BALTIMORE - Of course the walk-off homer that Matt Grace surrendered Sunday in Philly stings, but so far in four games coming off the All-Star break, the bullpen is rolling. Tuesday night it was Tanner Rainey and Javy Guerra that kept the Orioles at bay in an 8-1 win. Rainey pitched a scoreless seventh, and for the first time since June 15, Guerra pitched two ... read more
BALTIMORE - The Nationals’ power bats were on display again in an 8-1 win over the Orioles at Camden Yards, thanks to Matt Adams and Juan Soto. Adams’ blast got the scoring going for the Nats in the second inning off Orioles starter Asher Wojciechowski. The solo shot gave the Nats the 1-0 lead and landed on Eutaw Street. It was the 102nd all-time homer ... read more
BALTIMORE - Nationals manager Davey Martinez announced Erick Fedde will pitch Wednesday’s second game here at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Austin Voth starts tonight. Does Martinez view these two games as an audition for the Nats’ fifth starter role going forward? Not quite. “Today I’m just worried about Austin Voth going out there and competing and keeping us in the ballgame,” Martinez said. “We ... read more
When general manager Mike Rizzo first presented the idea to Davey Martinez that Fernando Rodney was available, the skipper knew they should take a look at the veteran closer. “I was excited. The minute he got let go it was a conversation that Rizzo and I had,” Martinez said. “They said they’d look into it and said, ‘Hey, we are going to sign him.’” Rodney ... read more
Even with the tough loss Sunday afternoon, the Nationals won the series in Philadelphia. And it took a walk-off homer and six consecutive strikeouts to keep them from their 50th win of the season. Shortstop Trea Turner, who netted the game-tying RBI single in the seventh, said the club is still playing great baseball in the midst of a 30-12 run. “Our pitching has been ... read more
PHILADELPHIA - The Nationals came back again Sunday afternoon, rallying from a deficit late, but this time it was the Phillies that had the final answer. Maikel Franco got a hold of the first pitch from reliever Matt Grace in the bottom of the ninth to lift the Phillies to a 4-3 win before a sellout 43,075 at Citizens Bank Park, preventing the Nats from ... read more
PHILADELPHIA - Nationals manager Davey Martinez announced that right-hander Austin Voth will be called up for Tuesday’s first game of the series against the Orioles. “I like what Austin’s done when he was up here and then his last outing down there he pitched really, really well,” Martinez said. “I like the fact that he goes out there and he has presence. he has poise. ... read more
PHILADELPHIA - Everyone knows how good right-hander Wander Suero’s cutter can be. It is his signature pitch. But Suero’s confidence in his changeup, which can also be a plus pitch, could be the key to taking his game to the next level. Helping the 27-year-old understand the importance of this pitch and how to use his cutter in different ways is 42-year-old Fernando Rodney. The ... read more
