nationals

Nats end season-long comeback with wild card clinch (updated)

September 24, 2019, 6:15pm

The path was different this time, very different. There was no division title, no early September clinch, no chance to turn on the cruise control and enjoy the nice, smooth ride to the postseason. No, this time the Nationals had to earn it. They had to come all the way back from a 19-31 start that left more than a few observers wondering if major changes were about to take place. They had to go on a remarkable run that saw them play at a .645 clip for four full months that still wasn't enough...

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Ross and five relievers lift Nats closer to postseason, eliminate Phillies

September 24, 2019, 1:39pm

Nationals

Ross and five relievers lift Nats closer to postseason, eliminate Phillies

Right-hander Joe Ross and five relievers lifted the Nationals to a crucial 4-1 win over the Phillies in Game 1 of this afternoon's doubleheader at Nats Park. The Nationals improved to 87-69 and reduced their magic number to clinch a playoff spot to two. They also eliminated the Phillies from postseason contention. Ross went four innings, wiggling out of a big jam in the first. He allowed a walk to start the game to CÃ©sar HernÃ¡ndez. Then three of the next four batters singled, including a...

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Scherzer allows rare three-run shot (Nats win 6-5)

September 24, 2019, 4:15pm

Nationals

Scherzer allows rare three-run shot (Nats win 6-5)

Surprisingly, the Phillies were able to score quickly against Nationals starter Max Scherzer. After recording an out to open the game, Scherzer walked Logan Morrison. Jean Segura followed with a single to third baseman Anthony Rendon. With two men on, Brad Miller blasted a three-run homer to center field. His ninth homer of the season came on an 0-1 pitch. It was the first time Scherzer had allowed a three-run homer since April 4, 2018 against Preston Tucker. Yan Gomes got the Nats on the board...

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Martinez holds back Suzuki again, gearing toward wild card game (Nats win 4-1)

September 24, 2019, 8:29am

Nationals

Martinez holds back Suzuki again, gearing toward wild card game (Nats win 4-1)

Nationals manager Davey Martinez will start Yan Gomes in Game 2 to catch right-hander Max Scherzer. This will allow Kurt Suzuki more time to rehab as he gets better from an elbow injury that has prevented him from starting since September 5. Raudy Read is starting game one for Joe Ross. "Yan will catch the second game," Martinez said. "I had a long conversation with Suzuki and Paul (Lessard) last night after the game. He's about 70-75 percent right now. And he's progressing so I'd rather...

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Game 156 lineups: Nats vs. Phillies

September 23, 2019, 7:32pm

Nationals

The Nationals head into a long Tuesday confident in their spot in the playoff hunt. After dropping the Phillies here last night 7-2 to open the five-game set, the Nats are very close - magic number at three - to clinching their first postseason berth since 2017. "We got two games tomorrow," left-hander Patrick Corbin said Monday night, following his winning performance of one run allowed over six frames. "Hopefully start off with a goodie the first game. I don't think anything is going to...

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Nats on verge of completing historic path to postseason

September 23, 2019, 8:22pm

Nationals

Nats on verge of completing historic path to postseason

Baseball players are as superstitious as they get, so it's not surprising that Adam Eaton was none too pleased when he walked into the Nationals clubhouse Monday afternoon and saw rolled up plastic curtains positioned over every locker. "Don't bring that up. I'm not happy about it," Eaton said with a smile but more than a hint of truth behind the facade. "I'm not happy at all. We've had a discussion. It won't happen again. If I had it my way, I would do a Chris Sale and rip every...

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Game 157 lineups: Nats vs. Phillies

September 24, 2019, 1:40pm

Nationals

Well, here we go. The Nationals took care of business this afternoon. Now, if they can take care of business again tonight, and if the Pirates can snap their long losing streak and extend the Cubs' long losing streak, there's going to be a celebration on South Capitol Street tonight. The Nationals can only take care of their own business and then hope the Pirates do their part. With that in mind, they'll happily send Max Scherzer to the mound for the nightcap. The ace looked like the ace...

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With win over Phillies, Nats have chance to clinch Tuesday

September 23, 2019, 6:25pm

Nationals

With win over Phillies, Nats have chance to clinch Tuesday

A roller coaster of a baseball season that began in hopeless fashion, then turned remarkably hopeful over the course of the summer before some September hiccups has now left the Nationals on the cusp of a significant achievement. It will still take three positive results over the span of a long day of baseball, but it can now be said: The Nationals could clinch a postseason berth Tuesday night, with five games to spare. The Nats put themselves in that position thanks to a 7-2 victory over the...

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Corbin goes to fastball more after Phillies adjust, wins 7-2

September 23, 2019, 7:23pm

Nationals

Corbin goes to fastball more after Phillies adjust, wins 7-2

Patrick Corbin battled through six innings as the Nationals dropped the Phillies 7-2. The left-hander's pitch count was up, but he never let the Phillies enjoy a big hit. Former Nats slugger Bryce Harper was never able to change the momentum. Harper singled in the first inning. But Corbin rebounded to strike him out swinging in the third inning on a 94 mph fastball. He walked Harper in the sixth, Harper came around to score the first run for the Phillies. "He had a really good fastball,"...

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Suzuki on target to return Tuesday night to catch Scherzer

September 23, 2019, 1:47pm

Nationals

Suzuki on target to return Tuesday night to catch Scherzer

Catcher Kurt Suzuki is on target to catch right-hander Max Scherzer in the nightcap of the Nationals' doubleheader against the Phillies Tuesday night, bench coach Chip Hale announced. "He looked good," Hale said. "He was out at least 120 (feet) throwing hard. Feels good. We will see how it feels tomorrow. It's a big key, the doubleheader. Max (Scherzer) will pitch the night game, so that will probably be the one that Kurt will catch." Suzuki said he felt good after pregame workouts...

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Ross will start Tuesday's doubleheader opener

September 23, 2019, 1:40pm

Nationals

Ross will start Tuesday's doubleheader opener

Tuesday's doubleheader against the Phillies has loomed on the Nationals' schedule for three months now, and so too has the question of who would make a cameo appearance to start that game. The answer came today from bench coach Chip Hale, who revealed Joe Ross will get the ball for the 1:05 p.m. twinbill opener, with Max Scherzer making his regularly scheduled start in the 7:05 p.m. nightcap. Hale, subbing for Davey Martinez in meeting with reporters pregame while the manager had some...

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Early solo homers help Corbin (Nats win 7-2)

September 23, 2019, 4:08pm

Nationals

Early solo homers help Corbin (Nats win 7-2)

The Nationals used the longball to take the lead early on against Phillies right-hander Zach Eflin. Adam Eaton crushed an upper deck solo homer to right field in the bottom of the first. His career-high 15th homer of the season came on a 3-2 pitch. In the second inning with two outs, Yan Gomes launched a line-drive solo homer to center field. His 11th homer of the season on a 1-1 offering made it 2-0 Nats. The Phillies notched singles by Bryce Harper and Andrew Knapp off left-hander Patrick...

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Game 155 lineups: Nats vs. Phillies

September 23, 2019, 11:18am

Nationals

This has been looming on the schedule for months. Five games in four days against the Phillies, the result of a rainout in mid-June. At the time, we had no idea how significant this would be for one or both of these teams, or even whether it would be significant for either of them. The answer: It's very significant for the Nationals, not all that significant for the Phillies, who remain mathematically alive but are hanging on by a thread. (Their elimination number is three.) The Nats, of...

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AFL Nats roll to 4-1 record, winning three straight

September 23, 2019, 4:16am

Nationals

AFL Nats roll to 4-1 record, winning three straight

The Surprise Saguaros had a very good first week in the Arizona Fall League, going 4-1. They have the best record in the West Division and the league overall, and enjoy a three-game win streak. Here is a rundown of last week: Surprise 4, at Glendale 2. Scottsdale 8, at Surprise 6. At Surprise 4, Salt River 1. At Surprise 12, Salt River 0. Surprise 4, at Peoria 1. Catcher Jakson Reetz is hitting .455 (5-for-11) in three games with a 1.084 OPS. He has one double, one stolen base and three RBIs....

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Nats must put games in hands of two best relievers

September 22, 2019, 5:26pm

Nationals

Nats must put games in hands of two best relievers

It's been a ragged September for the Nationals, who despite hanging on to remain in strong position to reach the National League wild card game have gone 9-11. This is crunch time, of course, a time for the best players on the roster to step up and deliver in key moments to help lift their team into the postseason. Problem is, when it comes to the Nationals bullpen, the best players aren't the ones on the field in those key moments. If you had to guess, who would you think had made the most...

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Nats have no answer for latest blown lead, fall in Miami (updated)

September 22, 2019, 12:23pm

Nationals

Nats have no answer for latest blown lead, fall in Miami (updated)

MIAMI - Everybody in the Nationals bullpen has had his opportunity over the course of the season to prove he deserves the ball in critical moments. If anything, most of these guys have had so many opportunities they're now running on fumes as the final week of the regular season arrives. Until someone - or, more preferably, multiple someones - proves he can actually get the job done in crunch time, this team is simply going to have to find some other way to win the games necessary to reach the...

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Cabrera sits with sore ankle, could come off bench (Nats up 3-1)

September 22, 2019, 8:29am

Nationals

Cabrera sits with sore ankle, could come off bench (Nats up 3-1)

MIAMI - AsdrÃºbal Cabrera is out of today's lineup, the veteran second baseman dealing with a sore right ankle after he was thrown out at the plate during Saturday night's 10-4 10-inning win over the Marlins. Manager Davey Martinez said Cabrera is not scheduled to undergo an MRI and doesn't believe the injury is serious enough to prevent him from playing altogether, but he wanted to give the 33-year-old a chance to rest today. "I haven't talked to (director of athletic training Paul...

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More on Saturday night's wild win in Miami

September 21, 2019, 9:39pm

Nationals

More on Saturday night's wild win in Miami

MIAMI - A lot happened during the course of the Nationals' 10-4 10-inning win over the Marlins on Saturday night, and much of it was covered in the game story. But let's make sure we give a few more significant moments and developments from the game their just due. ... * AsdrÃºbal Cabrera injured his right ankle. He hurt himself sliding while getting tagged out at the plate on a fourth-inning play that had plenty of folks up in arms, with third base coach Bob Henley waving the veteran...

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After disastrous eighth, a joyous 10th for Nats (updated)

September 21, 2019, 6:31pm

Nationals

After disastrous eighth, a joyous 10th for Nats (updated)

MIAMI - They led by four runs in the bottom of the eighth. Stephen Strasburg had dominated the Marlins for the umpteenth time. The Nationals just needed to finish off a last-place opponent and move one step closer to a berth in the wild card game. And then Fernando Rodney took the mound, charged with protecting a four-run lead. And the enigmatic reliever remained on the mound until that four-run lead was gone and panic began to consume living rooms throughout the DMV while hope suddenly emerged...

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Game 154 lineups: Nats at Marlins

September 22, 2019, 6:24am

Nationals

MIAMI - Hello one last time from Marlins Park, where the Nationals will look to continue their utter dominance of the local ballclub. The Nats are 15-3 vs. the Marlins this season - they actually lost the first two games way back in April! - and carry an 11-game winning streak into today's series finale. I don't care how large the disparity in talent is between teams, that's really hard to do. The Nationals sure could use one more win this afternoon, though, because with the Brewers doing...