nationals

Gonzalez's dream season continues, on and off the field

August 09, 2017, 7:32pm

Some athletes try to compartmentalize their professional lives and their personal lives, making sure not to let one impact the other. Gio Gonzalez just decides to embrace it all and enjoy both to the fullest, even if they sometimes intersect. For the veteran left-hander, there was no way to separate the two this week, not with everything he experienced. Nine days ago, he nearly threw a no-hitter in Miami, on the night the Marlins were memorializing JosÃ© FernÃ¡ndez on what would have been...

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Zimmerman sets franchise RBI record (Nats win 10-1)

August 09, 2017, 3:47pm

Nationals

Zimmerman sets franchise RBI record (Nats win 10-1)

Ryan Zimmerman crushed a solo homer off of Marlins starter Adam Conley to lead off the second inning. His 25th homer of the season was also his 906th career RBI, which sets the all-time Nats/Expos franchise record. The previous record was held by former Expos third baseman Tim Wallach, who is currently the Marlins bench coach. Howie Kendrick and Wilmer Difo added back-to-back singles with two outs in the inning. But Nats starter Gio Gonzalez struck out. Gonzalez has allowed three hits and even...

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Nationals cruise to 10-1 victory behind Gonzalez, Zimmerman

August 09, 2017, 6:07pm

Nationals

An altered pitching schedule due to the birth of his son over the weekend did nothing to throw Gio Gonzalez out of whack. The left-hander was back on the mound tonight and dominated the Marlins just as he did nine days earlier in his near-no-hitter. This time, he tossed seven innings of one-run ball, leading the Nationals to a 10-1 victory on a night in which they did just about everything right. Ryan Zimmerman led the Nats' offensive barrage against Miami's pitching staff with one of the...

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Werth upbeat his return is close, begins running tomorrow

August 09, 2017, 1:59pm

Nationals

Werth upbeat his return is close, begins running tomorrow

Nationals left fielder Jayson Werth has been engaging in batting practice to start this homestand against the Marlins. He was seen taking swings last week during batting practice at Marlins Park, and that continued here at Nats Park. Werth has been on the disabled list since June 4 with a contusion that turned out to be a broken bone in his left foot. He has missed 57 games. Today he participated in a simulated game during early afternoon workouts, with right-hander Stephen Strasburg throwing...

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Strasburg throws simulated game, says rehab start is next

August 09, 2017, 2:01pm

Nationals

Strasburg throws simulated game, says rehab start is next

Stephen Strasburg took a key step in his return to the mound for the Nationals this afternoon by throwing a simulated game, the most significant test the right-hander has put his elbow through since going on the disabled list 2 1/2 weeks ago. Strasburg said he threw 57 pitches over four simulated "innings," facing two batters (teammates Jayson Werth and Andrew Stevenson), and emerged with no concerns about the state of his elbow. "It feels really good," he said. "I'm definitely happy with...

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Game 112 lineups: Nats vs. Marlins

August 09, 2017, 11:09am

Nationals

When last we saw Gio Gonzalez on the mound, he was carrying a no-hitter into the bottom of the ninth at Marlins Park before Dee Gordon broke it up on an emotional night in Miami. Since then, Gonzalez has left the Nationals for a few days for the birth of his second son, Gabriel, and now he returns to the mound for his first appearance in nine days. And the opponent ... will be the Marlins again. As we saw last night with Vance Worley and A.J. Cole, the advantage doesn't necessarily change from...

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Matt Grace says new relievers help bullpen "feed off one another"

August 08, 2017, 7:40pm

Nationals

Matt Grace says new relievers help bullpen "feed off one another"

The additions of three newcomers in the bullpen in Brandon Kintzler, Sean Doolittle and Ryan Madson has helped the Nats bullpen get back on track and establish a new identity. Left-hander Matt Grace said the mindset the newly shaped bullpen exudes rubs off on the other guys that are still here. "I think so. I think if everyone is pitching well in a bullpen it lends yourself to better situations. That first and foremost sets guys up in better roles and more familiar roles," Grace said. "So,...

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As Taylor moves closer to return, Goodwin's numbers decline

August 08, 2017, 7:59pm

Nationals

As Taylor moves closer to return, Goodwin's numbers decline

The Nationals have been able to withstand the long-term injuries to lineup regulars by getting contributions from a number of backups. And in some cases, even the backups to the backups. But they do need to start seeing those regulars come back from the disabled list, and in the process allow those backups to slide back into the roles for which they were intended all along. There is some good news in that regard: Michael A. Taylor last night played his seventh rehab game, and launched a...

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Baker's knee locks up during game, will get checked out: "I'm fine"

August 08, 2017, 7:07pm

Nationals

Baker's knee locks up during game, will get checked out: "I'm fine"

Injuries to the offense continue to mount up for the first place Nationals. Manager Dusty Baker confirmed that second baseman Daniel Murphy did not start Tuesday's 7-3 loss to the Marlins because of a sore hip. Left fielder Howie Kendrick already missed the game because of a tender back. The club has also been playing without starters Trea Turner, Jayson Werth and Michael A. Taylor. Then Tuesday night watching right-hander A.J. Cole battle the Marlins, Baker deferred to pitching coach Mike...

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Luke Erickson: Are any Nats affiliates playoff bound?

August 06, 2017, 10:13am

Nationals

Luke Erickson: Are any Nats affiliates playoff bound?

If you've been following the Nationals' minors closely (*ahem*), you'd know this ranges from virtually impossible (DSL Nats, Syracuse) to almost laughable (Potomac, Harrisburg, Auburn; all in last place by several games). Two of the affiliates, however, are in contention. If you're one to bring the tartar sauce while going after your white whale, you might make the argument that these two teams - the Gulf Coast League Nationals and the low Single-A Hagerstown Suns - are the ideal. The...

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Would-be National Worley takes them down again

August 08, 2017, 7:34pm

Nationals

Would-be National Worley takes them down again

Had things gone as originally planned, Vance Worley most likely would have started tonight's game at Nationals Park, not for the visiting club for the home squad. The Nationals signed Worley to a minor league contract last winter and offered him an invitation to big league camp. It was a non-guaranteed deal, but given the right-hander's track record and versatility, he looked like a strong bet to make the opening day roster and serve as both a long man in the bullpen and emergency starter if...

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Nats fall 7-3 as Worley beats Cole for second time in a week

August 08, 2017, 6:12pm

Nationals

Nats fall 7-3 as Worley beats Cole for second time in a week

The second A.J. Cole-Vance Worley matchup in a week didn't go any better for the Nationals than it did the first time. In a rematch of Wednesday night's blowout loss in Miami, Worley once again handcuffed the Nationals lineup while Cole served up a couple of towering home runs to the Marlins during a 7-3 loss that looked all too familiar. Worley, the journeyman long reliever/spot starter who dominated the Nationals during seven scoreless innings six days ago at Marlins Park, wasn't quite as...

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Cole steady early on (Marlins win 7-3)

August 08, 2017, 4:06pm

Nationals

Nationals Right-hander A.J. Cole got off to an outstanding start with strikeouts of Dee Gordon and Giancarlo Stanton. He finished off a 1-2-3 first inning with a groundout off the bat of Christian Yelich. He hit a batter in the second and endured a fielding error by second baseman AdriÃ¡n Sanchez in the third, but managed to complete three innings without allowing a run or a hit. The Nats broke through against Marlins starter Vance Worley in the third. Brian Goodwin doubled and took third on...

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Baker now has several arms to choose from in his bullpen

August 08, 2017, 1:44pm

Nationals

Baker now has several arms to choose from in his bullpen

With the arrival of three new relievers - Ryan Madson, Sean Doolittle and Brandon Kintzler - general manager Mike Rizzo has done a nice job of retooling the Nationals bullpen. It has already made life easier for manager Dusty Baker. On Monday night, Baker employed Kintzler and Doolittle to get the final six outs in a 3-2 Nats win over the Marlins. But did Baker consider Madson in last night's situation? "All three of those guys have been in those situations before. All three have closed. All...

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Game 111 lineups: Nats vs. Marlins

August 08, 2017, 11:09am

Nationals

The Nationals' rotation is getting back to normal, with Max Scherzer having returned last night and Gio Gonzalez set to return tomorrow night. But there's one more stop-gap start needed from a fill-in tonight, and so A.J. Cole will be taking the mound to face the Marlins for the second time in a week. It didn't go so well for Cole in Miami; he allowed five runs in five innings, four of those coming during a rough bottom of the fifth. We'll see if the right-hander is able to make any...

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Romero throwing again after injection for forearm tightness

August 08, 2017, 2:16pm

Nationals

Romero throwing again after injection for forearm tightness

Enny Romero was back throwing on the field at Nationals Park this afternoon, cleared to begin ramping up again after tests revealed the left-hander is dealing only with muscle tightness in his forearm and nothing more serious than that. Romero had to come out of Wednesday's game in Miami after complaining of arm trouble, and the Nationals placed him on the 10-day disabled list and sent him back to Washington while the club proceeded to Chicago for the weekend. Romero said he was examined by...

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Eighth inning? Tie game? Adam Lind time

August 07, 2017, 7:47pm

Nationals

With the game tied at 2-2 in the bottom of the eighth and a man in scoring position, it was a pretty obvious choice which pinch-hitter Nationals manager Dusty Baker would go to. He went with pinch-hitter Adam Lind. All Lind has done this season is hit .314 with three homers and 14 RBIs in the eighth inning. In the last three innings of a game this season, Lind was batting .382 with four doubles, five homers and 21 RBIs. The inning began with a Wilmer Difo base hit. After a perfect sacrifice...

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Scherzer's neck strong enough, returns to form in Nats' 3-2 win

August 07, 2017, 7:18pm

Nationals

Scherzer's neck strong enough, returns to form in Nats' 3-2 win

Six days ago in Miami, Max Scherzer threw one warm-up pitch to begin the second inning way outside and quickly walked off the mound towards the dugout. Seeing their ace pitcher in discomfort, manager Dusty Baker, Nationals players and fans were concerned about a worst-case scenario. When a pitcher as strong and resilient as Scherzer leaves before the second inning begins, in a game where he had hit a home run himself, it has to be pretty bad, doesn't it? It turned out to be a neck spasm. This...

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Scherzer off to good start, O'Grady leaves injured (Nats win 3-2)

August 07, 2017, 3:50pm

Nationals

Scherzer off to good start, O'Grady leaves injured (Nats win 3-2)

Already this start is going better for Max Scherzer than his last outing. Minus his very own three-run homer, of course. Scherzer has allowed only a Derek Dietrich double in the second inning so far. After three innings, he has struck out four hitters. No sign that his neck is bothering him at all. Scherzer had to leave his last start against the Marlins in the second inning after suffering a neck spasm. The Marlins starter this time around, George Mason product Chris O'Grady, got injured...

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Dusty Baker remembers Don Baylor, spoke with him recently

August 07, 2017, 1:54pm

Nationals

Dusty Baker remembers Don Baylor, spoke with him recently

Legendary power hitter Don Baylor died Monday of cancer at the age of 68. He played 19 seasons of in the major leagues, earning the 1979 American League Most Valuable Player award and playing on the Twins' 1987 World Series championship club. Baylor played in one All-Star Game and earned three Silver Slugger Awards. He later managed the Rockies and Cubs, winning National League Manager of the Year in 1995. I had the honor of working alongside Baylor on MASN's "Nats Xtra" and found him to be...