Corbin "felt good" with slider, goes seven strong in no-decision

Corbin "felt good" with slider, goes seven strong in no-decision
One would not blame Nationals left-hander Patrick Corbin if he became upset after pitching another gem and seeing the bullpen give it away late. But Corbin remained calm even without the decision, tossing seven solid innings on a rainy Friday night at Nats Park. He allowed only a Josh Bell solo homer in the second inning and then three other hits, striking out 11 and walking one. Corbin fired 106 pitches, 65 for strikes, but the Nats fell to the Pirates, 6-3 in 10 innings. "Felt good," Corbin...
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Corbin helps own cause with RBI single (Nats fall 6-3 in 10)

Corbin helps own cause with RBI single (Nats fall 6-3 in 10)
Pittsburgh scored first against Nationals southpaw Patrick Corbin. In the second, Josh Bell led off with a solo homer over the left-center field wall on 0-1 count. Corbin then struck out two and forced a groundout to end the inning. The Nats quickly answered in the bottom of the second. Pirates starter Trevor Williams walked Ryan Zimmerman and Wilmer Difo. Corbin helped his own cause with an RBI single to left field to tie the game 1-1. Corbin allowed a single to Erick González in the third...
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Opposite dugout: Pirates quickly losing the wind in their sails

Opposite dugout: Pirates quickly losing the wind in their sails
Manager: Clint Hurdle (8th season) Record: 41-48 Last 10 games: 4-6 Who to watch: CF Starling Marte (.278 with 10 HR, 22 SB); LF Corey Dickerson (.308 with 92 hits, 19 2B); 1B Josh Bell (76 hits, 42 RBIs); RHP Trevor Williams (6-7, 4.60 ERA); RHP Ivan Nova (4-6, 4.48 ERA); LHP Felipe Vázquez (3.38 ERA, 18 saves) Season series vs. Nationals: 0-4 Pitching probables: July 9: RHP Erick Fedde (1-3) vs. RHP Ivan Nova (4-6); 7:00 p.m., MASN2July 10: RHP Jeremy Hellickson (2-1) vs. RHP Joe Musgrove...
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Turner and Zimmerman finally reap results of hard hit balls

Turner and Zimmerman finally reap results of hard hit balls
The Nationals brought the power again in the series finale against the Pirates, winning 3-1 thanks to home runs from Trea Turner and Ryan Zimmerman. For Turner, it was only his second homer of the season. It was a big hit for the shortstop, who has had his first 30 games of the season highlighted by his walk rate and stolen bases. Turner's two-run shot got the Nats on the board against Pirates starter Trevor Williams, 2-0 in the sixth.t Turner went 1-for-4 on the afternoon, but his batting...
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Martinez pulls Hellickson third time through order (Nats win 3-1)

Martinez pulls Hellickson third time through order (Nats win 3-1)
Nationals manager Davey Martinez has made it mandatory to watch right-hander Jeremy Hellickson as he makes his way through his starts, especially the third time through the order. In his last start, Hellickson had allowed only one run through five innings on a David Peralta solo homer against the Diamondbacks April 28. Peralta came up for the third time in the sixth and hit another homer. After Hellickson retired Jarrod Dyson, he was pulled. He had registered 56 pitches. Martinez said...
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Game 32 lineups: Pirates at Nats

Game 32 lineups: Pirates at Nats
The Nationals have a chance today for their first four-game sweep of the season as they battle the Pittsburgh Pirates in the series finale. With a win, the Nats get back to the .500 mark for the first time since April 20. Manager Davey Martinez believes they have found something with their new lineup. Bryce Harper will stay in the leadoff spot, with Matt Adams in the No. 3 hole. Ryan Zimmerman and Matt Wieters return to the lineup after a day off. Wilmer Difo has done a very nice job in the No....
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One, two, three: Nats new lineup connects again in 9-3 runaway

One, two, three: Nats new lineup connects again in 9-3 runaway
One, two, three. The Nationals' top of the order, in it's present form, is clicking. Bryce Harper leading off has been a find. Trea Turner can still do Trea Turner things from the two-hole. Matt Adams has been scorching the ball and the Nats have taken full advantage of his hot bat in the No. 3 spot. All this adds up to another runaway win against the Bucs as the Nats win, 9-3. The trio at the top of the order has combined for 11 hits, five homers, 10 runs and 14 RBIs in these last two...
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Harper hits first career leadoff homer (Nats win 9-3)

Harper hits first career leadoff homer (Nats win 9-3)
I think Bryce Harper likes batting leadoff. In his first game of the season batting from the leadoff spot in the order on Tuesday night, Harper hit a three run shot in his third at-bat. Wednesday night, he hit a leadoff homer in the bottom of the first against Pirates starter Ivan Nova. Matt Adams, who hit two homers Tuesday, dropped in an opposite field homer over the left field wall. The Pirates got on the board in the first thanks to a pair of one-out singles by Gregory Polanco and Starling...
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Rendon headed to rehab games, notes on Adams and Difo

Rendon headed to rehab games, notes on Adams and Difo
It looks like third baseman Anthony Rendon is very close to returning to the active roster. Rendon has gone through full batting practice each of the last two pregames for the Nationals. He has been on the 10-day disabled list with a left toe contusion since April 19. Rendon will start a rehab assignment for high Single-A Potomac as they take on Wilmington Thursday and Salem Friday in Woodbridge, Va. "He's going out tomorrow," said manager Davey Martinez. "He'll play one or two games. He...
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Scherzer's quality start almost unnoticed after Nats offense ignites

Scherzer's quality start almost unnoticed after Nats offense ignites
You know the Nationals are trending towards their 2017 version when a quality start by their top starting pitcher doesn't make headlines thanks to their powerful offense awakening for the first time in six days. The Nats pummeled the Pirates 12-4 behind four homers, two from Matt Adams, one from Wilmer Difo and powerful three-run shot from Bryce Harper. By the way, Max Scherzer pitched 6 1/3 innings and allowed two runs on three hits. He registered eight strikeouts and two walks in 106...
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Difo goes yard, Harper hits 3-run HR (Nats defeat Pirates 12-4)

Difo goes yard, Harper hits 3-run HR (Nats defeat Pirates 12-4)
The Nationals get on the board first on a home run from an unlikely source. Third baseman Wilmer Difo, batting out of the No. 9 hole, crushed a Chad Kuhl pitch over the right-center field wall in the bottom of the third. It was Difo's first home run since August 30, 2017, against Miami. Trea Turner reached on a fielding error by third baseman Colin Moran. But for the first time this season, Turner was caught stealing on a throw from catcher Francisco Cervelli to shortstop Jordy Mercer at...
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Turner's aggressive work at plate nets three-hit game in Nats win

Turner's aggressive work at plate nets three-hit game in Nats win
One way the Nationals can get on a roll is for their leadoff hitter to lead the way. Shortstop Trea Turner did that Monday night, going 3-for-4 with an RBI in the Nats 3-2 win over the Pirates. They have now won three of their last five games. He set the tone by taking an extra base after a Ryan Zimmerman fly out to right field late in the game. But in a rare night for Turner, he didn't actually score a run in a game where he had three or more hits. That happened four times in 2016, but not...
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Difo gives Roark early advantage (Nats win 3-2)

Difo gives Roark early advantage (Nats win 3-2)
The Nationals tallied first against Pirates right-hander Jameson Taillon. Matt Adams singled with one out in the second. He was washed away on a Michael A. Taylor fielder's choice to third base. But Taylor reached second because Adam Frazier's throw was wide of first base. Wilmer Difo then delivered a clutch RBI single to center field to score Taylor. In the third, Trea Turner doubled down the left field line. He slid into second ahead of the tag by Frazier. Ryan Zimmerman grounded out to...
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Opposite dugout: Pirates riding rollercoaster season to top of NL Central

Opposite dugout: Pirates riding rollercoaster season to top of NL Central
Manager: Clint Hurdle (8th season) Record: 17-11 Last 10 games: 5-5 Who to watch: LF Corey Dickerson (.316 with 30 hits, 15 RBIs); CF Starling Marte (.288 with 3 HR, 8 SB); 1B Josh Bell (.241 with 26 hits, 16 RBIs); RHP Jameson Taillon (2-2, 4.91 ERA); RHP Ivan Nova (2-1, 3.32 ERA) Season series vs. Nationals: First meeting (4-3 in 2017) Pitching probables: April 30: RHP Chad Kuhl (2-2) vs. RHP Tanner Roark (1-2), 7:05 p.m., MASNMay 1: RHP Jameson Taillon (2-2)vs. RHP Max Scherzer (5-1), 7:05...
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Brewers look to compete with Cubs in NL Central and return to postseason

Brewers look to compete with Cubs in NL Central and return to postseason
The Cubs have a revamped rotation to go with a lineup that features Kris Bryant and Anthony Rizzo, two hitters that are potential National League MVP candidates. Their biggest competition in the NL Central could be the Brewers, who had 86 victories last season and have a legitimate shot to make the postseason for the first time since 2011. But the Cardinals, who had 100, 86 and 83 wins in each of the last three seasons, are trying to avoid being left out of the postseason for the third...
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Gonzalez under the weather, but says no excuse in 11-8 loss

Gonzalez under the weather, but says no excuse in 11-8 loss
Left-hander Gio Gonzalez got off to a rough start that set the tone for 11-8 Nationals loss to the Pirates that ended the regular season. Gonzalez allowed five runs on three hits with two walks and a hit by pitch in a forgettable first inning. "Before this start I felt great," Gonzalez said. "This was awesome. I felt like I actually did something. Then today's game, I did nothing. Took a couple steps back." Baker said one reason Gonzalez struggled might have been that he was sick before...
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Gonzalez struggling with command early (Pirates win 11-8)

Gonzalez struggling with command early (Pirates win 11-8)
The Pirates got to Gio Gonzalez with a big first inning, scoring five runs on three hits. Gonzalez walked two batters and hit another with a pitch. Max Moroff's three-run double was the highlight. The Nationals came back quickly in the bottom of the first. Trea Turner doubled and Bryce Harper walked. They pulled off another double steal, Turner to third and Harper to second. It is the second time the Nats have used that ploy. If manager Dusty Baker uses this strategy in the post season -...
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De Aza walk-off single in bottom of ninth (Nats win 5-4)

De Aza walk-off single in bottom of ninth (Nats win 5-4)
The Nationals jumped out in the first thanks to a leadoff double by Wilmer Difo. Victor Robles sacrificed to the pitcher to get Difo to third. After Anthony Rendon walked, Daniel Murphy's single scored Difo. After two innings, the Nats led 1-0. But the Pirates rallied in the third against Nats starter Edwin Jackson. With one out, Max Moroff walked. Moroff reached second after a groundout to first by pinch-hitter Steven Brault. Brault had arrived because starting pitcher Ivan Nova got hit by a...
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Opposite dugout: September slide cements losing season for Pirates

Opposite dugout: September slide cements losing season for Pirates
Manager: Clint Hurdle (7th season) Record: 73-85 Last 10 games: 5-5 Who to watch: CF Andrew McCutchen (87 RBIs, 28 HR), LF Starling Marte (20 steals), 1B Josh Bell (87 RBIs, 25 HR), RHP Gerrit Cole (1.239 WHIP), LHP Felipe Rivero (20 saves) Season series vs. Nationals: 2-1 Pitching probables: Sept. 28: RHP Ivan Nova vs. RHP Edwin Jackson, 7:05 p.m., MASN Sept. 29: RHP Gerrit Cole vs. RHP Stephen Strasburg, 7:05 p.m., MASN Sept. 30: RHP Jameson Taillon vs. RHP Max Scherzer, 7:05 p.m., MASN Oct....
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Opposite dugout: Disappointing season nearing an end for Pirates

Opposite dugout: Disappointing season nearing an end for Pirates
Manager: Clint Hurdle (7th season) Record: 71-85 Last 10 games: 3-7 Who to watch: CF Andrew McCutchen (.273/.358/.470 with 26 HR, 79 RBIs), 1B Josh Bell (24 HR, 83 RBIs), RHP Chad Kuhl (7-11, 4.31 ERA), LHP Felipe Rivero (1.72 ERA, 19 saves) Season series vs. Orioles: 0-2 Pitching probables: Sept. 26: RHP Kevin Gausman vs. RHP Trevor Williams, 7:05 p.m., MASN2 Sept. 27: RHP Gabriel Ynoa vs. RHP Chad Kuhl, 7:05 p.m., MASN2 Inside the Pirates: Like the Orioles, the Pirates are nearing the end of...
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