Closer Rafael Soriano allowed the go-ahead, three-run, pinch-hit homer in the ninth inning with two outs to the Giants' Hector Sanchez, and the Nationals lost 4-3. Soriano said the key call might have been to the previous pitch, when he thought he had a strikeout on a 2-2 call. "I tried to throw it quarter-in," Soriano said on the home run pitch to Sanchez. "I think it was a bad pitch. "At the same time, I think when the game be over (was the 2-2 pitch to Sanchez). That pitch I think...

The 2013 Nationals have experienced a number of crushing losses. Today's can be added to the list. Rafael Soriano gave up a three-run homer to Hector Sanchez with two outs and two strikes in the top of the ninth inning, turning a 3-1 Nationals lead into a 4-3 loss. It's Soriano's fifth blown save of the season, one that snaps the Nats' five-game winning streak in shocking fashion and drops them to 59-61 when they appeared poised to get back to .500. "That one hurt," manager Davey...

Prior to going on the disabled list in late June, Dan Haren had pitched to a 6.15 ERA, put up a 1.44 WHIP and allowed 2.1 home runs per nine innings. Haren has since said that he wasn't even really hurt when he went on the DL. He just used that time to reset and fix whatever mental issues he had going on after his confidence had been beaten down pretty good. Whatever Haren told himself during that stretch, it's worked wonders. The veteran right-hander allowed just one run through six...

Two more two-out, run-scoring hits. Multiple knocks with runners in scoring position. Hitters fouling off two-strike pitches to get something better to handle. Not sure where this Nationals team has come from, but I bet Davey Johnson is hoping this group stays around for a while. The Nats have taken a 3-0 lead on Ryan Vogelsong and the Giants through 3 1/2 innings thanks to a big third. Ian Desmond's 52nd extra-base hit of the season drove in Denard Span and Jayson Werth to get the scoring...

Nearly three weeks ago, Drew Storen was optioned to Triple-A Syracuse after a stretch that saw him allow 14 earned runs over 11 appearances. It was the first time Storen had been optioned to the minor leagues since his initial promotion to the bigs in May of 2010, and it hit him hard. He had lengthy conversations with manager Davey Johnson, pitching coach Steve McCatty and general manager Mike Rizzo after the demotion, and was frustrated with the decision made by the Nats' front...

Manager Davey Johnson said he thinks that right-hander Drew Storen didn't need much time at Triple-A Syracuse to get everything straightened out and that his standard leg kick and rejuvenated mental approach will help the ballclub in a critical moment of the season. The Nationals announced today that Storen had been returned to the team and that reliever Ryan Mattheus was optioned to Triple-A Syracuse. "I saw the first two outings," Johnson said. "He has continued what he did up here with...

Chris Tillman turned in his 16th quality start in 24 outings yesterday before the blown save, the 14 innings, the gut-wrenching loss that completed Arizona's three-game sweep of the Orioles. The Orioles have posted seven quality starts in the last nine games, giving them a 2.88 ERA in that stretch. That's the good. Unfortunately, the starters have gone more than six innings in only three of the 12 games this month. Tillman was removed after the sixth yesterday, leaving a tired bullpen to...

Dan Haren will try to continue his recent success when he takes the hill for the Nationals in the finale of their three-game series against the Giants. The right-hander has lowered his ERA from 6.15 to 4.99 since coming off the disabled list July 8, allowing 10 earned runs over his past six starts (and half of them came in one outing on July 22). Here are today's lineups: For the Giants: 2B Marco Scutaro SS Brandon Crawford 1B Brandon Belt C Buster Posey RF Hunter Pence 3B Pablo Sandoval LF...

When Nationals manager Davey Johnson indicated yesterday that he hasn't been pleased with the bullpen's performance of late, he wasn't kidding. This afternoon, the Nats made a roster move they hope will shore up their relief corps. Right-hander Drew Storen was recalled from Triple-A Syracuse, where he's been doing well of late. In his past three outings, covering 2 1/3 innings, Storen has struck out four without allowing a hit. In six games with the Chiefs, where he was supposed to work on...

The Washington Nationals today recalled right-handed pitcher Drew Storen from Syracuse of the Triple-A International League and optioned right-handed pitcher Ryan Mattheus to Syracuse. Nationals President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcement. Storen pitched in six games and posted an 11/0 strikeout-to-walk ratio with Syracuse. The 26-year-old worked 2.1 perfect innings with four strikeouts during his last three appearances with the Chiefs. In 47 relief...