nationals

Gonzalez under the weather, but says no excuse in 11-8 loss

October 01, 2017, 4:47pm

Left-hander Gio Gonzalez got off to a rough start that set the tone for 11-8 Nationals loss to the Pirates that ended the regular season. Gonzalez allowed five runs on three hits with two walks and a hit by pitch in a forgettable first inning. "Before this start I felt great," Gonzalez said. "This was awesome. I felt like I actually did something. Then today's game, I did nothing. Took a couple steps back." Baker said one reason Gonzalez struggled might have been that he was sick before...

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Ovations aplenty in Nationals' regular season finale

October 01, 2017, 3:28pm

Nationals

The result didn't matter. The Nationals had locked up a division title three weeks ago, had locked up home-field advantage for the National League Division Series a week ago. There was a chance to match the franchise record with win No. 98, but that team pursuit took a backseat today. Unless there's something larger at stake, Game 162 is usually about individual over team. And so this afternoon's contest on South Capitol Street - an 11-8 loss to the Pirates that required a record 4 hours, 22...

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Johnson, Suero and Read appreciative of organizational honors

October 01, 2017, 11:44am

Nationals

Johnson, Suero and Read appreciative of organizational honors

The Nationals honored their minor league players of the year before Sunday's regular season finale against the Pirates. Daniel Johnson and Wander Suero took home honors as the organizational player and pitcher of the year, respectively. Raudy Read was the Bob Boone Award recipient for the 2017 season. Center fielder Johnson, 22, was a fifth-round selection in the 2016 draft out of New Mexico State. He spent 88 games at low Single-A Hagerstown and 42 games at high Single-A Potomac, hitting a...

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Scherzer confident injury isn't serious, can't commit to Game 1 yet

October 01, 2017, 9:19am

Nationals

Scherzer confident injury isn't serious, can't commit to Game 1 yet

Max Scherzer is confident the hamstring injury he suffered Saturday night is "nothing major," but the Nationals ace couldn't go so far this morning as to declare himself good to start Game 1 of the National League Division Series on Friday. "That's tough to say right now," Scherzer said. "We're not even 24 hours out. We're still trying to get all the doctors to take a look at this and make sure that we have the absolute correct diagnosis. But we have a really, really good idea of what...

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Gonzalez struggling with command early (Pirates win 11-8)

October 01, 2017, 12:13pm

Nationals

Gonzalez struggling with command early (Pirates win 11-8)

The Pirates got to Gio Gonzalez with a big first inning, scoring five runs on three hits. Gonzalez walked two batters and hit another with a pitch. Max Moroff's three-run double was the highlight. The Nationals came back quickly in the bottom of the first. Trea Turner doubled and Bryce Harper walked. They pulled off another double steal, Turner to third and Harper to second. It is the second time the Nats have used that ploy. If manager Dusty Baker uses this strategy in the post season -...

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Game 162 lineups: Nats vs. Pirates

October 01, 2017, 7:25am

Nationals

And so we have reached Game 162. It's not the end, because obviously there are some very important games yet to be played in 2017. But the regular season ends today for the Nationals, who with one more win over the Pirates would get to 98 and match the franchise record set in 2012. It'll be Gio Gonzalez on the mound for today's finale, looking to wrap up his excellent season on a high note and perhaps earn some more Cy Young love in the process. Of course, given what happened to Max Scherzer...

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With Doolittle held out, Kintzler can't close out ninth

September 30, 2017, 7:55pm

Nationals

With Doolittle held out, Kintzler can't close out ninth

Brandon Kintzler had plenty of ninth-inning experience with the Twins this season. Before he was traded to the Nationals on July 31, the right-hander had 28 saves in 32 attempts for Minnesota. The Nats, of course, have used Kintzler primarily as their seventh-inning reliever since that trade, entrusting the eighth inning to Ryan Madson and the ninth to Sean Doolittle. It's a formula that has worked exceptionally well for two months and leaves this team fully confident in its bullpen heading...

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Scherzer getting "precautionary" MRI for hamstring cramp

September 30, 2017, 7:16pm

Nationals

Scherzer getting "precautionary" MRI for hamstring cramp

Anyone who has been watching the Nationals for at least the last two months has known the results of any one particular game have not mattered much for a team that essentially had locked up a postseason berth long before it officially clinched on Sept. 10. One thing - and only one thing - truly has mattered for the Nationals during this homestretch: Keeping everybody of significance healthy. So when Max Scherzer was pulled with one out in the top of the fourth tonight for reasons that weren't...

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Scherzer pulled in fourth with apparent leg issue (Nats lose 4-1)

September 30, 2017, 4:36pm

Nationals

Scherzer pulled in fourth with apparent leg issue (Nats lose 4-1)

The last thing the Nationals needed in Game 161 of the season was to pull Max Scherzer in the top of the fourth inning for any reason other than performance, but that's what they got tonight. Scherzer was removed from his final postseason tune-up with what appeared to be a right leg issue after he landed awkwardly while throwing a pitch to the Pirates' Josh Bell. Whether his removal by manager Dusty Baker was a move of extreme caution or reason for actual concern is the question that now...

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Drew activated, Kelley to 60-day DL with bone chips

September 30, 2017, 3:34pm

Nationals

Drew activated, Kelley to 60-day DL with bone chips

The Nationals made a 60-day disabled list player swap just before tonight's game, adding Stephen Drew to the active roster while shelving Shawn Kelley for the remainder of the season. Drew, who has been out since July 26 with a tear in his abdomen, is now active but isn't ready to play quite yet. Kelley, who had to depart his Sept. 22 relief appearance with a numb arm, was diagnosed with bone chips in his elbow. The moves don't have any real immediate impact but were necessary transactions...

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Rendon gets a breather, Harper tries to get more at-bats

September 30, 2017, 1:58pm

Nationals

Rendon gets a breather, Harper tries to get more at-bats

If Anthony Rendon is going to make one final case for MVP votes, it'll have to come in Sunday's season finale. Rendon is not in the lineup for tonight's game against the Pirates, a decision made in conjunction with manager Dusty Baker in an attempt to stay fresh heading into the postseason. Baker described the star third baseman as being "just a little fatigued" and thus in need of a breather. Rendon has started the last four games and 12 of the Nationals' last 14. "We discussed it...

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Game 161 lineups: Nats vs. Pirates

September 30, 2017, 10:52am

Nationals

It's not necessarily high on their priority list right now, but the Nationals do still have a chance to win 99 games this season and thus set a new franchise record. To get there, they need to win both tonight and Sunday afternoon against the Pirates, which is far from an impossible task. And it only helps to have Max Scherzer on the mound tonight for his final regular season start. The ace right-hander enters tonight with a 2.55 ERA and needing to have a strong outing if he wants to leapfrog...

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Offense reminds what it can do with Werth and Zimmerman homering

September 30, 2017, 2:24am

Nationals

Offense reminds what it can do with Werth and Zimmerman homering

The Nationals lineup was back to where it was supposed to be from opening day in a 6-1 win over Pittsburgh on Friday, minus center fielder Adam Eaton, who is out for the season with a major knee injury. The lineup delivered with a pair of electrifying innings where it contributed multiple hits -- the sixth and the eighth. The offense even put together four hits in five at-bats in the first inning to plate an early run. The game was put away in the eighth inning, when Ryan Zimmerman and Jayson...

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Strasburg strong run to the finish line, now prepares for Chicago

September 29, 2017, 7:34pm

Nationals

Strasburg strong run to the finish line, now prepares for Chicago

If there was a start Stephen Strasburg wanted to have to get him tuned up right before the postseason begins next week, this was the one. Strasburg fired 7 2/3 shutout innings and Ryan Zimmerman had a pair of homers with four RBIs as the Nationals rolled the Pirates 6-1. Strasburg did not allow a hit until there was two outs in the fifth. He struck out eight, walked two and scattered two hits to improve to 15-4. He did all of this on just 98 pitches, 63 for strikes. "Just like you put in a lot...

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Strasburg rolling against Pirates again (Nats win 6-1)

September 29, 2017, 3:52pm

Nationals

Strasburg rolling against Pirates again (Nats win 6-1)

Stephen Strasburg likes recording strikeouts against the Pirates. He struck out a then career-high 14 against Pittsburgh in his major league debut on June 8, 2010. On May 27, 2017, he struck out 15 against San Diego in a 3-0 win. After a 1-2-3 first inning, Strasburg struck out five of his next six batters faced. He struck out the side in the third. The Nationals put together four hits in five at-bats in the first inning. Ryan Zimmerman hit an RBI double, but Daniel Murphy was tagged out at...

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With all hands on deck, Baker can finally put out his lineup of choice

September 29, 2017, 2:27pm

Nationals

With all hands on deck, Baker can finally put out his lineup of choice

For the first time in a long time, the Nationals finally have their projected starting lineup back. And it comes with three games left in the season. The question is will Dusty Baker use this same lineup for the postseason. Probably not. Baker has placed Bryce Harper in the No. 2 hole to maximize the number of at-bats he can get during a game if he wants him to only go six or seven innings. Harper got the day off Thursday after two games in Philadelphia. Harper had admitted he was a little bit...

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Game 160 lineups: Nats vs. Pirates

September 29, 2017, 6:32am

Nationals

The Nationals are prepping their starters for the National League Division Series and if tonight's starter Stephen Strasburg is the Game 2 starter, he will have eight days off. Game 2 of the NLDS is scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 7. Strasburg has had a tremendous year, going 14-4 with a 2.68 ERA. Tonight is a good test for the Nats hitters, facing a very good right-hander in Gerrit Cole (12-11, 4.23) for Pittsburgh. Right fielder Bryce Harper back in the lineup batting second. Manager Dusty...

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With a heavy heart, Jackson proud to pitch well in his final start

September 28, 2017, 7:45pm

Nationals

With a heavy heart, Jackson proud to pitch well in his final start

Nationals right-hander Edwin Jackson arrived Thursday night for his start against the Pirates having allowed 22 earned runs in his last four starts, losing three of those games. So for Jackson to give the Nats six solid innings and allowing only two runs on four hits while striking out seven was a nice way to end the regular season. The Nats were able to win the game in walk-off fashion 5-4 thanks to a clutch bottom of the ninth single down the right field line by Alejandro De Aza. The win was...

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What Doolittle hopes to learn from first blown save

September 28, 2017, 8:15pm

Nationals

What Doolittle hopes to learn from first blown save

It was bound to happen eventually, at least that's how the Nationals figured it. Sean Doolittle had been perfect since his acquisition from the Athletics in July, going 21-for-21 in save opportunities. Could they reasonably expect that conversion rate to remain at 100 percent straight through the end of their season? So maybe Thursday night's blown save against the Pirates - especially considering the fact the Nationals still came back to win 5-4 in the bottom of the ninth - wasn't the worst...

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Doolittle blows first save, but Nats rally to win 5-4 in ninth

September 28, 2017, 6:33pm

Nationals

Doolittle blows first save, but Nats rally to win 5-4 in ninth

What had been commonplace throughout the season's first three months had become wholly unexpected ever since. Give the Nationals bullpen a late lead? In April, May and June, that often meant disaster was looming. In July, August and September, it meant victory was assured. Since their mid-July acquisition of Sean Doolittle and Ryan Madson, and continuing with their acquisition of Brandon Kintzler two weeks later, the Nationals bullpen had been darn near automatic, giving up a lead only one...