Roark delivers eight strong innings, Nats drop Pirates 6-0

Roark delivers eight strong innings, Nats drop Pirates 6-0
The same script repeated itself in the first two games of the series between the Nationals and Pirates at Nationals Park. A Nats starter went at least eight innings. The Nats scored at least five runs, including a homer. The Pirates committed defensive mistakes. The Nats won the series Saturday night in a rain-delayed 6-0 defeat of Pittsburgh. Tanner Roark (9-5) went eight innings plus two batters, allowing five hits. Blake Treinen notched three outs in the ninth. The Nats have won five in a...
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Strasburg goes to 13-0 with eight strong in win over Pirates

Strasburg goes to 13-0 with eight strong in win over Pirates
It turns out the rest might have worked out perfectly for Stephen Strasburg. Or maybe he didn't really need it at all. Strasburg twirled eight innings and allowed only one run, becoming the first National League starting pitcher since 1912 to start a season 13-0. The Nationals dropped the Pirates 5-1. Selected to the All-Star Game in his hometown of San Diego, Strasburg sat out of the game to rest and get ready for the second half. Earlier this season, he had been on the disabled list for 17...
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Opposite dugout: Recent surge has stoked Pirates' postseason chances

Opposite dugout: Recent surge has stoked Pirates' postseason chances
Manager: Clint Hurdle (6th season) Record: 46-43 Last 10 games: 8-2 Who to watch: LF Starling Marte (.316/.363/.460 with 30 SB), RF Gregory Polanco (.287 with 12 HR, 50 RBIs), CF Andrew McCutchen (14 HR, 38 RBIs), RHP Gerrit Cole (5-4, 2.77 ERA), RHP Mark Melancon (1.23 ERA, 27 saves) Season series vs. Nationals: 1st meeting (3-4 in 2015) Pitching probables: July 15: LHP Francisco Liriano vs. RHP Stephen Strasburg, 7:05 p.m., MASN July 16: RHP Gerrit Cole vs. RHP Tanner Roark, 7:05 p.m., MASN...
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Opposite dugout: Pitching highlights series again as Pirates look to get back at Nationals

Opposite dugout: Pitching highlights series again as Pirates look to get back at Nationals
Manager: Clint Hurdle (5th season) Record: 54-40 Last 10 games: 4-6 Who to watch: CF Andrew McCutchen (.290/.388/.486 with 12 HR, 57 RBIs), LF Starling Marte (.289/.336/.458 with 13 HR, 50 RBIs), 1B Pedro Alvarez (12 HR and 43 RBIs), RHP Gerrit Cole (13-4, 2.31 ERA), RHP A.J. Burnett (8-3, 2.44 ERA), RHP Mark Melancon (1.43 ERA, 30 saves) Season series vs. Nationals: 0-3 Pitching probables: July 23: RHP Doug Fister vs. LHP Francisco Liriano, 7:05 p.m., MASN July 24: RHP Max Scherzer vs. LHP...
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Harper and Werth updates following 4-1 win over Pirates

Harper and Werth updates following 4-1 win over Pirates
Following Friday's 4-1 win over the Pirates, Nationals manager Matt Williams had an update on right fielder Bryce Harper. Harper did not play in the game as he nursed a sore left hamstring strain. Williams said Harper worked in the weight room and got treatment throughout the day after slipping on the wet field Thursday night against Tampa Bay when making a throw from the outfield to the plate. "He did OK," Williams reported. "He did some leg work today, didn't hit, but did some leg work...
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Opposite dugout: Surging Pirates getting strong offense, stronger pitching

Opposite dugout: Surging Pirates getting strong offense, stronger pitching
Manager: Clint Hurdle (5th season) Record: 39-27 Last 10 games: 8-2 Who to watch: CF Andrew McCutchen (.294/.375/.479 with 8 HR, 42 RBIs), C Francisco Cervelli (.316 with 19 RBIs), LF Starling Marte (.285 with 12 HR, 45 RBIs. 13 SB), 3B Josh Harrison (.284 with 22 RBIs), RHP Charlie Morton (5-0, 1.62 ERA), RHP A.J. Burnett (6-2, 1.89 ERA), RHP Mark Melancon (1.87 ERA, 23 saves) Season series vs. Nationals: First meeting (3-4 in 2014) Pitching probables: June 19: RHP A.J. Burnett vs. RHP Joe...
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Hairston, Werth, Fister and Soriano after Nationals 6-5 win

Hairston, Werth, Fister and Soriano after Nationals 6-5 win
Pinch-hitter Scott Hairston came up in the eleventh and delivered the game-winning, walk-off winner. He drove a pitch to deep left field that scored Jayson Werth from third base on a sac fly, lifting the Nationals to an 11-inning thrilling 6-5 win over the Pirates. Hairston knew it was so late in the game that a lefty-righty matchup wasn't the only way he could pinch-hit. "I figured the pitching spot was up third," Hairston told reporters. "I don't think we had anybody else on the bench....
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Opposite dugout: Pirates dealing well with injury woes to stay in NL Central race

Opposite dugout: Pirates dealing well with injury woes to stay in NL Central race
Manager: Clint Hurdle, fourth year Record: 64-57 Last 10 games: 5-5 Who to watch: 2B Neil Walker (.277/.347/.456, 16 HR, 50 RBIs); UT Josh Harrison (.313/.351/.503, 25 doubles, 10 HR, 38 RBIs, 17 SB); RHP Edinson Volquez (10-7, 3.67 ERA, 1.27 WHIP); RHP Charlie Morton (5-11, 3.62 ERA, 1.23 WHIP) Season series vs. Nats: 3-1, 12 runs scored, 11 runs allowed Pitching probables Aug. 15: Charlie Morton vs. Tanner Roark, 7 p.m., MASN HD Aug. 16: Jeff Locke vs. Gio Gonzalez, 7 p.m., MASN HD Aug. 17:...
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Opposite dugout: Pirates still seeking form that got them to playoffs a year ago

Opposite dugout: Pirates still seeking form that got them to playoffs a year ago
Manager: Clint Hurdle, fourth year Record: 19-26 Last 10 games: 4-6 Who to watch: CF Andrew McCutchen (.317/.436/.488, 18 XBH, 21 RBIs); 2B Neil Walker (.257/.333/.446, 9 HR, 25 RBIs); RHP Gerrit Cole (4-3, 3.84 ERA); RHP Charlie Morton (0-6, 3.45 ERA) Season series vs. Nats (2013): 4-3, 31 runs scored, 29 runs against Pitching probables May 22: Edinson Volquez vs. Blake Treinen, 7 p.m., MASN2 HD May 23: Charlie Morton vs. Jordan Zimmermann, 7 p.m., MASN2 HD May 24: Gerrit Cole vs. Stephen...
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Opposite dugout: Pirates beginning to emerge from early-season funk

Opposite dugout: Pirates beginning to emerge from early-season funk
Manager: Clint Hurdle, fourth year Record: 18-25 Last 10 games: 5-5 Who to watch: CF Andrew McCutchen (.301/.425/.468, 16 XBH, 19 RBIs); 2B Neil Walker (.259/.339/.458, 9 HR, 25 RBIs); LHP Francisco Liriano (0-3, 4.25 ERA, 49 K); LHP Wandy Rodriguez (0-2, 6.84 ERA) Season series vs. O's: 0-2, 6 runs scored, 11 runs against Pitching probables May 20: Francisco Liriano vs. Miguel Gonzalez, 7 p.m., MASN2 HD May 21: Wandy Rodriguez vs. Chris Tillman, 7 p.m., MASN2 HD Series breakdown Since the...
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Opposite dugout: Slumping Pirates look to get on track in Baltimore

Opposite dugout: Slumping Pirates look to get on track in Baltimore
Manager: Clint Hurdle, fourth year Record: 10-16 Last 10 games: 2-8 Who to watch: CF Andrew McCutchen (.286/.408/.500, 4 HR, 14 RBIs); 2B Neil Walker (.235/.291/.431, 6 HR, 12 RBIs); 3B Pedro Alvarez (.172/.280/.387, 6 HR, 14 RBI); RHP Brandon Cumpton (0-1, 2.57 ERA) Season series vs. O's (2013): Did not play Pitching probables April 29: Charlie Morton vs. Chris Tillman, 7 p.m., MASN HD April 30: Brandon Cumpton vs. Bud Norris, 7 p.m., MASN HD Series breakdown The Pirates were starting to...
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On the verge of elimination (Nats lose, won't be postseason-bound)

On the verge of elimination (Nats lose, won't be postseason-bound)
ST. LOUIS - Not only are the Nationals losing here in the late innings in St. Louis, but the Pirates and Reds just won in dramatic fashion. With their win, the Pirates will clinch a playoff spot if the Nats lose here tonight. Same deal with the Reds. Put in other words, the Nats are three outs away from elimination. The Nats go into the top of the ninth inning trailing the Cardinals 4-3. A Ryan Zimmerman RBI groundout in the eighth cut the Cardinals' lead in half, but the Nats will need a...
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Hope stays alive for another day

Hope stays alive for another day
It sure is starting to feel like playoff season, all right. The Reds and Pirates played a thrilling 10-inning ballgame last night, in which Cincinnati came from two runs down in the ninth to tie the game and then won it in extras on Joey Votto's home run. The Cardinals and Brewers played a crazy 10-inning game of their own, in which St. Louis scored twice in the top of the ninth to take a 6-4 lead, only to see the Brewers tie it up in the bottom of the ninth with two of their own. The...
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The straw that broke the camel's back?

The straw that broke the camel's back?
Over the last month, the Nationals have done well to right the ship and start running off wins. They've gotten their record back above .500 and slowly chipped away at the massive deficit they had built up behind the wild card leaders. Unfortunately, as we all know, when you build up such a massive deficit, you need to be close to perfect to overcome your previous struggles. You also need a lot of help. The Nats have been playing at an incredibly high level for the last five weeks or so, but...
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Johnson on Knorr's decision to pull Soriano in favor of Krol in ninth frame

Johnson on Knorr's decision to pull Soriano in favor of Krol in ninth frame
Nationals manager Davey Johnson was able to speak to the media today for the first time since he was ejected from Thursday's 9-7 win over the Pirates. Randy Knorr spoke postgame because Johnson was not available. Johnson was asked if he agreed with the decision by Knorr to pull closer Rafael Soriano in the ninth after he struggled to get outs, allowing two hits and two walks. "Yeah, I mean, (that is) sometimes what you do," Johnson said. "You go with what you are seeing. I was watching...
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No hits through five (Nats lose 4-2)

No hits through five (Nats lose 4-2)
The offensive woes continue. How many straight days can I write an entry with a lede similar to that? The Nationals don't have a hit through five innings tonight. Pirates starter Francisco Liriano has allowed two walks - to Scott Hairston leading off the bottom of the first and to Jayson Werth in the fourth - but has yet to surrender a base hit. The Nats haven't really been all that close to recording their first hit, either. A Stephen Strasburg groundball up the middle nearly got through...
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Nats sticking with same lineup (with Pirates lineup)

Nats sticking with same lineup (with Pirates lineup)
The Nationals will stick with their same lineup (minus the pitcher) for game two of this four-game series with the Pirates. Bryce Harper will lead off and Denard Span will hit seventh. Wilson Ramos is again behind the plate for the Nats. Taylor Jordan will get his fifth big league start tonight, still in search of his first win despite positing an impressive 3.32 ERA thus far. Jordan is coming off the best outing of his major league career thus far, when he allowed just two runs on eight...
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Harper hitting leadoff again

Harper hitting leadoff again
The Nationals lineup with Rick Schu as their hitting coach looks a lot like their lineup when Rick Eckstein was their hitting coach. Bryce Harper will remain atop the lineup today, with Denard Span returning and hitting seventh. Harper will be in left, Span in center. Dan Haren will look to continue his recent turnaround; he's allowed just two earned runs over 11 innings in his last two starts. For the Nats LF Bryce Harper 2B Anthony Rendon 3B Ryan Zimmerman 1B Adam LaRoche RF Jayson...
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Moore makes the Bucs pay (Nats win 6-2)

Moore makes the Bucs pay (Nats win 6-2)
PITTSBURGH - Given the way Adam LaRoche has been swinging the bat the last few days, and the way Tyler Moore has struggled to put the bat on the ball the last couple days, you can't really blame the Pirates for intentionally walking LaRoche to get to Moore with first base open in the top of the eighth inning. Just like yesterday, Moore was off to a rough start today, striking out in all three at-bats this afternoon, all three looking. But after falling behind in the count 0-2 with two...
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Span back in Nats lineup, Ramos starts again

Span back in Nats lineup, Ramos starts again
PITTSBURGH - After missing yesterday's game with a sore right ankle/foot, Denard Span has returned to the Nationals lineup for this afternoon's series finale at PNC Park. Span nearly fell to the ground when he woke up yesterday morning, the pain in his lower ankle area having intensified overnight. He got a day of rest yesterday and woke up this morning feeling much better. He'll return to the leadoff spot and play center field. Jayson Werth will miss his third straight game with left...
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