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Phillies able to solve Jackson early in 5-4 win over Nats

September 09, 2017, 7:47pm

Edwin Jackson did not receive a very kind birthday present from the Phillies on Saturday night. They were able to see his pitches very well in a 5-4 setback. The right-hander, now 34 years of age, allowed two early homers to Rhys Hoskins and Maikel Franco that set the tone. The Phillies added three more runs in the fourth. The Nationals battled back from a 5-1 deficit to cut the lead to 5-4, thanks to a two-run shot and RBI single from Michael A. Taylor. Even with the loss, the Nats' magic...

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Baker confirms youngsters will start Sunday to give veterans rest

September 09, 2017, 2:12pm

Nationals

Baker confirms youngsters will start Sunday to give veterans rest

Manager Dusty Baker confirmed that Stephen Strasburg will make the start Sunday not because the Nationals will necessarily have a chance to clinch the National League East division title but really because he has just been very good recently. "He's got a pretty good thing going right now," Baker said. Strasburg is 2-1 with a 0.67 ERA in his last four starts, striking out 31 batters in 27 innings, allowing two earned runs. Left fielder Jayson Werth is still on the sidelines with a sore...

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Each team launches homers early (Phillies win 5-4)

September 09, 2017, 3:48pm

Nationals

Each team launches homers early (Phillies win 5-4)

The Nationals jumped on the board first against Phillies starter Mark Leiter Jr. Former Phillies outfielder Howie Kendrick launched a 2-2 pitch over the left field wall to give the Nats a 1-0 lead. The Phillies answered in the second inning with solo homers by Rhys Hoskins and Maikel Franco off Edwin Jackson for a 2-1 lead. After two innings, the Nats trail by one run. Update: The Phillies chased Jackson (on his birthday no less! How rude!) in the fourth. Cameron Rupp started the scoring with a...

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Could the Nationals catch the Dodgers for NL's best record?

September 09, 2017, 2:00pm

Nationals

The Nationals have known for some time they're going to clinch a division title and then have multiple weeks of games left to play before the postseason begins, creating an awkward situation in which Dusty Baker has to find a balance between resting his regulars while still keeping them sharp. There may, however, be a new goal for the Nats to chase even after they officially win the National League East: the league's best record and No. 1 seed for the playoffs. What once seemed unfathomable...

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Game 142 lineups: Nats vs. Phillies

September 09, 2017, 11:18am

Nationals

The Nationals can't clinch the division title tonight, but they can get as close as possible without finishing the deal. With the magic number now at three, a Nats win over the Phillies combined with a Marlins loss at Atlanta would set the stage for them to control their own destiny Sunday afternoon and not have to worry about the result of another game. That's always a preferable scenario. Tonight, it'll be Edwin Jackson looking to bounce back from a rare rough start. The veteran was tagged...

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Scherzer rebounds after walk-filled first inning to earn win

September 08, 2017, 8:20pm

Nationals

Scherzer rebounds after walk-filled first inning to earn win

It was about as uncharacteristic a pitching display as Max Scherzer is capable of displaying. Three walks in one inning? He had only issued three or more walks in four games this season. Yet there it was Friday night for all to see. During a laborious, 28-pitch top of the first, Scherzer gave free passes to OdÃºbel Herrera, Rhys Hoskins and Hyun Soo Kim of the Phillies. Oh, there also was a three-run homer served up to Nick Williams. But that was secondary to the walks in Scherzer's...

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Taylor's latest highlight-reel play: inside-the-park grand slam

September 08, 2017, 7:51pm

Nationals

Taylor's latest highlight-reel play: inside-the-park grand slam

Michael A. Taylor remembered what happened two years ago tonight, Sept. 8, 2015, when he singled to center field with the bases loaded against the Mets and watched Yoenis Cespedes let the ball get past him for what officially was ruled a single and three-base error. Taylor did not remember what happened 2 1/2 weeks later, Sept. 25, 2015, when he couldn't make a diving catch of Aaron Altherr's sinking liner with the bases loaded and had to chase down the ball and watch the Phillies outfielder...

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Nats outslug Phillies 11-10, reduce magic number to three

September 08, 2017, 6:31pm

Nationals

Nats outslug Phillies 11-10, reduce magic number to three

Max Scherzer didn't look quite like his normal self in his return from a bruised calf, but the Nationals lineup made sure that didn't matter with another well-rounded offensive explosion to move this team one step closer to a division title. Michael A. Taylor's four-hit night that included an inside-the-park grand slam - more on that shortly - highlighted the Nationals' 11-10, too-close-for-comfort win over the Phillies and gave Scherzer the win on a night when the ace didn't look his...

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Scherzer battles command problems early (Nats win 11-10)

September 08, 2017, 4:07pm

Nationals

Scherzer battles command problems early (Nats win 11-10)

Max Scherzer didn't look much like himself in the first inning tonight against the Phillies. Whether it has anything to do with the fact he took a comebacker off his left calf the last time he pitches remains to be learned. Whatever the case, Scherzer battled through an uncharacteristically ragged top of the first. He issued three walks in the inning, one of them on four pitches, and also served up a three-run homer to Nick Williams that gave Philadelphia an early 3-0 lead. The Nationals have...

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Game 141 lineups: Nats vs. Phillies

September 08, 2017, 11:11am

Nationals

When last we saw Max Scherzer on the mound, he was hobbling around Miller Park, capable of pitching but not running after he took a comebacker off his left calf. That was six days ago, and tonight Scherzer will be back on the mound, insisting he's fine after getting treatment and throwing twice during the week in Miami with no issues. Scherzer returns for what could turn out to be a huge weekend for the Nationals. Their four-game winning streak, combined with the Marlins' five-game losing...

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One-run wins build character, show quality Nats bullpen

September 07, 2017, 7:47pm

Nationals

One-run wins build character, show quality Nats bullpen

The Nationals are now 25-17 in one-run games after Thursday's 4-3 victory over the Phillies. The victory was the Nats' 34th comeback win of the season. Three of the Nats' last five wins have come by a single run. They have gone 30-16 in series openers this season, as well. These are statistics that could be beneficial come playoff time. There will be opportunities against good teams, most likely in the postseason, where the Nats will be down by one run, or up by one run, in the late...

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After scary chest injury, grateful Sanchez returns to Nats

September 08, 2017, 1:52pm

Nationals

After scary chest injury, grateful Sanchez returns to Nats

AdriÃ¡n Sanchez last appeared on the field at Nationals Park on Aug. 26, an appearance notable for two reasons. No. 1: He delivered a key RBI single off Mets closer Jeurys Familia in the bottom of the eighth, eliciting a standing ovation from the home crowd. No. 2: A few minutes later, he was removed from the game because he was still feeling the effects of getting hit by a pitch square on the chest, a frightening moment that preceded the RBI single and gave the fans reason to offer that...

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Roark, Turner and bullpen lift Nats past Phillies 4-3

September 07, 2017, 7:25pm

Nationals

Roark, Turner and bullpen lift Nats past Phillies 4-3

Nationals starter Tanner Roark kept his club in the game long enough for a comeback, and then the bullpen shut the door again for three innings in a 4-3 win over the Phillies on Thursday night. The Nats' magic number to clinch the National League East has dropped to four, thanks to the Braves' comeback 6-5 win over the Marlins in Atlanta. Roark went six innings, allowing three runs, and Trea Turner came through with a two-run single in a three-run sixth-inning rally for the Nats' 86th win of...

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David Huzzard: Top three in rotation are undisputed advantage for Nats

September 08, 2017, 5:45am

Nationals

David Huzzard: Top three in rotation are undisputed advantage for Nats

2.19, 2.50, 2.78 - that isn't just a random collection of numbers, those are the ERAa of the Nationals' top three starting pitchers, Max Scherzer, Gio Gonzalez and Stephen Strasburg. Those three rank second, third and fourth in ERA and first and 11th in FIP (Strasburg and Scherzer are tied). Scherzer is the current front-runner for NL Cy Young with a healthy lead in all the categories the voters are going to look at. He has the second-best ERA in the league, the best FIP and WAR, leads in...

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Baker says promoted Robles is "tremendous talent"

September 07, 2017, 1:59pm

Nationals

Baker says promoted Robles is "tremendous talent"

Manager Dusty Baker remembers top prospect Victor Robles from the outfielder's play in spring training in February and March, and has seen the 20-year-old progress to the point where he joined the Nationals today. "He didn't play a whole bunch, but he wasn't intimidated at all," Baker said. "He was happy to be there. He's actually one of the leaders of the young Latin corps that we have here. You can tell how they kind of gravitate towards him. I heard he is a heck of a player. I also...

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De Aza helps Roark's cause (Nats win 4-3)

September 07, 2017, 4:05pm

Nationals

De Aza helps Roark's cause (Nats win 4-3)

The Nationals got on the board first against the Phillies and Aaron Nola in the first of four games Thursday night at Nats Park. With one out in the second, Michael A. Taylor reached on a throwing error by first baseman Tommy Joseph and promptly stole second base. With two outs, Alejandro De Aza lined a single to left field to score Taylor for a 1-0 Nationals lead. Tanner Roark allowed a solo homer off the bat of Jorge Alfaro in the third. It was Alfaro's second homer of the season and came on...

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Doolittle ready for extra workload that awaits him in October

September 06, 2017, 9:03pm

Nationals

Doolittle ready for extra workload that awaits him in October

MIAMI - From the moment the trade was consummated on July 16, Dusty Baker has known he needs to be careful about using Sean Doolittle and Ryan Madson too much. Both relievers, acquired from the Athletics in the same deal, have dealt with significant arm injuries in recent years. And so both have to monitor their workloads in an attempt to keep them healthy. "Some of them have histories or being injured," Baker said. "That's what I'm trying to avoid. You can't afford to have them go down...

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Game 140 lineups: Nats. vs Phillies (Victor Robles selected)

September 07, 2017, 11:08am

Nationals

Game 140 lineups: Nats. vs Phillies (Victor Robles selected)

The Nationals return home to begin a 10-game home stand with the magic number to clinch the National League East at six as they begin four games against the Phillies. The club made a major announcement prior to the game that their top prospect, center fielder Victor Robles has had his contract selected from Double-A Harrisburg. Also called up are outfielders Andrew Stevenson and Rafael Bautista. The 20-year-old Robles, ranked the No. 4 prospect in the game by MLB.com, hit .344 over his last 10...

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Join Nationals in donating to hurricane relief efforts

September 07, 2017, 1:19pm

Nationals

The Washington Nationals are inviting fans to contribute specific supplies requested by aid organizations to support those recovering from the devastation of recent storms. The collected items, listed below, will be accepted at Nationals Park from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. every day between Friday, September 8 and Sunday, September 17. When gates open on game days, donations will be accepted at the Center Field and Home Plate entrances. Outside of game times, donations will be accepted on the...

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A question-and-answer session as baseball hits September stretch run

September 07, 2017, 1:09pm

Nationals Orioles

A question-and-answer session as baseball hits September stretch run

A question-and-answer session for September: Question: The Nationals are on the verge of clinching the National League East. It seems early for clinch talk, right? Answer: Early clinches are defining the season when you consider the big leads of the Nationals, Dodgers and Astros. But there have been earlier clinch dates. The 1975 Reds clinched on Sept. 7. Cleveland clinched in 1995 and 1998 on Sept. 8 while the 1998 Yankees and 20 02 Braves each clinched Sept. 9. The Yankees that year...