nationals

Nationals and Angels go extra, tied 3-3, thanks to Espinosa

June 27, 2011, 8:52pm

Danny Espinosa slammed a two-out top of the ninth solo shot to even the game with Angels, 3-3, off closer Jordan Walden. The game is in extra innings. The Angels spotted the Nationals an early lead, but nibbled away at John Lannan's pitches until they plated the go-ahead run, 3-2. Michael Morse and Ryan Zimmerman smacked solo homers off of Ervin Santana gave Washington a 2-0 lead. The Angels rallied with three RBI singles. The Angels' Alberto Callaspo with an RBI single in the fourth to...

Comments

Tags:

byron kerr nationals frontstory_nationals2

Angels take lead 3-2 over the Nationals (in progress)

June 27, 2011, 7:17pm

Nationals

The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim lead the Nationals 3-2 after six innings. Michael Morse and Ryan Zimmerman with solo homers off of Ervin Santana gave Washington a 2-0 lead. The Angels' Alberto Callaspo with an RBI single in the fourth to get the Angels on the board against John Lannan. Then, a single by Peter Bourjos scored another run and the game was tied at 2. The Angels took their first lead of the game in the sixth inning on another RBI single, this one off the bat of Bobby Wilson,...

Comments

Tags:

angels byron kerr michael morse nationals ryan zimmerman frontfeatured_nationals

Nationals' Morse and Zimmerman launch HRs for lead in Anaheim, 2-0

June 27, 2011, 7:00pm

Nationals

Michael Morse and Ryan Zimmerman connected with solo homers in the second and fourth innings, respectively, giving the Nationals a two-nothing lead over the Los Angeles Angels in Anaheim. Zimmerman's third homer of the season was down the left field line off of starter Ervin Santana to lead off the fourth frame. Morse's bomb led off the second to right center field, his 15th on the campaign. Morse also added a double deep to center field off the wall. John Lannan had trouble in the...

Comments

Tags:

angels byron kerr michael morse nationals ryan zimmerman frontfeatured_nationals

Morse gives Nationals early advantage in Anaheim, 1-0

June 27, 2011, 6:38pm

Nationals

The Nationals first baseman Michael Morse smacked a solo homer to lead off the top of the second inning, giving Davey Johnson the early lead in his first game as manager for Washington. Morse took the second offering in the at-bat off of Ervin Santana to deep right center field over the wall for his 15th home run of the season. John Lannan got out of a two on jam in the first inning. Nationals lead the Angels1-0 in the second inning.

Comments

Tags:

angels byron kerr john lannan michael morse nationals frontfeatured_nationals

Starting lineups: Nationals at Angels game one

June 27, 2011, 6:30pm

Nationals

Starting lineup for the Nationals in Game One against the L.A. Angels at Angels stadium: John Lannan opposes Ervin Santana. The National starting nine: Roger Bernadina CF Jayson Werth RF Ryan Zimmerman 3B Laynce Nix LF Michael Morse 1B Danny Espinosa 2B Wilson Ramos C Matt Stairs DH Ian Desmond SS The Angels lineup: Izturis 2B Aybar SS Abreu DH Wells RF Kendrick LF Trumbo 1B Callaspo 3B Bourjos CF Wilson C

Comments

Tags:

angels byron kerr nationals

Davey Johnson the right answer for upward trending Nationals

June 27, 2011, 4:57pm

Nationals

Circumstances seem to be falling the Nationals' way this season. Those circumstances usually take the form of injuries to players. Injuries befell every baseball team, every year, and usually it means a tailspin that good teams figure out a way to recover If a team has depth on its roster, the downward spiral can be avoided. This season, the Nationals have found a way to get through injuries that would disrupt most team's rhythm. The Nationals watched as first baseman Adam LaRoche and...

Comments

Tags:

byron kerr davey johnson jim riggleman nationals frontstory_nationals2

Dominican prospect Estevez bounces back in second start

June 27, 2011, 7:04am

Nationals

Dominican prospect Estevez bounces back in second start

Nineteen-year-old Dominican right-hander Wirkin Estevez settled in quite nicely to his second start Thursday for the short-season Single-A Auburn Doubledays. After getting knocked around in his first New York-Penn League start June 18, Estevez was very impressive Thursday against Mahoning Valley, throwing five innings of shutout ball, allowing just one hit and one walk, and striking out five. The 6-foot-1, 170-lb. prospect has his velocity up between 87 to 93 mph on his fastball, and hit 88...

Comments

Tags:

auburn doubledays byron kerr doug harris nationals wirkin estevez frontstory_nationals2

Peacock's slight adjustment keys pitching consistency

June 26, 2011, 6:05am

Nationals

Peacock's slight adjustment keys pitching consistency

One of the best stories of the season has been the rise of right-handed starter Brad Peacock with the Double-A Harrisburg Senators. Peacock has been stifling opposing hitters, going 8-2 in 12 starts (14 games). Opponents are hitting just .182 against the Miami, Fla., native, and Peacock has notched 114 strikeouts, which leads the Eastern League by a wide margin. The 23-year old Peacock also is tops in victories (8-2) and third overall in ERA (2.28) in the entire league. Alongside No. 1...

Comments

Tags:

brad peacock byron kerr doug harris harrisburg senators nationals paul menhart frontstory_nationals3

Dave Nichols: New era for Nationals baseball?

June 26, 2011, 8:36pm

Nationals

The Washington Nationals have won 13 of their last 15 games. That's pretty heady stuff. When play ended Sunday, the Nats owned a 40-38 record, a mere 3 1/2 games out of the Wild Card. This run that they're on right now can only be described with one word: ridiculous. On this streak, the Nats have won close games and blowouts. They've pitched over their heads and picked up the bullpen on the few occasions they've faltered. The Nats blew three saves in Friday's game alone and still won. In...

Comments

Tags:

dave nichols davey johnson guest blogger guestblogger nationals nationals buzz

Lombardozzi continues in groove following promotion to Triple-A

June 24, 2011, 8:06pm

Nationals

Lombardozzi continues in groove following promotion to Triple-A

Nationals prospect Steve Lombardozzi has been promoted to the Triple-A Syracuse Chiefs after being with the Double-A Harrisburg Senators since the beginning of the season. In 65 games with the Senators, Lombardozzi batted .309 with 12 doubles, seven triples, four homers, 23 RBIs and16 stolen bases. In his first four games with the Chiefs, Lombardozzi has hit 7-for-18 (.389) with two doubles, one RBI and four runs scored. The 22-year old from Fulton, Md., is playing second base, but has...

Comments

Tags:

doug harris harrisburg senators nationals steve lombardozzi syracuse chiefs frontstory_nationals2

Do the Nationals need a team president?

June 24, 2011, 7:07am

Nationals

After witnessing the end of Jim Riggleman's tenure as manager of the Washington Nationals, it is interesting to wonder what difference a Stan Kasten-like leader would have made during the last few months. Kasten resigned as team president at the end of the 2010 season. His leadership and experience guided the Nationals, for better or for worse, through some rough waters as they wrestled control of the franchise back from Major League Baseball and rebuilt a decimated farm system. Mike Rizzo...

Comments

Tags:

byron kerr jim riggleman mike rizzo nationals stan kasten frontstory_nationals3

Drew Kinback: Selfish Riggleman played chicken, lost in a walk-off

June 24, 2011, 4:45am

Nationals

Drew Kinback: Selfish Riggleman played chicken, lost in a walk-off

I really don't want to write about Jim Riggleman. First, he doesn't deserve it, considering his actions yesterday; resigning only moments after the Nationals organization hit a peak after sweeping the Seattle Mariners and moving over .500. Second, he ruined my Thursday night because as a Nationals blogger I tend to have to keep on top of these sorts of news stories and it kept me from spending time with my daughter and eating out at Wayside Chicken. I love Wayside Chicken. However, I...

Comments

Tags:

drew kinback guest blogger guestblogger jim riggleman mike rizzo nationals nationals buzz

Knorr says he hasn't been contacted for Nats' skipper post

June 23, 2011, 2:39pm

Nationals

Knorr says he hasn't been contacted for Nats' skipper post

Triple-A Syracuse Chiefs manager Randy Knorr told MASNsports.com that he has not been contacted about the position vacated when Nationals manager Jim Riggleman resigned after Thursday's victory over Seattle. The Nationals are very high on Knorr as a manager within their system. He has moved up from Single-A Potomac to Double-A Harrisburg and now to the Chiefs in the past three seasons. It is his sixth season as manager in the Washington organization. Knorr was the Nationals' bullpen coach...

Comments

Tags:

byron kerr jim riggleman nationals randy knorr

Riggleman's agent: Rizzo would not discuss extension

June 23, 2011, 2:23pm

Nationals

Riggleman's agent: Rizzo would not discuss extension

In a stunning end to the Washington Nationals' best homestand this season, Jim Riggleman announced his resignation as manager following Thursday's victory over the Seattle Mariners. Riggleman's agent, Burton Rocks, said his client had wanted to talk for some time with Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo about a contract extension, but never was granted a meeting. "What set (Riggleman) off was all he wanted was a personal meeting with Rizzo to talk about the contract," Rocks said....

Comments

Tags:

burton rocks byron kerr jim riggleman mike rizzo nationals frontstory_nationals2

Drew Kinback: Reeling from Rizzo's rope-a-dope

June 23, 2011, 4:39am

Nationals

Drew Kinback: Reeling from Rizzo's rope-a-dope

The greatest sporting event I never witnessed took place on Oct. 30, 1974 in the Mai 20 Stadium in Kinshasa, Zaire. It was a title bout for the boxing heavyweight championship of the world. It pitted champion George Foreman against challenger Muhammad Ali. Labeled "The Rumble In The Jungle," the match went on to become one of the most legendary sporting events in history - and I missed it. Foreman was the supposed favorite. He was bigger and younger than Ali and from what they say,...

Comments

Tags:

drew kinback guest blogger guestblogger mike rizzo nationals nationals buzz

Auburn catcher Nieto off to hot start

June 22, 2011, 7:25pm

Nationals

Something has clicked for short season Single-A Auburn Doubledays catcher Adrian Nieto in the first week of the 2011 new season. The 21-year old Cuban backstop struggled last season for Single-A Hagerstown Suns, batting .195 with 44 strikeouts in 60 games. But Nieto came out of the blocks swinging a hot bat this campaign, grabbing attention in the Doubledays' first game last Friday. Nieto went 3-for-3 with a home run and two RBIs. He went 0-for-2 in his second game but has gone 5-for-12 the...

Comments

Tags:

adrian nieto auburn doubledays bob boone byron kerr nationals frontstory_nationals3

Kimball shut down; Ankiel may go to Florida to rehab

June 22, 2011, 1:16pm

Nationals

Kimball shut down; Ankiel may go to Florida to rehab

Nationals manager Jim Riggleman updated the status of reliever Cole Kimball. Kimball is still feeling pain in his shoulder after throwing light sessions over the weekend. The medical staff has decided to shut him down for two weeks. Kimball has been on the disabled list since June 10 and had been making fairly good progress. "He is not feeling as good as he should be at this point," said Riggleman. Outfielder Rick Ankiel will not go with the team on their road trip to Chicago this...

Comments

Tags:

byron kerr cole kimball ian desmond nationals rick ankiel frontfeatured_nationals

Free tickets!

June 22, 2011, 11:50am

Nationals

Don't worry, Nationals fans. I wouldn't create such a tantalizing headline without actually meaning it. Thanks to Venga, the mobile application that gives subscribers the scoop on what's happening at bars, restaurants and nightlife venues around you, fans will have a chance to win tickets to the Nationals' doubleheader against Pittsburgh on July 2. Claiming the tickets couldn't be easier. Simply follow Venga on Twitter (@GoVenga) and tweet that you want to go to the game. It's that...

Comments

Tags:

brian eller nationals nationals buzz

The impact of young Nationals learning how to win

June 22, 2011, 7:49am

Nationals

The Nationals' young catcher Wilson Ramos made a coming-of-age play Tuesday with his dramatic three-run walk-off home run to stun the Seattle Mariners, 6-5. It is one of those hits that can make players and fans believe the Nationals can win any game at any time. The fact that it was the 23-year old Ramos who hit the homer shows that the Nationals' younger players are learning how to win games when given the opportunity. Last Thursday, 24-year old second baseman Danny Espinosa came to the...

Comments

Tags:

byron kerr danny espinosa nationals wilson ramos featured_sidebar frontstory_nationals3

Riggleman updates the progress of Kimball, Gaudin and Wang

June 21, 2011, 1:13pm

Nationals

Riggleman updates the progress of Kimball, Gaudin and Wang

Nationals manager Jim Riggleman updated the status of a few pitchers before Tuesday's game against the Seattle Mariners. Reliever Cole Kimball told me over the weekend his shoulder is pain free after a couple of throwing sessions from 60 feet. He was scheduled to throw from 90 feet Sunday. Riggleman said Kimball is throwing a little bit and the reports his arm feels great. "His nature is very positive," Riggleman said. "He said he felt great before he went on the DL. He is just a...