nationals

This is Howie do it: first career grand slam lifts Nats in extras

August 13, 2017, 7:54pm

Howie Kendrick has had some big moments in his career, but never a grand slam. And never a walk-off extra-inning grand slam with his brand-new team. That all happened with one swing to finish off a laborious day of baseball for the Nationals. Kendrick's grand slam in the bottom of the 11th Sunday night lifted the Nats to a 6-2 series-clinching win over the Giants. "It was pretty cool. I'm not going to lie," Kendrick said. "That was my first grand slam. When I hit it I thought it was just...

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Kendrick's walk-off slam ends Nats' long day in dramatic style

August 13, 2017, 6:39pm

Nationals

Kendrick's walk-off slam ends Nats' long day in dramatic style

They played three games in just slightly more than 24 hours, losing their biggest star to injury along the way and needing extra innings at the end of a really long day. After all that, at least the Nationals could say they walked away having won this rapid-fire series against the Giants. With a 6-2, 11-inning victory this evening made possible by Howie Kendrick's walk-off grand slam, the Nationals salvaged a doubleheader split. Combined with their rain-delayed win Saturday night (and early...

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Bryce Harper: "If I feel good, I'm going to play"

August 13, 2017, 1:58pm

Nationals

Bryce Harper: "If I feel good, I'm going to play"

Bryce Harper's initial thought when he fell to the ground in heap Friday night? The same as everyone who was watching it in the stadium and on television: He might have suffered a major knee injury to end his season. "Of course, you're going to think the worst, and I'm one of the worst at it," Harper admitted this afternoon. "I think I'm going to die every time I have a stomachache. It's definitely a bad feeling." But while the rest of the baseball-watching world woke up this morning...

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Scherzer off to hot start (Nats win 6-2 in 11)

August 13, 2017, 4:00pm

Nationals

Scherzer off to hot start (Nats win 6-2 in 11)

Right-hander Max Scherzer is rolling against the Giants in the nightcap of the day/night doubleheader. Scherzer dispatched nine straight hitters to get through three innings. He has struck out four, two of them looking. The Giants have managed only one ground ball out: Denard Span's grounder to second base that led off the game. Daniel Murphy slammed a solo homer in the bottom of the third off of Giants starter Matt Moore. It was his 20th homer of the season and came on a 2-2 pitch. The...

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Nationals drop opener of doubleheader, 4-2, to Giants

August 13, 2017, 12:14pm

Nationals

The Nationals may have had their spirits lifted by the news that Bryce Harper's knee injury is not as serious as they initially feared, but that wasn't enough to overcome a lack of sleep (or the Giants pitching staff) during today's doubleheader opener on South Capitol Street. Rookie right-hander Chris Stratton tossed seven scoreless innings, and the Nationals couldn't mount enough of a rally late during a 4-2 loss to San Francisco, a sour opening to a long day of baseball. Taking the field...

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Newcomers and veterans mixing well makes for strong Nats clubhouse

August 12, 2017, 5:48pm

Nationals

Newcomers and veterans mixing well makes for strong Nats clubhouse

In a team sport like baseball, chemistry on and off the field, specifically how each teammate treats the other, how they motivate and help each other, regardless of age or experience, goes a long way in how good the overall club can be in a highly competitive professional atmosphere. The Nationals enjoy a double-digit lead in their division due in large part to the talent they have on the field. But with all the injuries they have endured through the first 4 1/2 months of the season it might be...

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Game 115 lineups: Nats vs. Giants

August 13, 2017, 6:36am

Nationals

It's a beautiful day in Washington, D.C. Given everything that happened yesterday, here and nearby, at least we've got that. The Nationals and Giants are playing two today, with the original game bumped up to 1:05 p.m. and the makeup of Friday night's game scheduled to start at 7:05 p.m. Which means these teams will, in theory, be playing three games in 24 hours. The bigger news, of course, involves Bryce Harper. We hope to have some kind of update shortly, so please stay tuned for that. In...

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Harper has "significant" bone bruise, may return this season

August 13, 2017, 8:21am

Nationals

Harper has "significant" bone bruise, may return this season

Bryce Harper suffered a "significant" bone bruise inside his left knee but sustained no ligament or tendon damage, according to Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo, who said the starting right fielder could return to play before the end of the season. That's a far more encouraging diagnosis than the Nationals initially feared late Saturday night when they watched Harper's left leg slip on first base, causing his knee to hyperextend before he fell to the ground in pain and had to be helped...

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Taylor grateful to return (Nats lose 4-2)

August 13, 2017, 10:18am

Nationals

Taylor grateful to return (Nats lose 4-2)

Michael A. Taylor didn't expect it to take five weeks to return from a strained right oblique muscle. Then again, he also didn't expect to be summoned back to Washington this morning to replace an injured Bryce Harper. Nevertheless, Taylor found himself boarding a plane in Hartford early this morning bound for Washington, then hitching a quick ride to Nationals Park to be in the clubhouse in time for today's doubleheader against the Giants. Having already played both ends of Double-A...

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Bryce Harper injures left knee, leaves game (Nats win 3-1)

August 12, 2017, 6:41pm

Nationals

Bryce Harper injures left knee, leaves game (Nats win 3-1)

Nationals right fielder Bryce Harper slipped on the first base bag attempting to beat out a grounder, injuring his left knee in the bottom of the first inning of the game Saturday night against the Giants at Nationals Park. The game had been delayed for three hours because of heavy rains. Harper's left cleat appeared to slip on the wet first base bag as he leaned forward to try to beat Giants first baseman Ryder Jones. The knee appeared to buckle and he went down hard. After writhing in pain...

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Bryce Harper hyperextends knee, MRI Sunday (Nats win 3-1)

August 12, 2017, 10:12pm

Nationals

Bryce Harper hyperextends knee, MRI Sunday (Nats win 3-1)

Following a three-hour rain delay, the Nationals lost right fielder Bryce Harper to a left knee injury when he slipped on first base as he tried to beat out a grounder in the first inning. Harper could not put weight on his left leg and was helped off the field by trainer Paul Lessard and Nationals hitting coach Rick Schu. The Nationals defeated the Giants 3-1, but the concern now is the status of their 2015 National League MVP for the rest of the season. Manager Dusty Baker said Harper...

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Game 116 lineups: Giants at Nats

August 13, 2017, 12:20pm

Nationals

The Nationals seek a series victory tonight in Game 2 of a day-night doubleheader with their ace, Max Scherzer, on the hill. Manager Dusty Baker said Saturday that Scherzer had the right to choose which game he would start on Sunday because he is the ace. When you get to be an ace of a staff, you can make that choice too. Scherzer is 12-5 with a 2.23 ERA. Excluding the Aug. 1 game in which he left after one inning with neck spasms, Scherzer has struck out nine or more batters in 12 of his last...

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Baker tries to leapfrog Bochy and Piniella on managerial win list

August 12, 2017, 5:06am

Nationals

Baker tries to leapfrog Bochy and Piniella on managerial win list

Dusty Baker and Bruce Bochy have been managing against each other for the better part of the last two decades, their careers nearly running parallel. Baker first became manager of the Giants in 1993, with Bochy hired by the Padres in 1995. Baker was fired by the Giants after the 2002 World Series; four years later, Bochy took over in San Francisco. Baker has since managed the Cubs, Reds and now Nationals; Bochy still remains with the Giants, owner of three World Series rings. Along the way, the...

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Nationals reinstate outfielder Michael A. Taylor, recall catcher Pedro Severino

August 13, 2017, 7:49am

Nationals

The Washington Nationals returned from rehab assignment and reinstated outfielder Michael A. Taylor from the 10-day disabled list on Sunday, and placed outfielder Bryce Harper on the 10-day disabled list with a hyperextended left knee. Additionally, catcher Pedro Severino was added to the Nationals' roster from Triple-A Syracuse as the 26th man for Sunday's doubleheader vs. the San Francisco Giants. Nationals President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the...

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Game 114 lineups: Giants at Nats (First pitch 10:05 p.m.)

August 12, 2017, 11:05am

Nationals

Game 114 lineups: Giants at Nats (First pitch 10:05 p.m.)

The Nationals and the Giants will get their series underway tonight after Friday's rainout. Right-hander Edwin Jackson was moved up from his Friday start to start tonight at home in San Francisco's only visit to Nats Park this season. The Giants counter with veteran right-hander Jeff Samardzija (7-11, 4.75) and move Chris Stratton to Sunday. First baseman Ryan Zimmerman's next hit (No. 1,623) will surpass Tim Raines for second place on the franchise all-time hit leaderboard. On Wednesday,...

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Opposite dugout: Struggles at plate and on mound have crippled Giants

August 09, 2017, 8:42pm

Nationals

Opposite dugout: Struggles at plate and on mound have crippled Giants

Manager: Bruce Bochy (11th season) Record: 46-70 Last 10 games: 6-4 Who to watch: C Buster Posey (.321 with 51 RBIs), CF Denard Span (24 doubles, 4 triples), 2B Joe Panik (20 doubles, 4 triples), LF Gorkys HernÃ¡ndez (9 stolen bases) RHP Hunter Strickland (2.09 ERA, 13 holds), RHP Mark Melancon (11 saves) Season series vs. Nationals: 0-3 Pitching probables: Aug. 12: RHP Chris Stratton vs. RHP Edwin Jackson, 7:05 p.m., MASN Aug. 13: RHP Jeff Samardzija vs. RHP A.J. Cole, 1:05 p.m., MASN Aug....

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Strasburg likely Monday in Potomac for rehab start; plus injury updates

August 12, 2017, 1:49pm

Nationals

Strasburg likely Monday in Potomac for rehab start; plus injury updates

Nationals manager Dusty Baker had the latest on how close Stephen Strasburg is to returning to the rotation. "It's not written in stone but he had a good session the other day," Baker said. "He's supposed to go out here pretty soon for a rehab assignment." Pitching coach Mike Maddux said Strasburg's most recent bullpen session went well and that he is building stamina. His likely rehab assignment is Monday night for high Single-A Potomac at home in Woodbridge, Va., against Salem. Maddux...

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Opener postponed, split doubleheader Sunday

August 11, 2017, 6:13pm

Nationals

Opener postponed, split doubleheader Sunday

The Nationals' weekend opener against the Giants was postponed this evening due to rain, but not before another round of confusion and poor communication with a fan base that has grown increasingly frustrated by the club's handling of these situations. With more rain in the forecast early Saturday, the two teams will play a day-night doubleheader on Sunday, with the originally scheduled 1:35 p.m. game bumped up to 1:05 p.m. and a makeup game now scheduled for 7:05 p.m. Tickets for tonight's...

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Roark fought without best stuff to keep Nats in game

August 10, 2017, 7:54pm

Nationals

Roark fought without best stuff to keep Nats in game

Right-hander Tanner Roark's velocity was down and he was walking too many guys. But you look up at the final line score and the most important stat of the night? He allowed the Marlins only two runs. Down 2-0, the Nats came back to beat the Marlins 3-2 on a Brian Goodwin solo shot and Andrew Stevenson's spectacular, game-ending, diving catch. Roark kept his club in the game despite five walks. The big blow was another Giancarlo Stanton homer. His two-run shot in the third gave the Marlins a...

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With game on the line, Doolittle sticks with his best pitch

August 10, 2017, 8:24pm

Nationals

With game on the line, Doolittle sticks with his best pitch

Sean Doolittle is a one-pitch pitcher. He's not afraid to admit it. As noted before, he's willing to throw the occasional slider or changeup, but at his core he's a fastball guy and he'll keep living and dying by that fastball. Which is why, in part, the final at-bat of Thursday night's game at Nationals Park was so compelling. With two outs and the tying runner on third base, Doolittle was facing Marlins leadoff man Dee Gordon. The left-hander kept pumping out high fastballs, and Gordon...