

Nationals manager Davey Johnson said Mark DeRosa emailed him and said he "feels great" and would like to return to the roster. Johnson wants DeRosa to spell third baseman Ryan Zimmerman, maybe every once and awhile if he needs to rest his shoulder. Currently, Steve Lombardozzi is the backup for Zimmerman, but has gotten a lot of playing time in the outfield. This is again another opportunity for Tyler Moore to solidify his spot on the roster. The right-handed first baseman starts in left...

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Zimmerman stays in three-spot in Nats lineup

June 23, 2012, 11:53am

Nationals Orioles

Zimmerman stays in three-spot in Nats lineup

Davey Johnson admitted last night that he's given some thought to moving Ryan Zimmerman down in the order given his struggles this season. But Johnson said he planned to keep the .222-hitting Zimmerman in the three-spot in the lineup for now. That familiar three-hole is where Zimmerman remains today. The Nationals are going with their right-handed-heavy lineup today against Orioles lefty Wei-Yin Chen, who is 7-2 with a 3.36 ERA on the season. Tyler Moore will play left, Xavier Nady will...

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The one-year anniversary of a shocking decision

June 22, 2012, 11:32pm

Nationals

The one-year anniversary of a shocking decision

A year ago today, Jim Riggleman decided he'd had enough. The then-Nationals manager wanted to have his contract option for the 2012 season picked up. He was tired of working under one-year contracts and having to worry about his future. He wanted some sort of long-term security, even if another year was as long as that security would get at the time. His team had won 11 of its last 12 games. He and his players had fought their way above .500. They had just earned a walkoff win over the...

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Zimmermann the tough-luck loser yet again

June 22, 2012, 7:54pm

Nationals

Zimmermann the tough-luck loser yet again

Jordan Zimmermann entered tonight getting just 3.2 runs of offensive support when he's been in the ballgame this season. That total was the sixth-lowest in the National League. It got lower tonight. The Nationals were able to give Zimmermann just one run to work with here in Baltimore, largely due to the dominant effort put up by Orioles starter Jason Hammel. They couldn't get much going against the righty, who worked in the mid-90s with his fastball, showed a hard slider and a tough...

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Helpless against Hammel

June 22, 2012, 6:28pm

Nationals Orioles

The Nationals were able to get to Jason Hammel a bit on May 19, plating four runs off the Orioles' righty over 5 1/3 innings. Hammel still took the win that day, even though it was one of the few games this season when he wasn't really on his game. Hammel was on his game tonight, that's for sure. The Nats managed just one run and five hits against Hammel over eight innings tonight in a 2-1 loss to the Orioles. They struck out 10 times and forced Hammel to throw just 96 pitches over his...

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Nationals' Zimmerman on hitting struggles: "I want to get out of this"

June 22, 2012, 7:40pm

Nationals

Two trends remained the same Friday at Camden Yards, and both didn't help the Nationals' cause. Orioles right-hander Jason Hammel was close to dominant in twirling eight innings against the Nationals for a Friday night win, and third baseman Ryan Zimmerman continued to struggle at the plate. Zimmerman went 0-for-4 with a strikeout and two groundouts. He has now gone 3-for-27 (.111) in his last seven games. Dating back to June 10, Zimmerman is 5-for-44 (.114). But whether it was Hammel or...