reds - Blog

Rubber game goes to the Reds

April 07, 2013, 12:25pm

Stephen Strasburg wasn't at his sharpest, the Nationals' infielders made a couple of more defensive miscues and the bats went silent after the second inning. Put it all together and it's a 6-3 loss to the Reds, giving Cincinnati the series win. After a big second inning, highlighted by Kurt Suzuki's three-run homer to left, the Nats had just three hits and four baserunners the rest of the way. Suzuki doubled with one out in the ninth, his third extra-base hit of the day, but the...

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Nats' catchers continue to crush Reds pitching (Nats trail as Strasburg leaves)

April 07, 2013, 9:50am

Nationals

Nats' catchers continue to crush Reds pitching (Nats trail as Strasburg leaves)

In their last four at-bats against Reds pitching, the Nationals' catchers are 3-for-4 with three home runs and six RBIs. Wilson Ramos did some damage yesterday, crushing two homers in the Nats' 11-inning win. In his first at-bat today, Kurt Suzuki got the Nats on the board in the second inning, taking a 1-1 slider from Johnny Cueto and smoking it out to left for a three-run shot. Suzuki has his first hit of the 2013 season, and the Nats have a tie ballgame. It's 3-3 midway through the...

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LaRoche sits for a second straight day

April 07, 2013, 7:37am

Nationals

Adam LaRoche is out of the Nationals' lineup for the second straight day. LaRoche, who has been dealing with some tightness in his back since late in the Nationals' series against the Marlins earlier this week, will not play in this afternoon's series finale against the Reds. Chad Tracy will play first base and hit in the No. 5 hole in LaRoche's stead again today. With the Nats having a day off tomorrow, manager Davey Johnson likely wants to give LaRoche three full days to rest his back...

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Tracy replaces LaRoche in Nats lineup

April 06, 2013, 6:48am

Nationals

The good thing about the Nationals having a 1:10 p.m. first pitch today is that last night's 15-0 drubbing at the hands of the Reds is quickly pushed into the background. No need to stew on that one through the afternoon. The Nats will get back out there in just a few hours and will start fresh. There's one change to manager Davey Johnson's lineup outside of the normal catcher swap and Ross Detwiler being inserted into the pitcher's spot for the first time this season. Adam LaRoche will...

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Could signing of Chris Young come into play sooner than later?

April 06, 2013, 6:52am

Nationals

Could signing of Chris Young come into play sooner than later?

It is just one game, but it did happen. Dan Haren got rocked and Zach Duke did not fare much better. Depth is critical for each major league team, especially pitching depth, if you expect to make a deep run into October. Last season, the Nationals allowed double-digit runs only two times in their first 156 games. The 15 runs allowed Friday night at Great American Ballpark were the most given up by Washington in a shutout since 2000. The most runs the Nationals allowed in any one game all of...

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Getting ready for a much tougher test

April 05, 2013, 9:19am

Nationals

The Nationals limited the Marlins to one run in 27 innings over the last four days. Washington outscored Miami 11-1 and held its division rivals to a .167 batting average. After three games against a clearly inferior opponent, the Nats will now get much more of a test. Tonight, they open a three-game set against the Reds, a team that won the NL Central by a whopping nine games last season and posted 97 victories overall. Cincinnati has gotten off to a nice start to the season, taking two of...

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A bullpen battle with an eye on the scoreboard (Nats win 4-2)

October 02, 2012, 4:57pm

Nationals

A bullpen battle with an eye on the scoreboard (Nats win 4-2)

Both the Nationals and Phillies went into this game knowing they'd be relying on Johnny Wholestaff. In other words, we were going to see a whole host of relievers take the mound tonight. We've gotten just that so far. Tom Gorzelanny, coming out of the bullpen to spot-start for the Nats, went 3 2/3 innings, allowing one run and striking out five. B.J. Rosenberg, a reliever who was called on to start for the Phillies, went four innings, giving up one run over four frames. We now find...

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A tight one in the middle innings (Ramos injured)

May 12, 2012, 5:12pm

Nationals

A tight one in the middle innings (Ramos injured)

Jordan Zimmermann is getting just 2.1 runs of support while he's in the game this season, the third-lowest total in the majors. That number isn't rising tonight. Zimmermann has done his job on the mound this evening, holding the Reds to just one run through five innings of work, but outside of a Wilson Ramos solo home run, the Nationals' starter hasn't gotten much offensive help from his teammates. We're tied 1-1 after five frames. Part of the reason why Zimmermann doesn't have...

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Two-out knocks put Nats on top (walk-off grand slam sinks Nats)

May 13, 2012, 2:34pm

Nationals

Two-out knocks put Nats on top (walk-off grand slam sinks Nats)

In the six games between the Nationals and Reds this season prior to today, Joey Votto had just one extra-base hit - a double back on April 15. Today, Votto has two home runs in as many at-bats. The 2010 National Leauge MVP has taken Edwin Jackson yard twice, but luckily for Jackson and the Nats, both longballs have been solo shots. Outside of Votto, the Reds haven't done all that much off Jackson, who allowed just three hits through four innings. The Nats lead the Reds 4-2 as we go to the...

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Sunday's Nats-Reds lineups (first pitch set for 4:45 p.m.)

May 13, 2012, 7:38am

Nationals

Sunday's Nats-Reds lineups (first pitch set for 4:45 p.m.)

If it ain't broke, don't fix it. Davey Johnson is sticking with the same lineup he's gone with the last few games, with Roger Bernadina hitting second and Bryce Harper hitting fifth. With Wilson Ramos going on the DL with a torn ACL, Jesus Flores slides into the starting lineup and will hit eighth. The Nationals will face Reds righty Bronson Arroyo, who is 2-1 with a 2.75 ERA this season. Here are the lineups for both teams: Nationals SS Ian Desmond LF Roger Bernadina 3B Ryan...

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Harper in Nats lineup

May 12, 2012, 11:25am

Nationals

A day after accidentally hitting himself in the face with a bat and opening a cut over his left eye, Bryce Harper is in the Nationals' starting lineup. Tough kid. Manager Davey Johnson had suggested that Harper might need a couple days off after the bizarre wall-meet-bat, bat-meet-face incident yesterday, but the 19-year-old will be back in right field tonight, hopefully sans blood dripping down his face. The Nationals will face Reds righty Mat Latos, who allowed two runs and five hits over...

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Friday's Nats, Reds lineups

May 11, 2012, 12:01pm

Nationals

How does Reds second baseman Brandon Phillips welcome the Nationals to town? By taking a dig at Bryce Harper on Twitter. Here's what Phillips tweeted earlier today: "GoodAfternoon #Cincinnati... Today we host #BabeRuth & the @Nationals for a 3 game series at #GABP! See y'all there" That's the second "Babe Ruth" reference we've heard in the last week. An unnamed Phillies player apparently made a similar comment referring to Harper during last weekend's series at Nationals Park. (I'm...

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Nats finally fall in extras

April 15, 2012, 1:18pm

Nationals

In two of this series first three games, the Nationals went to extra innings with the Reds and were able to scratch across the game-winning run. Not today. The Nationals battled back from an early 5-0 deficit to force extras, but the Reds scored three times off reliever Tyler Clippard in the 11th inning and held on for an 8-5 win. Joey Votto's two-run double was the big knock for Cincinnati, putting the Reds on top. Washington brought the potential tying run to the plate with no outs in the...

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Today's lineups plus a few fun facts

April 15, 2012, 8:30am

Nationals

With a win today, the Nationals would record their first four-game home sweep since their arrival in Washington in 2005. Is it possible for that note to both surprise me and not surprise me in the slightest? According to the Elias Sports Bureau, with yesterday's win, Edwin Jackson became the first player in modern baseball history (since 1901) to record at least one win in a starting role for at least seven different teams prior to his 29th birthday. Is it possible for that note to both...

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Nats' lineup has Ankiel in center, hitting seventh

April 14, 2012, 10:51am

Nationals

Nats' lineup has Ankiel in center, hitting seventh

Rick Ankiel will make his 2012 debut this afternoon against the Reds after missing the first eight games of the season due to a left quad injury. The 32-year-old will bat seventh today and play center field after hitting .400 with three home runs during his rehab assignment. Ankiel said the quad is feeling good and he's ready to get back out and rejoin his teammates at the major league level. "The last few days, the first time I played nine, I felt like I was 100 percent then, so every day...

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And we keep on playing (Werth wins it in the 13th)

April 13, 2012, 6:27pm

Nationals

And we keep on playing (Werth wins it in the 13th)

We're going to the 12th here at Nationals Park, as the Nats and Reds are still locked in a 1-1 tie. The two teams have combined for just the two runs and nine hits through 11. The Reds have failed to score since the fifth, and haven't recorded a hit the last six innings, either. The Nats, on the other hand, are now 0-for-7 with runners in scoring position, and have wasted an opportunity to bring in the game-winning run off typically-wild Reds righty Alfredo Simon for the second straight...

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Today's Reds-Nationals lineups

April 13, 2012, 11:40am

Nationals

Manager Davey Johnson's lineup for tonight's game against the Reds has Mark DeRosa back in left field, hitting sixth. Jordan Zimmermann takes the hill, hoping for his first win of 2012. Here are the lineups for both teams: Reds CF Drew Subbs SS Wilson Valdez 1B Joey Votto 3B Scott Rolen RF Jay Bruce LF Ryan Ludwig 2B Willie Harris C Ryan Hanigan P Bronson Arroyo Nationals SS Ian Desmond 2B Danny Espinosa 3B Ryan Zimmerman 1B Adam LaRoche RF Jayson Werth LF Mark DeRosa CF Roger Bernadina C...

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A fan's guide to the Nationals' April schedule

March 21, 2012, 7:52am

Nationals

Let's get you ready for the first month of the season, and if you have the good fortune of seeing the Nationals on the road to begin in Chicago and New York, here is a quick primer. Every time I get an advance schedule for a local team, I always look to see what other sporting events are going on in the four major professional sports and check the live music or comedy schedules to see if they possibly matchup with off-days. I also have to hit the best pizza, wings or hot dog joints available...

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Nationals get brand new field grass for 2012 at Nationals Park

December 13, 2011, 6:21pm

Nationals

I had the opportunity to visit Nationals Park twice in the last month and viewed progression of installation of the brand new field grass. In November, the top picture shows the entire outfield in dirt after the original grass was removed and the new grass was being installed in the infield portion. The bottom picture, taken Tuesday night, shows the new outfield grass in place to match that put in the infield in November. Fortunately, the weather has been fairly mild to start the winter...