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Some random thoughts about the All-Star festivities in D.C.

July 16, 2018, 8:36am

Some random observations about the All-Star Game festivities at Nationals Park from a writer covering his first Midsummer Classic ... * Though I really hate it when I see a team's jersey that's not one of the teams playing in a game - say, an interloper in Yankees pinstripes at a Reds-Nationals game - it's been fun to see jerseys from all 30 major league teams already at Nationals Park. I've even seen a few retro throwbacks - think Senators, Browns, Expos, Pilots - for teams who have long...

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Martinez pushes right buttons as Nats win first-half finale

July 15, 2018, 12:51pm

Nationals

Martinez pushes right buttons as Nats win first-half finale

NEW YORK - If you're not going to take a few chances and push some buttons you don't normally push on the final day before the All-Star break, when are you going to do it? Davey Martinez, who on Thursday afternoon spoke of the urgency he and his Nationals needed to show in this weekend's series against the Mets, did just that in today's first-half finale. In the top of the seventh inning of a tie game, the bases loaded and nobody out, Michael A. Taylor at the plate, Martinez called upon...

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Harper, Murphy get day off; Gott replaces Voth on roster (Nats win 6-1)

July 15, 2018, 8:49am

Nationals

Harper, Murphy get day off; Gott replaces Voth on roster (Nats win 6-1)

NEW YORK - The Nationals will close out the first half of their season with a lineup that doesn't include Bryce Harper or Daniel Murphy, and with a couple extra arms in their bullpen in case they're needed. Both Harper and Murphy were given today's game against the Mets off by manager Davey Martinez, who wanted to give each guy a chance to rest, for different reasons. Harper had started 93 of the Nationals' first 95 games and was used as a pinch-hitter in one other. He had started 36...

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Kieboom and Garcia on repping Nats in All-Star Futures Game (updated)

July 15, 2018, 10:54am

Nationals

Kieboom and Garcia on repping Nats in All-Star Futures Game (updated)

If Carter Kieboom looks at home at his stall in the U.S. Team clubhouse at Nationals Park, it's with good reason: He's been there before. Back at the end of spring training, when the Nats hosted the Twins in the final exhibition game before the regular season, Kieboom was in a Nationals uniform, set up in a swath of temporary lockers on one side of the room. Now, as he prepares to represent the Nationals in the SiriusXM All-Star Futures Game, he's in the high-rent district - or roughly at a...

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Nats have squandered chance to make up ground this week

July 14, 2018, 8:49pm

Nationals

Nats have squandered chance to make up ground this week

NEW YORK - When Nationals players held their closed-door meeting following a July 4 loss to the Red Sox, they found themselves one game under .500. They were in third place in the National League East, seven games behind the first-place Braves, 5 1/2 games behind the second-place Phillies. All agreed it was time to get serious, time to start making up some ground. As luck would have it, the schedule was about to get more favorable, as well. After a difficult stretch that included games with the...

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Game 96 lineups: Nats at Mets

July 15, 2018, 6:58am

Nationals

NEW YORK - The first half of the season wraps up today, though as has been pointed out already, the season is well beyond the actual halfway point. Today is Game 96 for the Nationals, and if they want to reach a Game 163 they're going to have to play a whole lot better the rest of the way, beginning this afternoon. Jeremy Hellickson will need to give his team a quality start. And Davey Martinez will need to be willing to have a quick hook on his starter, as he has all season to date. No need...

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Big inning dooms Voth in debut, Nats fall below .500 again (updated)

July 14, 2018, 2:59pm

Nationals

Big inning dooms Voth in debut, Nats fall below .500 again (updated)

NEW YORK - As the bottom of the fifth arrived at Citi Field, Davey Martinez knew what he needed from Austin Voth: one more scoreless inning. One more clean inning, and the rookie manager could pull his rookie starter and be content with the three early runs he allowed, at the very least giving his team a chance to come back from that three-run deficit with four innings yet to play. But as the bottom of the fifth played out, it became apparent that best-case scenario simply wasn't going to come...

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Nationals recall Trevor Gott

July 15, 2018, 7:27am

Nationals

The Washington Nationals recalled right-handed pitcher Trevor Gott from Triple-A Syracuse and optioned right-handed pitcher Austin Voth to Triple-A Syracuse on Sunday. Nationals President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcement. Gott, 25, returns to the Nationals for his fourth stint of the 2018 season. He has appeared in 18 games out of Washington's bullpen, securing two holds while going 0-2 with a 4.96 ERA. He has inherited eight runners in 18 games and...

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Game 95 lineups: Nats at Mets

July 14, 2018, 8:36am

Nationals

NEW YORK - Hello from Citi Field. Yes, I've swooped into town to cover the rest of the Nationals' weekend series with the Mets while Byron heads back home to handle pregame and postgame hosting duties on Nats Xtra. It's been an interesting series already, with the Nats winning Thursday night behind two homers from Anthony Rendon and one from Bryce Harper, then losing Friday night after Tanner Roark gave up four early runs and the lineup unable to get more than two back. Today we'll finally...

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Martinez meets with Harper, Gonzalez available in pen

July 14, 2018, 11:21am

Nationals

Martinez meets with Harper, Gonzalez available in pen

NEW YORK - Davey Martinez said Friday night he'd speak to Bryce Harper today about the manner in which he ran out (or didn't run out) a double-play grounder during the Nationals' 4-2 loss to the Mets, and the rookie manager indeed met with his star outfielder this morning. The message that was delivered? "I've spoken to Bryce," Martinez said, "and that's a conversation that will stay between Bryce and I." Martinez did acknowledge after Friday's game, though, that he would have...

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Voth finally gets his shot to start for Nationals

July 14, 2018, 2:55am

Nationals

NEW YORK - The fourth time is the charm for right-hander Austin Voth. Or at least his fourth call to the major leagues. On Saturday afternoon, Voth will finally make his big league debut as he gets the ball for the Nationals against the Mets at Citi Field. Voth has previously been summoned on Oct 2, 2017. April 29, 2018 and June 18, 2018. His first start is today. "I don't know what the record is (for being called up and not getting into a game)," Voth said. "I've been waiting for this...

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Mets single their way to early lead vs. Voth (Nats lose 7-4)

July 14, 2018, 1:44pm

Nationals

Mets single their way to early lead vs. Voth (Nats lose 7-4)

NEW YORK - These days, it feels like it takes four singles in a row for the Nationals to score one run. Imagine how aggravating it was for them when they watched the Mets turn that into a three-run outburst in today's game. Despite relatively weak contact and nothing more than a single, the Mets managed to manufacture three runs in the bottom of the second today against Austin Voth and take a 3-0 lead on the reeling Nationals. And then, just when it looked like he might close out his major...

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Roark steadies himself, but Nats offense stymied in 4-2 loss

July 13, 2018, 7:17pm

Nationals

Roark steadies himself, but Nats offense stymied in 4-2 loss

NEW YORK - Right-hander Tanner Roark struggled early but then settled in to finish five innings Friday night. But the Nationals could not solve right-hander Noah Syndergaard and two relievers in a 4-2 loss at Citi Field. Once again, the Nats fall back to .500, at 47-47. With the Phillies 2-0 shutout of the Marlins, the Nats deficit in the division has reached 6 1/2 games. Roark (3-12) started the game by allowing three consecutive singles. JosÃ© Bautista's RBI single highlighted a three-run...

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Martinez on Turner, Murphy, Roark, Glover and a beloved coach

July 13, 2018, 2:21pm

Nationals

Martinez on Turner, Murphy, Roark, Glover and a beloved coach

NEW YORK - First baseman Ryan Zimmerman was running the bases during batting practice again today. He is still on schedule for a rehab assignment early next week, and hopes to be activated on Friday, July 20. The high Single-A Potomac Nationals announced that right-hander Koda Glover will be with them on a rehab assignment for their game Saturday against Frederick. Glover made two appearances with the Rookie-level Gulf Coast Nationals July 7 and 10, striking out four, allowing no runs over two...

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Herrera appreciates confidence manager has in him (Nats fall 4-2)

July 13, 2018, 3:47pm

Nationals

Herrera appreciates confidence manager has in him (Nats fall 4-2)

NEW YORK - Nationals right-handed reliever Kelvin Herrera struggled a bit at the beginning of his appearance late in Thursday's 5-4 win over the New York Mets. Brandon Nimmo hit a ball deep to center field that was caught by Michael A. Taylor. AsdrÃºbal Cabrera followed with a solo homer to right-center field that cut the Nats' lead down to one run. Herrera then walked the next two batters. With two men on and one away, Herrera focused on throwing strikes. He induced a weak pop out to first...

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Game 94 lineups: Nats at Mets (Rendon delivers in NY)

July 13, 2018, 8:48am

Nationals

Game 94 lineups: Nats at Mets (Rendon delivers in NY)

NEW YORK - Third baseman Anthony Rendon again reminded fans of his fluid power swing on Thursday, crushing a pair of line drive home runs over the left field wall to help the Nationals take control in a 5-4 win over the Mets. Fans in Flushing are well acquainted with Rendon. In 42 games at Citi Field, Rendon is hitting .302 with 20 runs scored, 11 doubles, 10 homers and 42 RBIs. The modest Rendon said those gaudy numbers at this stadium might be more a product of the frequency of games he has...

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Zimmerman: Nats can win division in different way this time around

July 12, 2018, 4:40pm

Nationals

Zimmerman: Nats can win division in different way this time around

NEW YORK - The Nationals' longest-tenured player, first baseman Ryan Zimmerman, spoke up Thursday about his club's chances of getting something going in its quest for a third straight division title. The Nats have started the season 47-46 and trail the Phillies by 5 1/2 games in the National League East. In his 14th year with the club, Zimmerman could be as close as one week away from returning to the lineup. He has been out since May 10 with a right oblique strain. He has missed 54 games. He...

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Nats ride homers from Rendon and Harper to edge Mets 5-4

July 12, 2018, 7:09pm

Nationals

Nats ride homers from Rendon and Harper to edge Mets 5-4

NEW YORK - The Nationals got just enough from each facet of their club to eke out a 5-4 series-opening victory against the Mets at Citi Field on Thursday. Anthony Rendon hit two homers, Bryce Harper cranked a moon shot and Max Scherzer allowed only three runs over seven innings to go into the break with a 12-5 record. The Nats improved to 47-46, keeping pace with the Phillies, but are still 5 1/2 games back in the National League East. The Braves had the night off. "I think that's a huge key,...

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Game 93 lineups: Nats at Mets

July 12, 2018, 6:16am

Nationals

NEW YORK - The Nationals got themselves into a hole in their division last week after a sweep at the hands of the first-place Red Sox. Many fans and reporters looked at the next three series against Marlins, Pirates and Mets as a chance for the club to get something going right before the All-Star break and cut into the Phillies and Braves' lead atop the National League East. Arriving in New York for another critical divisional series, the Nats are just 4-3 during the stretch in which they had...

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Since 1933 inception, All-Star Game has been blessed with plenty of history

July 13, 2018, 6:06am

Nationals Orioles

Since 1933 inception, All-Star Game has been blessed with plenty of history

The first All-Star Game was played in Chicago's Comiskey Park in 1933. Washington hosted its first All-Star Game in 1937. President Franklin D. Roosevelt, who was dealing with the controversy surrounding his plan to pack the Supreme Court with extra justices, attended the afternoon game in D.C. and threw out the first pitch from his presidential box. FBI director J. Edgar Hoover - as well as many members of the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate and military leaders - was at Griffith...