nationals

Late Mets homer dooms Nats in 6-5 loss to open doubleheader

August 27, 2017, 1:13pm

The Nationals opened their latest Sunday doubleheader with a concerning start from their top pitching prospect, an uplifting rally from their makeshift lineup, a game-deciding home run hit off a veteran reliever who has allowed too many of those this season and then a crazy play to end the game. The end result: a 6-5 loss to the Mets that didn't have very many satisfying moments and left the Nationals needing to bounce back in tonight's game to salvage a doubleheader split. Amed Rosario's...

Comments

Tags:

alejandro de aza erick fedde howie kendrick joe blanton mark zuckerman nationals nationals pastime new york mets featured_sidebar frontstory_nationals3

Fedde allows big homer in first (Mets win 6-5)

August 27, 2017, 10:06am

Nationals

Fedde allows big homer in first (Mets win 6-5)

Right-hander Erick Fedde was looking to get off to a good start in his matchup Sunday in Game 1 against the Mets. That didn't happen in his first major league start. On July 30, Fedde allowed two runs in the first inning and seven runs on 10 hits in a 10-6 loss to the Rockies. But a week later he fared better. Against the Cubs on Aug. 6, Fedde allowed only two runs through four frames. But in the sixth the Cubs scored two more runs. The Nats rallied to win that game 9-4. Returning to the...

Comments

Tags:

asdrubal cabrera byron kerr erick fedde howie kendrick mets nationals tommy Milone frontstory_nationals2

Sanchez discharged from hospital, Bautista called up

August 27, 2017, 8:45am

Nationals

Sanchez discharged from hospital, Bautista called up

Adrian Sanchez appears to have avoided serious injury or health issues after getting hit in the chest by a fastball during Saturday's game. Sanchez received a CT scan at a local hospital and was kept overnight to monitor his breathing. He was discharged this morning and is "doing well," according to a Nationals spokeswoman. The 27-year-old infielder remains on the active roster, though he wasn't seen in the clubhouse this morning while reporters were present, and he's not in the lineup for...

Comments

Tags:

a.j. cole adrian sanchez erick fedde mark zuckerman nationals nationals pastime rafael bautista featured_sidebar frontstory_nationals3

Game 129 lineups: Nats vs. Mets

August 27, 2017, 2:18pm

Nationals

And we're back for the nightcap of today's doubleheader (the Nationals' third Sunday doubleheader in five weeks, for those joining us late). The Nats need a win over the Mets tonight to avoid a Sunday sweep, to salvage a four-game split of the weekend series and to avoid seeing their lead in the division drop to 11 games before the red-hot Marlins arrive Monday for what has turned into a bigger series than expected. It'll be Tanner Roark on the mound for the Nationals, sporting a 3.14 ERA...

Comments

Tags:

lineups mark zuckerman nationals nationals pastime new york mets tanner roark frontstory_nationals1

Game 128 lineups: Nats vs. Mets

August 27, 2017, 6:54am

Nationals

Who's ready for the third Sunday day-night doubleheader at Nationals Park in five weeks? (Don't all jump at once.) The Nationals have gotten used to this by now, having already played two against the Rockies on July 30, then two against the Giants on Aug. 13. Now they'll play two against the Mets, with the regularly scheduled opener at 1:35 p.m. and then the makeup for an earlier rainout at 8:08 p.m. Erick Fedde is getting called up from Triple-A Syracuse to serve as the official 26th man...

Comments

Tags:

erick fedde lineups mark zuckerman nationals nationals pastime new york mets frontstory_nationals3

Taylor's arm helps prevent big Mets inning twice in Nats' win

August 27, 2017, 4:49am

Nationals

Taylor's arm helps prevent big Mets inning twice in Nats' win

The Nationals provided an aggressive start with four quick runs Saturday and Gio Gonzalez did the rest, going 6 2/3 innings for his 13th win of the season in a 9-4 defeat of the Mets. It all started with defense in the first inning. With a man in scoring position and two outs, Wilmer Flores singled to center field. Michael A. Taylor scooped up the ball and threw home to Matt Wieters, who tagged out AsdrÃºbal Cabrera sliding near home plate for the third out. Then, facing Robert Gsellman, the...

Comments

Tags:

byron kerr dusty baker gio gonzalez howie kendrick mets michael a. taylor nationals featured_sidebar frontstory_nationals2

The art of hitting by Daniel Murphy

August 26, 2017, 11:31am

Nationals

Second baseman Daniel Murphy has been able to improve his batting average and power numbers each season since signing a free agent deal with the Nationals in January 2016. The escalating hitting numbers are very impressive. His slugging percentage with the Nationals was .595 in 2016 and is .549 in 115 games this season. His best slugging percentage as a regular starter for the Mets was .449 in 2015. His batting average with the Nats was .347 in 2016 and is currently .320 in 2017. Murphy has hit...

Comments

Tags:

bobby henley byron kerr daniel murphy nationals rick schu featured_sidebar frontstory_nationals3

Sanchez gets hit by pitch in scary moment, bounces back in 9-4 win

August 26, 2017, 4:12pm

Nationals

Sanchez gets hit by pitch in scary moment, bounces back in 9-4 win

Left-hander Gio Gonzalez continued to pitch well and the Nationals held on after a quick start for a 9-4 victory over the Mets. But the story of the game was second baseman AdriÃ¡n Sanchez, who came up big on offense and also took a fastball to the chest in a scary moment late in the game. Sanchez had a two-run single to highlight the Nats' four-run first frame. In the eighth inning, squaring to bunt, he was hit in the chest by a 97 mph fastball from Mets right-hander Jeurys Familia. Sanchez...

Comments

Tags:

adrian sanchez byron kerr dusty baker mets nationals erick fedde featured_sidebar gio gonzalez howie kendrick max scherzer tanner roark wilmer difo frontstory_nationals2

Big first inning rough on Gsellman (Nats win 9-4)

August 26, 2017, 12:53pm

Nationals

Big first inning rough on Gsellman (Nats win 9-4)

The Nationals took control of today's game against the Mets in the first inning. In the top of the first with two outs, Gio Gonzalez walked AsdrÃºbal Cabrera. He went to second on a wild pitch. Travis Taijeron singled up the middle and Michael A. Taylor threw home to Matt Wieters. Wieters tagged out a sliding Cabrera to end the inning. In the bottom of the first with one out, Wilmer Difo reached on a catching error by right-hander Robert Gsellman. Anthony Rendon doubled to put two men in...

Comments

Tags:

anthony rendon byron kerr gio gonzalez mets nationals adam lind adrian sanchez featured_sidebar frontfeatured_nationals matt wieters michael a taylor brandon kintzler howie kendrick daniel murphy oliver perez

Scherzer, Zimmerman are close; Werth, Turner take positive steps

August 26, 2017, 10:29am

Nationals

Scherzer, Zimmerman are close; Werth, Turner take positive steps

First baseman Ryan Zimmerman confirmed it was not his left shoulder that he felt discomfort in Thursday in Houston. The biggest update today was that Zimmerman said it was his left triceps instead. "It wasn't really inside the shoulder, so that was good," Zimmerman said. "I was swung yesterday. It was just a little sore." Zimmerman even had discussions during Friday's game against the Mets with manager Dusty Baker about possibly pinch-hitting. "I told him (I could), but he had (Anthony...

Comments

Tags:

byron kerr dusty baker jayson werth max scherzer mets nationals ryan zimmerman trea turner erick fedde featured_sidebar frontstory_nationals3

Game 127 lineups: Nats vs. Mets

August 26, 2017, 8:15am

Nationals

Manager Dusty Baker opted to give left-hander Gio Gonzalez an extra day of rest following a 121-pitch effort in his last start. Today, Gonzalez faces off against the division rival Mets. The 4-1 win over the Padres last Sunday was another prime example of the 2017 Gonzalez: one unearned run in 6 2/3 innings on five hits with one walk and eight strikeouts. Baker is keen on giving Gonzalez and the other starters a day of rest or more in the season's final month with the Nationals well out ahead...

Comments

Tags:

byron kerr dusty baker gio gonzalez mets nationals lineups max scherzer ryan zimmerman frontstory_nationals3

Zimmerman dealing with sore shoulder, won't play again today

August 25, 2017, 7:36pm

Nationals

Zimmerman dealing with sore shoulder, won't play again today

A Nationals lineup already reeling from injuries is without yet another key bat for at least one more day: Ryan Zimmerman. Zimmerman was unavailable to bat during Friday night's 4-2 loss to the Mets and won't be in the lineup again this afternoon for the second game of the series after injuring his left shoulder sliding into the plate during Thursday night's win in Houston, manager Dusty Baker revealed. "I think he hurt his arm or shoulder, really couldn't swing, on his headfirst slide...

Comments

Tags:

injuries jayson werth mark zuckerman nationals nationals pastime ryan zimmerman trea turner featured_sidebar frontstory_nationals2

Nats' makeshift lineup can't complete late rally in 4-2 loss to Mets

August 25, 2017, 6:15pm

Nationals

Nats' makeshift lineup can't complete late rally in 4-2 loss to Mets

With a makeshift lineup, a fill-in starter and an ace on the mound opposite them, the Nationals entered tonight's series opener against the Mets in a less-than-advantageous position. Sometimes, those seemingly lopsided matchups flip the opposite way and produce memorable and unlikely outcomes. Not this time. This one went according to script. Despite a few dramatic moments late when a last-ditch comeback nearly happened. Despite an effective pitching performance from A.J. Cole, filling in for...

Comments

Tags:

a.j. cole adam lind jacob degrom mark zuckerman nationals nationals pastime new york mets featured_sidebar frontstory_nationals3

Game 126 lineups: Nats vs. Mets

August 25, 2017, 11:25am

Nationals

The Nationals are back home this weekend after a long, eventful (and still successful) road trip through San Diego and Houston. If things went according to plan, Max Scherzer would have been taking the mound tonight to face the Mets. Things didn't go according to plan, though, and Scherzer has been slower to heal from his second neck injury in a month, now hoping to be ready to go Sunday at the earliest. So in his place tonight will be A.J. Cole, who makes his fifth big league start of the...

Comments

Tags:

a.j. cole lineups mark zuckerman nationals nationals pastime new york mets frontstory_nationals1

Late flight, quick turnaround force lineup changes (Nats lose 4-2)

August 25, 2017, 4:03pm

Nationals

Late flight, quick turnaround force lineup changes (Nats lose 4-2)

It was 4:20 p.m., 2 hours and 45 minutes away from first pitch, and Dusty Baker was still in street clothes. A decent number of Baker's players had yet to arrive in the clubhouse, with reporting time pushed all the way back to 4:45 p.m., much later than normal. Batting practice? That was canceled. Such were the accommodations the Nationals had to make after a 4:30 a.m. arrival from Houston following Thursday night's game, with the opener of this weekend's series against the Mets looming at...

Comments

Tags:

dusty baker houston astros mark zuckerman nationals nationals pastime new york mets featured_sidebar frontstory_nationals1

Scherzer throws in bullpen, appears good to return Sunday

August 25, 2017, 1:51pm

Nationals

Scherzer throws in bullpen, appears good to return Sunday

Max Scherzer appears to be good to go Sunday against the Mets. Scherzer threw off the bullpen mound at Nationals Park this afternoon, the final step he said was necessary to be able to start a game two days later. The Nationals ace was in full uniform as he threw his bullpen session with pitching coach Mike Maddux alongside, standard practice for all members of the rotation in their between-starts routine. He didn't stop to take questions from reporters as he walked down the dugout steps and...

Comments

Tags:

a.j. cole dusty baker erick fedde injuries mark zuckerman max scherzer nationals nationals pastime new york mets featured_sidebar frontstory_nationals3

Strasburg "not worried" about calf cramp after six scoreless innings

August 24, 2017, 9:28pm

Nationals

Strasburg "not worried" about calf cramp after six scoreless innings

HOUSTON - Nationals right-hander Stephen Strasburg managed to throw six scoreless innings against the top-scoring club in the major leagues Thursday night, despite having to deal with a cramp in his left calf as the game wore on. Strasburg began the sixth inning by striking out Derek Fisher and George Springer. He allowed a double to Alex Bregman, but then got Jose Altuve on a screaming liner that was caught by Howie Kendrick in left field to end the inning. Strasburg surrendered only three...

Comments

Tags:

astros byron kerr dusty baker nationals ryan zimmerman stephen strasburg featured_sidebar frontstory_nationals2

Nationals Recall RHP A.J. Cole

August 25, 2017, 12:59pm

Nationals

The Washington Nationals recalled right-handed pitcher A.J. Cole from Triple-A Syracuse on Friday and optioned catcher Pedro Severino to Syracuse. Nationals President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcement. Cole, 25, returns to the Nationals after a one-start sojourn back with Triple-A. He will start on Friday night against the New York Mets. The right-hander, who is 1-3 with a 5.32 ERA in four starts for the Nationals this season, last started for the...

Comments

Tags:

Nationals News Release nationals

Nats find way to win in extras after blowing late lead

August 24, 2017, 9:07pm

Nationals

Nats find way to win in extras after blowing late lead

HOUSTON - The Nationals were teetering on losing the series against the Astros after Stephen Strasburg had put together six scoreless frames. Houston scored three runs on five hits in the final two innings to erase a 3-0 Nats lead. But the Nats then managed to come up with two huge runs to down the Astros 5-4 in 11. An Anthony Rendon sacrifice fly and a Matt Wieters RBI single gave the Nats a 5-3 lead in the 11th. J.D. Davis answered with a solo shot in the bottom of the inning, but Sammy...

Comments

Tags:

brandon kintzler byron kerr dusty baker nationals ryan zimmerman featured_sidebar frontstory_nationals1

Baker to monitor starters' schedules as final month approaches

August 24, 2017, 3:23pm

Nationals

Baker to monitor starters' schedules as final month approaches

HOUSTON - Manager Dusty Baker is monitoring how many games his starters will play in the next four weeks as the club closes in on its second straight division title. Nationals starting pitchers have thrown 115 or more pitches in a game 11 times this season. That mark is the most among major league teams, with Boston having reached that plateau 10 times this season. Red Sox and former Nats starter Doug Fister threw 114-pitch one-hitter complete game in Tuesday night's 9-1 victory over the...