nationals

Minor league roundup: P-Nats score early in win; Ankiel another base hit

April 12, 2012, 4:01am

Here'S a look at how the Nationals' minor league affiliates fared Wednesday: Single-A Hagerstown: The Suns managed four hits, but struck out 10 times in a 3-0 loss at home to Lexington. Rick Ankiel got two at-bats in as the designated hitter, walking and smacking a single. Single-A Potomac: The P-Nats tallied four runs in the first innings to cruise past Myrtle Beach 6-3. Catcher David Freitas had three hits, including an RBI single. Justin Bloxom walked with the bases loaded and later...

Comments

Tags:

bryce harper byron kerr frontstory_nationals2 nationals rick ankiel

Nats lineup for home opener

April 12, 2012, 6:07am

Nationals

The Nationals open their home schedule today against the Reds. Adam LaRoche will hit cleanup for the Nats. Nationals lineup: SS Ian Desmond 2B Danny Espinosa 3B Ryan Zimmerman 1B Adam LaRoche RF Jayson Werth LF Xavier Nady CF Roger Bernadina C Wilson Ramos P Gio Gonzalez

Comments

Tags:

dan kolko frontfeatured_nationals nationals

Dave Nichols: Enjoy Nats' good start while it lasts

April 12, 2012, 3:02am

Nationals

Dave Nichols: Enjoy Nats' good start while it lasts

Not since 1951 has a Washington baseball team enjoyed an above-.500 start to a Major League Baseball season after a mere six games. Uncanny, isn't it? You would think, in the next 20 years after that, before the city lost baseball, or in the seven since it has returned, it would have happened once. It's not that hard to do. Teams have winning streaks all the time. Just not in Washington at the start of the season. It's great that the Nationals were able to take advantage of lesser teams...

Comments

Tags:

dave nichols guest blogger guestblogger nationals nationals buzz

Strasburg talks about his first win of 2012

April 11, 2012, 4:05pm

Nationals

Strasburg talks about his first win of 2012

FLUSHING, N.Y. - How did Stephen Strasburg react to the Nationals' decision to let him throw a career-high 108 pitches and finish off the sixth inning of today's game despite having the go-ahead runner on base? Is that a real question? He welcomed the heck out of it. Stephen Strasburg talks about going six innings in the Nats' 4-0 win "I just want to be another guy in the clubhouse," Strasburg said. "It's not like I've never thrown over 100 pitches in my life. It's just something...

Comments

Tags:

dan kolko nationals stephen strasburg featured_sidebar frontstory_nationals3

The reins are starting to come off Strasburg

April 11, 2012, 2:53pm

Nationals

The reins are starting to come off Strasburg

FLUSHING, N.Y. - For the first time in his professional career, Stephen Strasburg topped the 100-pitch mark today. To the bulk of the baseball world, that's a fairly major storyline. The Nationals, for the first time, really took the reins off their workhorse, their No. 1 starter, and let him throw 108 pitches over six innings in a 4-0 win over the Mets. Strasburg has been handled delicately since being taken with the No. 1 pick in 2009, his innings and pitch totals carefully monitored and...

Comments

Tags:

dan kolko davey johnson nationals stephen strasburg steve mccatty featured_sidebar frontfeatured_nationals frontstory_nationals1

Morse's test results sent to Dr. Andrews (plus Nats lineup)

April 11, 2012, 8:12am

Nationals

Morse's test results sent to Dr. Andrews (plus Nats lineup)

FLUSHING, N.Y. - Nationals closer Drew Storen went to see Dr. James Andrews yesterday to get his inflamed right elbow checked out. Looking at Michael Morse's strained lat will be next on Dr. Andrews' to-do list. Morse won't actually make a trip to see Dr. Andrews for now, but the Nationals have sent the renowned orthopedist Morse's test results and are awaiting Dr. Andrews' opinion on what the next course of action should be with the injured left fielder. "If (Andrews) thinks he needs...

Comments

Tags:

drew storen lineups michael morse nationals rick ankiel featured_sidebar frontstory_nationals3

Storen has surgery to remove bone fragment in elbow

April 11, 2012, 3:34pm

Nationals

Storen has surgery to remove bone fragment in elbow

FLUSHING, N.Y. - Nationals closer Drew Storen had surgery to remove a small bone fragment from his elbow today, according to an industry source. The procedure was not considered major, and Storen is expected to return sometime during the middle of the season, likely before the All-Star break. Storen battled elbow issues in spring training, and was shut down when he started feeling tightness in the joint of his throwing elbow. He started picking up his rehab program last week, and while he...

Comments

Tags:

dan kolko drew storen nationals featured_sidebar frontfeatured_nationals

Nats beat Mets 4-0, win second straight road series

April 11, 2012, 12:48pm

Nationals

Nats beat Mets 4-0, win second straight road series

FLUSHING, N.Y. - The Nationals will head back to D.C. for their home opener possessing two series wins. Washington beat the Mets 4-0 this afternoon, giving them their second straight road series victory and a 4-2 record as they return to the nation's capital. Stephen Strasburg outdueled Johan Santana in an early season battle of the aces, as Strasburg went six shutout innings, allowing just two hits and striking out eight. The Nats righty threw a career-high 108 pitches before giving way to...

Comments

Tags:

dan kolko mets nationals stephen strasburg frontfeatured_nationals

A long day for Strasburg, in a good way

April 11, 2012, 11:45am

Nationals

FLUSHING, N.Y. - The Nationals have gotten very little done at the plate today, but Stephen Strasburg is doing plenty to distract from Washington's poor offensive showing. Strasburg went deeper into a game today, in terms of pitches, than he has at any point in his professional career. The righty has been pulled from today's game after going six shutout innings, having allowed two hits and a walk. It took Strasburg 108 pitches to get through his six frames, marking the first time since he...

Comments

Tags:

dan kolko mark derosa nationals stephen strasburg frontfeatured_nationals

After a slow start, Werth sees postitive results

April 11, 2012, 4:14am

Nationals

After a slow start, Werth sees postitive results

FLUSHING, N.Y. - In the midst of an early-season skid, Jayson Werth sat down for a conversation with bench coach Randy Knorr in the Nationals clubhouse Monday night. Werth, who entered yesterday's game 1-for-14 on the season with seven strikeouts, felt like he was happy with his swing, but was starting to get frustrated with the results, or lack thereof. It was during that talk with Knorr that Werth received what he considered some words of wisdom. "We were watching video and looking at...

Comments

Tags:

dan kolko nationals featured_sidebar frontstory_nationals3

Strasburg starts slow, settles into groove

April 11, 2012, 10:31am

Nationals

Strasburg starts slow, settles into groove

FLUSHING, N.Y. - In his first inning of work today, Stephen Strasburg threw 26 pitches, only 10 of which were for strikes. He allowed a single to Ruben Tejada leading off the game, walked the Mets' No. 2 hitter, Daniel Murphy, on four pitches and tossed a wild pitch, allowing both runners to move up a station. But much like Ross Detwiler last night, after allowing those first two hitters to reach, Strasburg has settled down. As we stand in the top of the fourth, Strasburg has retired six...

Comments

Tags:

dan kolko mark derosa nationals stephen strasburg frontfeatured_nationals

Hagerstown places Brian Goodwin on disabled list

April 10, 2012, 7:52pm

Nationals

Hagerstown places Brian Goodwin on disabled list

Low Single-A Hagerstown outfielder Brian Goodwin has been placed on the seven-day disabled list with a leg injury, the team announced. The move became effective Tuesday. Right fielder Angelberth Montilla also was placed on the disabled list with a broken hamate bone in his left hand. The Suns called up outfielders Billy Burns and Narciso Mesa from extended spring training and placed them on the active roster. Suns manager Brian Daubach told WJEJ 1240 AM in Hagerstown during Tuesday's...

Comments

Tags:

brian daubach brian goodwin byron kerr nationals frontstory_nationals2

Deconstructing Detwiler's stellar debut

April 10, 2012, 8:49pm

Nationals

FLUSHING, N.Y. - Exactly a week to the day prior to his win over the Mets on Tuesday night, Ross Detwiler was informed he had made the Nationals' rotation. Detwiler, who previously was under the impression he'd be used as a reliever this season, was walking off the mound at Nats Park after having just thrown an inning in an exhibition against the Red Sox when manager Davey Johnson told him he should start preparing for his next start. The lefty did a double-take. "I thought I heard him...

Comments

Tags:

dan kolko nationals ross detwiler wilson ramos featured_sidebar frontstory_nationals3

Rachel Levitin: Nats making inroads into national consciousness

April 11, 2012, 5:18am

Nationals

Rachel Levitin: Nats making inroads into national consciousness

About a month ago, I found myself at Reagan National Airport talking baseball during March Madness. My fellow bar patrons gathered around the television sets with pints in hand, agonizing over the first round of their bracket selections. It was during that time that a few of us faithful broke off into our own conversation about baseball. Here I was, stuck - caught between a Cardinals fan and a guy who claimed that we was simply a fan of the game. Do I admit I was born and raised in...

Comments

Tags:

guest blogger guestblogger nationals nationals buzz rachel levitin

Tremendous bounceback win for Gilliam in Harrisburg

April 10, 2012, 9:13pm

Nationals

Tremendous bounceback win for Gilliam in Harrisburg

Double-A Harrisburg downed New Britain 7-2 on Tuesday led by the red-hot hitting of second baseman Jeff Kobernus and an outstanding pitching performance from Robert Gilliam. Kobernus went 3-for-5 with a double and two RBIs and is now batting .444. First baseman Tim Pahuta went 2-for-4 with a double, run and an RBI, and is hitting .292. Catcher Sandy Leon went 3-for-4 and is batting .300. Shortstop Josh Johnson also connected with a double and two RBIs, and is currently hitting .348. Senators...

Comments

Tags:

gio gonzalez harrisburg senators nationals oakland athletics robert gilliam frontstory_nationals1

Nats playing it careful with Espinosa, plus Ankiel update

April 10, 2012, 3:00pm

Nationals

Nats playing it careful with Espinosa, plus Ankiel update

FLUSHING, N.Y. - Danny Espinosa did, in fact, undergo a concussion test after yesterday's ballgame, but the Nationals' second baseman checked out OK after taking an elbow to the head in the ninth inning last night. "I'm 100 percent fine," Espinosa said. The concussion test consisted of various balance exercises and is designed to check for nausea or other symptoms of a brain injury. Espinosa said he fell asleep fine last night and woke up feeling as if the collision with Mets shortstop...

Comments

Tags:

dan kolko danny espinosa davey johnson nationals rick ankiel steve lombardozzi

Nats lead Mets late (Final score: 6-2)

April 10, 2012, 5:17pm

Nationals

FLUSHING, N.Y. - The Nationals have opened up a four-run lead on the Mets after pushing across three runs in the top of the sixth. The damage started when Ryan Zimmerman led off the inning with a double and was driven in by Jayson Werth's RBI single to right. That was Werth's first RBI base hit of the season. (He had an RBI walk on opening day.) Rejoice. Xavier Nady followed by singling to left, and Roger Bernadina subsequently reached on an error by second baseman Daniel Murphy allowing...

Comments

Tags:

dan kolko jayson werth nationals roger bernadina ross detwiler wilson ramos

Johnson reflects on Nats' 6-2 win

April 10, 2012, 7:48pm

Nationals

FLUSHING, N.Y. - It all went right for Davey Johnson's bunch today. The Nationals led 1-0 after the first batter of the game, thanks to Ian Desmond's leadoff home run. They got an outstanding pitching performance from Ross Detwiler, making his first start of 2012. And they got five tack-on runs in the middle innings, allowing them to roll to a 6-2 win over the Mets. Detwiler's outing was the main topic of discussion with Johnson after the game, and the Nats' skipper was clearly thrilled...

Comments

Tags:

dan kolko davey johnson jayson werth nationals ross detwiler featured_sidebar frontfeatured_nationals

Detwiler dominant early in debut

April 10, 2012, 4:41pm

Nationals

FLUSHING, N.Y. - If the Nationals can get this type of effort out of their fifth starter every time, they'll be a happy bunch. Ross Detwiler has thrown four sparkling scoreless innings so far tonight, holding the Mets to just two hits and striking out six. Ruben Tejada doubled to lead off the game and Ronny Cedeno followed with a single to left, but since then, it's been all Detwiler. The lefty has retired 12 of the last 13 he's faced and has only allowed a single ball out of the infield -...

Comments

Tags:

dan kolko ian desmond mets nationals ross detwiler frontfeatured_nationals

Espinosa gets a day off after getting elbowed in head

April 10, 2012, 11:27am

Nationals

Espinosa gets a day off after getting elbowed in head

FLUSHING, N.Y. - A day after getting elbowed in the head while covering first base, Danny Espinosa is not in manager Davey Johnson's starting lineup against the Mets. Asked how he was feeling after last night's game, Espinosa insisted he was OK, and he only had some dizziness for a few seconds after catching a Ruben Tejada elbow on the side of the head. It could be that Johnson just wants to get some at-bats for Steve Lombardozzi, who will play second base tonight, and that Espinosa is...