Dan Kolko

Johnson discusses Nats' 12-4 loss in Game 2

Johnson discusses Nats' 12-4 loss in Game 2
ST. LOUIS - As I try and move past the fact that someone asked Davey Johnson postgame whether Stephen Strasburg, who is not on the Nationals' roster for this series, can "offer something" in Games 3 or 4 ... The Nationals got hit around pretty hard today in St. Louis. They were touched up for 12 runs on 13 hits, seven of which went for extra-bases. Every starting Cardinals position player reached base, and all eight of them scored a run. Yesterday, in a Game 1 win, the Nats saw a patient...
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Dan Kolko

Series evened up as Nats lose 12-4 in Game 2

Series evened up as Nats lose 12-4 in Game 2
ST. LOUIS - The Nationals will head back to D.C. needing to win two out of three games at home. And they'll do all they can to put the memory of this shellacking behind them. The Cardinals took Game 2 of the National League Division Series by a score of 12-4 today, evening the best-of-five series in what was close to a must-win game for them. After going down in order in the first inning, the Cards jumped all over Nationals pitching. They knocked Jordan Zimmermann from the game after just...
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Dan Kolko

A similar script, except it's flipped (a rookie mistake by Harper)

A similar script, except it's flipped (a rookie mistake by Harper)
ST. LOUIS - The first two innings of this game have been an exact replica of the first two innings yesterday. Only this time, it's the Cardinals with the wild left-handed starter with a pitch count over 50 and the Nationals missing the chance to put their opponent in a big early hole. Jordan Zimmermann got the Nats on the board in the second inning today, dropping a single into right field off Jamie Garcia after Zimmermann had faked a bunt and pulled the bat back. Ian Desmond, who was on...
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Dan Kolko

LaRoche looking good against lefties

LaRoche looking good against lefties
ST. LOUIS - The Nationals will face Cardinals left-hander Jaime Garcia today, something that might have spelled bad news for Adam LaRoche in the past. Traditionally a significantly better hitter against right-handed pitching, the left-handed hitting LaRoche has really improved against lefties this season. Not only did he hit .268 against lefties this season, but he also had 11 home runs and an .825 OPS off southpaws in 188 plate appearances. When you factor in the sample size, those are...
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Dan Kolko

Zimmermann ready for the spotlight (Game 3 to start at 1 p.m.)

Zimmermann ready for the spotlight (Game 3 to start at 1 p.m.)
ST. LOUIS - Jordan Zimmermann isn't going to try and trick himself into believing he's been in a spot like this before. He pitched collegiately at the University of Wisconsin Stevens-Point, a Division III school, and while he threw in the 2007 College World Series in front of about 5,000 fans, he's aware today's start in Game 2 of the National League Division Series is a far different animal. "I don't think there is anything close to this," he said. That might be the case, but no one...
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Dan Kolko

Johnson on Espinosa's struggles, his improved bench

Johnson on Espinosa's struggles, his improved bench
ST. LOUIS - Danny Espinosa battled a bone bruise in his left shoulder down the stretch this season, an injury that really put him in a rut at the plate. The Nationals' second baseman got a cortisone shot on Sept. 17, and it helped him turn things around for a stretch, as he hit .400 over his next seven games. Over his final nine regular season contests, however, Espinosa's struggles returned. He batted just .103 with 12 strikeouts in 29 at-bats, and then went 0-for-3 with three strikeouts...
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Dan Kolko

Nats, Cards stick with same lineups, save for pitchers

Nats, Cards stick with same lineups, save for pitchers
ST. LOUIS - Except for the pitchers, the lineups for today's Game 2 of the best-of-five National League Division Series at Busch Stadium are exactly the same as those from Game 1. Here's the Nationals batting order that will face St. Louis' Jaime Garcia: RF Jayson Werth CF Bryce Harper 3B Ryan Zimmerman 1B Adam LaRoche LF Michael Morse SS Ian Desmond 2B Danny Espinosa C Kurt Suzuki P Jordan Zimmermann Zimmermann will face this lineup from the Cardinals: CF Jon Jay RF Carlos Beltran LF...
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Dan Kolko

A chance to break this thing open

A chance to break this thing open
ST. LOUIS - Just a couple days ago, there was talk that going on the road to start the postseason was a disadvantage for the Nationals. Instead of starting at home, the top-seeded Nats have their first two National League Division Series games here in St. Louis because of MLB's scheduling quirks, and that was thought to be a negative. Some fans worried that if the Nats dropped both games in St. Louis, they'd suddenly return home with their backs against the wall, with a sweep staring them...
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Dan Kolko

Hearing from G. Gonzalez, Storen, Desmond and Werth

Hearing from G. Gonzalez, Storen, Desmond and Werth
ST. LOUIS - Just to recap today's ballgame for all those who were stuck in a cave somewhere all afternoon: National League Cy Young Award candidate Gio Gonzalez walked seven hitters, the Nationals struck out 13 times, left the bases loaded twice and made two errors in the final three innings. Oh, yeah, and they won 3-2. "I don't really know how we won that game, to be honest," reliever Craig Stammen said with a smile creeping onto his face. "But we pulled it out somehow. That's kind of...
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Dan Kolko

Inexperience meant nothing to Mattheus, Moore in big spots

Inexperience meant nothing to Mattheus, Moore in big spots
ST. LOUIS - Remember all the talk about the vast difference in playoff experience in this National League Division Series? How the Cardinals had an edge over the Nationals because they'd been through all this before? How the Nats might be affected in big spots because of the added pressure that comes with late-inning, playoff situations? "It obviously didn't affect us," reliever Ryan Mattheus said after today's 3-2 Nationals win. Nope, it sure didn't. That isn't to say that experience...
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Dan Kolko

Johnson discusses Nats' 3-2 comeback win

Johnson discusses Nats' 3-2 comeback win
ST. LOUIS - Where to begin? The Nationals took us all on a ride this afternoon, battling their way to a 3-2 win over the Cardinals in Game 1 of the best-of-five National League Division Series, despite seven walks from starter Gio Gonzalez, 10 runners left on base, two errors and 13 strikeouts as an offense. This game was bizarre as could be. It all started with Gonzalez, who somehow allowed only one hit despite completely lacking control of his fastball. The Nationals ace had perhaps his...
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Dan Kolko

The playoff newbies deliver (Nats win 3-2 in Game 1)

The playoff newbies deliver (Nats win 3-2 in Game 1)
ST. LOUIS - These inexperienced Nationals seem to be faring just fine, huh? A half-inning after Ryan Mattheus gets out of a bases-loaded, no-out jam with just two pitches in his first career postseason appearance, pinch-hitter Tyler Moore delivers a two-out, two-run, go-ahead single in his first ever playoff at-bat. Mercy. Moore got to a 2-2 count against Cardinals lefty Marc Rzepczynski, got a fastball down in the zone and dropped it into right field. Michael Morse and Ian Desmond came...
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Dan Kolko

Gonzalez settles down, Wainwright locks in (Mattheus pulls a magic act)

Gonzalez settles down, Wainwright locks in (Mattheus pulls a magic act)
ST. LOUIS - In Gio Gonzalez's first two innings, he threw 55 pitches, only 27 for strikes. He walked five and allowed two runs. Over his next two innings of work, Gonzalez threw 28 pitches, 19 for strikes. He was able to settle down, get ahead in the count and pound the strike zone. Gonzalez faced the minimum over his third and fourth innings of work, allowing only a David Freese groundball single through the hole, which was quickly erased by a nicely turned 6-4-3 double play. Gonzalez is...
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Dan Kolko

Suzuki comes up big again (Gonzalez nearly melts down in the second)

Suzuki comes up big again (Gonzalez nearly melts down in the second)
ST. LOUIS - Remember this note for trivia question purposes: Kurt Suzuki drove in the first run in Nationals playoff history. General manager Mike Rizzo's trade for Suzuki after the non-waiver trade deadline continues to pay major dividends. The catcher came through with a big two-out RBI single to left field in the second inning, bringing in Adam LaRoche to give the Nats a 1-0 lead. LaRoche, far from the swiftest guy on the team (and that's putting it nicely), had gone first to third on...
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Dan Kolko

Familiar lineup for NLDS Game 1 at St. Louis

Familiar lineup for NLDS Game 1 at St. Louis
ST. LOUIS - The Nationals have posted their lineup for Game 1 of the best-of-five National League Division Series against the Cardinals. It looks pretty familiar. RF Jayson Werth CF Bryce Harper 3B Ryan Zimmerman 1B Adam LaRoche LF Michael Morse SS Ian Desmond 2B Danny Espinosa C Kurt Suzuki P Gio Gonzalez Here is the Cardinals lineup that will face Gonzalez: CF Jon Jay RF Carlos Beltran LF Matt Holliday 1B Allen Craig C Yadier Molina 3B David Freese 2B Daniel Descalso SS Pete Kozma P Adam...
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Dan Kolko

A scouting report on Wainwright, plus a tie-in to Strasburg

A scouting report on Wainwright, plus a tie-in to Strasburg
ST. LOUIS - I'm going to do my very best not to discuss Stephen Strasburg during the Nationals' playoff run. The story, as Strasburg would tell you, is not about him right now. He's been shut down, won't pitch in the postseason and will spend his time during games watching from the bench. But as Strasburg looks out to the mound at Busch Stadium later this afternoon, he'll see a guy who has gone through a lot of the same stuff that he has. Last season, while recovering from Tommy John...
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Dan Kolko

How much does experience matter? Depends who you ask

How much does experience matter? Depends who you ask
ST. LOUIS - This much seems clear after yesterday - those who have playoff experience seem to believe it'll be a benefit during their current postseason run. Those who don't, well, as you might expect, they don't feel it'll hurt them much. The contrast between the Nationals and Cardinals when it comes to postseason experience is pretty dramatic. Of the 25 guys on the Cardinals' roster for the National League Division Series, a whopping 22 have played in a playoff game, and 18 of those...
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Dan Kolko

Nerves? What nerves?

Nerves? What nerves?
ST. LOUIS - The Nationals watched last night's National League wild card game, knowing they'd be facing the winner Sunday. Like the rest of us, they saw the controversial infield fly call, Atlanta fans covering the turf with beer cans, the do-over strike three that resulted in David Ross' home run and the Braves' 23-game winning streak in games started by Kris Medlen come to an end. "Obviously, it was just a boring game where nothing crazy happened," Ryan Zimmerman...
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Dan Kolko

Gio Gonzalez preparing for his "childhood dream"

Gio Gonzalez preparing for his "childhood dream"
ST. LOUIS - As Gio Gonzalez took a seat in the press conference room at Busch Stadium late this afternoon, he rubbed his upper arms and leaned down towards the microphone with a smile on his face. "I'm trembling right now," he said. "It's not my nerves, it's just the cold." Gonzalez will get the ball for the Nationals tomorrow afternoon for Game 1 of the National League Division Series. It'll be the first postseason start of his career, so you could forgive him if he was feeling a bit...
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Dan Kolko

Nats finalize NLDS roster, set their rotation

Nats finalize NLDS roster, set their rotation
ST. LOUIS - Before stepping foot on the field at Busch Stadium for their full team workout, the Nationals finalized their roster for the National League Division Series. The roster hasn't been filed with the league office, so it's not official as of yet. Manager Davey Johnson commented - perhaps half-seriously and half-jokingly - that since the Nats hadn't seen the Cardinals' roster yet, they weren't going to announce theirs. Johnson has, however, informed all of his players about their...
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