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Turner on cycle, Murphy on Zimmerman lineup change and Ross's walk

April 26, 2017, 7:53am

DENVER - Here's some more insight from Daniel Murphy on his talk with Nationals manager Dusty Baker about switching the lineup up a bit to go lefty-righty-lefty. Murphy believes it was the right call to move Ryan Zimmerman to the cleanup role behind Bryce Harper because of Zimmerman's hot start. Zimmerman is hitting .371 with seven homers and 18 RBIs. "Ryan is having an unbelievable start to the year," Murphy said. "I think it puts the opposing manager in a little bit of a tougher...

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Ross battled without his good slider and usual velocity

April 25, 2017, 10:47pm

Nationals

Ross battled without his good slider and usual velocity

DENVER - It wasn't the best start for Joe Ross in Tuesday's 15-12 slugfest win for the Nationals over the Rockies. His slider wasn't sliding and his velocity was lower than usual. He said that having to warm up again after a 66-minute rain delay didn't help. Could his lower velocity be attributed to the rain and cold at Coors Field? "A little bit. It's kind of tough," Ross said. "I went out in my normal time just to get ready and then find out there's going to be a rain delay, plus...

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Turner hits for the cycle, sets career mark with seven RBIs in 15-12 win

April 25, 2017, 10:27pm

Nationals

Turner hits for the cycle, sets career mark with seven RBIs in 15-12 win

DENVER - On a night when Daniel Murphy collected five RBIs with three big hits, Trea Turner did him one better. Turner hit for the cycle for the first time and accumulated a career-high seven RBIs. Just another normal night of baseball at Coors Field. The Nationals outscored the Rockies 15-12 on a chilly and rain-delayed Denver night. The Nationals' bats were red hot, thanks in large part to the at-bats from Murphy and Turner. The duo combined for seven hits, four extra base hits and 12 RBIs....

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Turner's cycle tops hit parade (Nats survive 15-12)

April 25, 2017, 6:25pm

Nationals

Turner's cycle tops hit parade (Nats survive 15-12)

DENVER - The Nationals jumped on recently called-up right-hander German MÃ¡rquez early to take the lead. This is his fourth major league start. In the first, Trea Turner singled to right field with one out. Bryce Harper then doubled down the right field line. Turner scored from first because Carlos GonzÃ¡lez bobbled the ball in right field. There was no RBI in the play and GonzÃ¡lez was given an error. After a Ryan Zimmerman strikeout, Daniel Murphy singled past a diving Trevor Story into...

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Murphy suggested lineup switch (66-minute delay; now underway)

April 25, 2017, 4:06pm

Nationals

Murphy suggested lineup switch (66-minute delay; now underway)

DENVER - Manager Dusty Baker said he is open to his players giving him advice on lineup construction. Facing right-hander German MÃ¡rquez, Baker went lefty-righty all the way through the lineup. It places Bryce Harper third, Ryan Zimmerman cleanup and Daniel Murphy in the fifth spot. Baker confirmed it was Murphy who came to him with the idea. "You know what really made up my mind is when Murphy came to me and says 'Hey man, Zim's really hot,' and I was like 'OK'," Baker detailed....

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Game 20 lineups: Nats at Rockies (start time now 9:45 p.m.)

April 25, 2017, 1:00pm

Nationals

Game 20 lineups: Nats at Rockies (start time now 9:45 p.m.)

DENVER - The Nationals have low lost three of their last four games at Coors Field after Monday's 8-4 setback against the Rockies. The Nationals are still 7-3 overall on the road and 6-1 on this 10-game road trip, but their seven-game win streak was snapped. The Rockies have won a season-high four in a row. Ryan Zimmerman now has seven homers in April, and has hit a homer in back-to-back games. He is batting .429 (9-for-21) with four homers and 11 RBIs in his last six games. Joe Ross makes his...

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Jacob Turner did all he could to keep Nats in the game

April 24, 2017, 10:18pm

Nationals

Jacob Turner did all he could to keep Nats in the game

DENVER - Unfortunately, the Nationals could not hold the lead Monday night in Denver. The Nats led 4-1 but fell 8-4 to the red-hot Rockies. If the Nationals had been able to hold their lead and win their eighth straight game, there would be talk about Ryan Zimmerman's mammoth homer to center field and the pitching of Jacob Turner. The right-hander, 25, came through in one of the most difficult places to pitch in the major leagues. Turner dialed up a quality start: six innings, allowing three...

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Bullpen questions return after Nats can't hold lead in Denver

April 24, 2017, 8:49pm

Nationals

Bullpen questions return after Nats can't hold lead in Denver

DENVER - The Rockies turned up their offense in the late going, dropping the Nationals 8-4 after Jacob Turner had provided a quality start and Ryan Zimmerman had hit a 425-foot two-run homer. The Nationals bounced back from an early 1-0 deficit to score four runs in the sixth inning, highlighted by Zimmerman's seventh homer in April, a 425-foot blast over the center field wall. But Colorado had the final answer, tallying seven runs in their final three innings, pounding out seven straight runs...

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Bullpen in better rhythm after sweeps of Braves and Mets

April 24, 2017, 5:48pm

Nationals

Bullpen in better rhythm after sweeps of Braves and Mets

DENVER - The way Dusty Baker was able to manage his bullpen in the New York series is the ideal pattern he would like to utilize the entire season. The first week he got into a jam because Shawn Kelley and Koda Glover had not pitched yet, because of the way two games went against the Marlins. He talked at the time about how he wanted to get them in a game. Fast forward to the first weekend. The bullpen was taxed as the Phillies rallied from a 7-0 deficit to 7-6. The next night, Jeremy Guthrie...

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Baker updates on Harper, Wieters, bullpen and SolÃs

April 24, 2017, 3:19pm

Nationals

Baker updates on Harper, Wieters, bullpen and SolÃs

DENVER - Nationals manager Dusty Baker said Bryce Harper and Matt Wieters were not in tonight's starting lineup for the opener against the Rockies at Coors Field because they needed a day of rest. With the Nats facing their first left-hander of the season in Tyler Anderson, Baker decided to give the National League Player of the Week and catcher Wieters a day off each. Baker added he is leaning toward platooning his catchers the next few days. "Because Bryce played every day," Baker said on...

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Rockies tally first (Nats relinquish 4-1 lead, fall 8-4)

April 24, 2017, 5:22pm

Nationals

Rockies tally first (Nats relinquish 4-1 lead, fall 8-4)

DENVER - The Nationals were unable to get much going the first time through the lineup against Rockies left-hander Tyler Anderson. Anderson struck out four of the first seven batters he faced. But with one away in the third, catcher Jose Lobaton blooped a single to right field. Jacob Turner laid down a sacrifice bunt to get Lobaton in scoring position. With two outs, Trea Turner struck out on a changeup to end the threat. Right-hander Jacob Turner allowed three hits in the second, and the...

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Fedde at Double-A: "He is just better than everyone he's facing"

April 24, 2017, 7:15am

Nationals

Fedde at Double-A: "He is just better than everyone he's facing"

DENVER -- Right-hander Jacob Turner is expected to make his initial start with the Nationals tonight here in Denver against the Rockies. Right-hander Stephen Strasburg has been placed on paternity leave with his wife, Rachel, expecting their second child, and likely won't return to the Nats until this weekend's rematch with the Mets. Another pitcher currently in the minor leagues is making a solid statement for inclusion in the spot-start conversation this summer. It is University of...

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Game 19: Nats at Rockies lineups (Harper gets day off)

April 24, 2017, 7:17am

Nationals

Game 19: Nats at Rockies lineups (Harper gets day off)

DENVER - The two teams with the most wins in the National League begin a four-game set tonight here at Coors Field. The Nationals and Rockies each have 13 wins. Only the Astros, in the American League, can match that total. The Nationals (13-5) have the best record percentage-wise at .722. Bryce Harper is not in the Nationals' starting lineup. On the day he was named NL Player of the Week, Harper is geting the first game of the series at Coors Field off. Right-hander Jacob Turner's contract...

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Opposite dugout: Rockies living up to hype ... so far

April 23, 2017, 5:41pm

Nationals

Opposite dugout: Rockies living up to hype ... so far

Manager: Bud Black (1st season) Record: 13-6 Last 10 games: 7-3 Who to watch: 3B Nolan Arenado (.329 average with 6 HR, 13 RBIs); 1B Mark Reynolds (.318 average with 5 HR, 16 RBIs); CF Charlie Blackmon (.270 average with 20 hits); RHP Antonio Senzatela (3-0, 2.08 ERA); RHP Greg Holland (2.00 ERA, 9 saves). Season series vs. Nationals: First meeting (4-2 in 2016) Pitching probables: April 24: RHP Jacob Turner vs. LHP Tyler Anderson, 8:40 p.m., MASN2April 25: RHP Joe Ross vs. TBA, 8:40 p.m.,...

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It's early, but 10-game road trip provides Nats test of endurance

April 17, 2017, 4:08am

Nationals

It's early, but 10-game road trip provides Nats test of endurance

It is still only April, but in any month this upcoming road trip would be a tough one. It's a 10-game, 11-day trip through Atlanta, New York and Denver. The Braves (5-6, winners of four straight) have a young team riding the emotion of opening a brand new baseball stadium they are proud to show the world. The Mets (7-6, losers of three straight) look to repeat their 2015 run to the World Series as the Nationals' toughest division rival. The Rockies (9-5, winners of two straight) have proven...

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Did the Rockies improve their bullpen enough to compete in NL West?

February 07, 2017, 9:50am

Nationals

Did the Rockies improve their bullpen enough to compete in NL West?

The Los Angeles Dodgers will take aim at their fifth consecutive National League West championship, but their biggest rival, the San Francisco Giants, will have something to say about that, especially since they've fixed their leaky bullpen with former Nationals closer Mark Melancon. The surprise team in the division could be the Colorado Rockies. They've beefed up their bullpen and think their rotation is strong enough to allow them to play meaningful games in September. Here's a look at...

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Giolito didn't see the improvement he wanted in tough loss

August 28, 2016, 1:48pm

Nationals

Giolito didn't see the improvement he wanted in tough loss

Right-hander Lucas Giolito was hoping to hit the ground running as he made his return to the big leagues after some solid performances at Triple-A Syracuse. But the Rockies' Nolan Arenado and David Dahl had other ideas. Arenado smacked a two-run shot and Dahl followed with a solo homer, highlighting a three-run third inning as Colorado defeated the Nationals 5-3. Giolito allowed four runs on six hits with two walks and two strikeouts, having to throw 100 pitches in five innings in his first...

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Turner gets Nats on board (Nats fall 5-3)

August 28, 2016, 10:02am

Nationals

Turner gets Nats on board (Nats fall 5-3)

The Rockies got to Lucas Giolito to begin the game with a single and a walk. Charlie Blackmon singled and then went to second on a free pass to DJ LeMahieu. Nolan Arenado smacked a RBI single to left field and the Rockies lead 1-0. But Giolito settled down and got his fastball to 94 mph, earning a soft pop-up to third base and a grounder to second to end the frame. He threw 24 pitches in the first inning. Trea Turner quickly got the Nationals even in the bottom of the first on a solo shot to...

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Turner has been adept at setting the table (plus lineups)

August 28, 2016, 5:05am

Nationals

Turner has been adept at setting the table (plus lineups)

In the first game of the Nationals' series with the Rockies, Trea Turner and Jayson Werth set up the rest of the offense by getting on base in an 8-5 win. The duo combined for four hits, four runs and two RBIs. Turner has two stolen bases in the series. Manager Dusty Baker was asked how having Turner in leadoff role alters the equation for Werth. "Well, it changes the equation," Baker said. "Everybody in the order changes the equation for the next person. "I knew that it changed the...

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Blackmon homers twice (Harper ejected in 10th, Nats fall 9-4 in 11)

August 27, 2016, 10:14am

Nationals

Blackmon homers twice (Harper ejected in 10th, Nats fall 9-4 in 11)

A.J. Cole and Jorge De La Rosa shared the labor of a 33-minute first inning but did not allow a run on a sun-splashed Saturday afternoon matchup between the Nationals and the Rockies. Cole didn't give up a hit until the top of the third. On a 3-2 pitch, Charlie Blackmon launched a solo shot, his 22nd homer of the season, over the right field wall and into the Nats bullpen. Colorado leads 1-0. Trea Turner and Anthony Rendon have base hits for the Nats. In the first, Turner stole his 17th base...