Nationals News Archive
Third baseman Ryan Zimmerman, who has had been steady all season, even after his career-high 30-game hit streak came to an end earlier this year, had a big two-run single that tied the game at three in the Nationals four-run eighth inning today. ...
Left-hander John Lannan won his second straight start, fourth of his last six and improved to 6-5, the second time he's been over .500 in his career. The last time was 2007 when he won his second career start to improve to 1-0. ...
Adam Dunn's 300th career home run was the only run the Nationals could get off Braves rookie starter Tommy Hanson in his seven innings of work. ...
Adam Dunn slammed his 300th career home run, a solo shot that came within four rows of the concourse in right field. ...
John Lannan is still having problems throwing first-pitch strikes. He's only done it to 13 of the 24 batters he faced. ...
Lefty John Lannan has allowed a run on three hits thru three innings so far today, but he's having trouble throwing first-pitch strikes. ...
After this afternoon's game against the Braves, the Nationals will recall right-hander Jason Bergmann from Triple-A Syracuse, according to colleague Bill Ladson from MLB.com. ...
Left-hander John Lannan takes the mound today and one thing is pretty consistent when he pitches; he'll more than likely post a quality start. ...
Anderson Hernandez and Wil Nieves are back in the lineup for manager Manny Acta this afternoon. ...
Staff ace John Lannan takes the hill this afternoon and looks to end the Nationals four-game losing skid. ...
Once again, the Nationals scored enough runs to win, but the pitching failed and they lost 9-8. ...
Tied at five in the seventh, right-hander Jesus Colome entered the game and issued a lead-off walk and a two-out free pass. ...
Neither starting pitcher made it past the fifth. Ross Detwiler and Kenshin Kawakami allowed five runs each. ...
Ross Detwiler was lifted after giving up three consecutive singles and throwing a wild pitch in the fourth inning. ...
To say that left-hander Ross Detwiler is struggling thru the first three innings tonight would be an understatement. ...
The Nyjer Morgan era in Washington got off to a running start tonight, both offensively and defensively. ...
The Nationals have signed their fourth-round draft pick, right-hander A.J. Morris out of Kansas State and 10th-round pick left-hander Paul Applebee from the University of California, Riverside. ...
Prior to tonight's serious opener with the Atlanta Braves, manager Manny Acta held a team meeting to discuss what went wrong for the Nationals during the recent road trip, where they went 1-5. ...
New centerfielder and lead-off man Nyjer Morgan celebrated his 29th birthday on Thursday. Today, he celebrates a new beginning, one he couldn't be happier about. ...
Willie Harris gets the start at second base tonight and Cristian Guzman drops to the sixth spot in the lineup. ...
When the Nationals take the field tonight to begin their weekend series with the Braves, they will have a new center fielder and lead-off batter in Nyjer Morgan. ...
The Major League All-Star game, set in St. Louis on Tuesday July 14, is still more than a week away and we don't know who from the Nationals will be selected, but we do know who will represent the organization in the Triple-A and Double-A games. ...
I know we're not at the official half-way point of the season, but three months are in the history books and I thought I'd crunch some numbers at how the season has transpired from month-to-month-to-month. ...
Washington's inability to get a hit with runners in scoring position and their bullpen's ineffectiveness ultimately cost them in this afternoon's 5-3 loss to the Marlins, their ninth straight against their NL East foe. ...
Welcome to the Nationals Mr. Burnett, you have now been cursed like the rest of the bullpen. ...
Right-hander Jordan Zimmermann notched his second straight and fifth quality start of the season. ...
For the second straight game, rain is going to delay the Nationals and Marlins in the seventh inning. ...
The Nationals had Marlins starter Josh Johnson reeling all afternoon and couldn't take advantage of his ineffectiveness. ...
Jordan Zimmermann had all his pitches working for him the first time thru the Marlins lineup this afternoon. ...
For the second time in as many games, Nationals pitchers have helped their own cause. ...
Third baseman Ryan Zimmerman's throwing problems continue as he made another error in the first inning today. ...
Acting GM Mike Rizzo and manager Manny Acta spoke to the media prior to this afternoon's game about the decision to send outfielder Elijah Dukes to Triple-A Syracuse. ...
Willie Harris returns to center field and the lead-off spot for the series finale this afternoon. ...
The Nationals optioned outfielder Elijah Dukes to Triple-A Syracuse, making room on the 25-man roster for outfielder Nyjer Morgan and left-hander Sean Bunrett. ...
A defensive meltdown, shoddy pitching from the bullpen and Mother Nature cost the Nationals in their 7-5, seven-inning, loss to the Marlins. ...
The Nationals tied a season-high by committing four errors in their rain-shortened 7-5 loss to the Marlins, their eighth straight this season. ...
Four Nationals errors, three by third baseman Ryan Zimmerman, cost Washington as they dropped their eighth straight game to the Marlins, 7-5, in a rain-shortened affair in Florida. ...
A slow, steady rain turned into a torrential downpour in a matter of seconds at Land Shark Stadium, bringing the game to a halt in the bottom of the seventh. ...
After six full innings, the Nationals cling to a 5-4 lead. ...
Rookie right-hander Craig Stammen has only allowed two hits thru three innings, but Ryan Zimmerman's throwing error allowed former Nat Emilio Bonifacio to score the tying run. ...
Elijah Dukes is back in the starting lineup for manager Manny Acta ...
The Nationals acquired outfielder Nyjer Morgan and left-handed pitcher Sean Burnett from the Pittsburgh Pirates in exchange for outfielder Lastings Milledge and right-handed pitcher Joel Hanrahan. ...
Last night, the Nationals dropped their seventh straight game to the Marlins when reliever Ron Villone gave up a sac fly in the bottom of the eighth of a 2-2 game. Florida would ad an insurance run to take the series opener 4-2. ...
Left-hander Scott Olsen tossed seven solid innings in his first start since coming off the disabled list. ...
The Nationals bullpen, actually Ron Villone, wasted a great outing from left-hander Scott Olsen, as Washington remains winless against the Marlins in 2009. ...
Since the Nationals two-run, three-hit second inning, Marlins starter Ricky Nolasco has retired 13 of the last 14 and seven straight. ...
Right-hander Garrett Mock won a pair of starts this week by posting a 0.60 ERA in a League-best 15 innings pitched to earn International League Pitcher of the Week. ...
Lefty Scott Olsen looked pretty good in the first two innings, but he struggled in the third, allowing two runs on four hits. ...
Ryan Zimmerman jumped on Ricky Nolasco's first pitch of the second inning, a 91-MPH fastball, and crushed it to left for his 13th homer of the season. ...
The Nationals and Marlins are just underway at Land Shark Stadium in Florida after a 37 minute rain delay. ...
The tarp is on the field at Land Shark Stadium, with a steady rain falling. ...
Manny Acta keeps the hot hitting Josh Willingham in the lineup. Against the Orioles this past weekend, Willingham went 6-11 with three doubles, four runs, a walk and a stolen base. ...
The Nationals signed second-round draft pick Jeffrey Kobernus, a second baseman from the University of California. ...
Left-hander Scott Olsen (1-4, 7.24), fresh of the disabled list (shoulder tendinitis), will make his first start since May 16, when he allowed six runs in five innings against the Phillies in the Nationals 8-5 loss. ...
Left-hander John Lannan picked up his fifth win of the season by holding the Orioles to three runs on six hits in 7 1/3 innings today. Lannan won for the third time in his last five starts with a 2.18 ERA in those games. ...
In an unforeseen turnabout, the Nationals decided to keep rookie Craig Stammen in the rotation and send right-hander Shairon Martis down to Triple-A Syracuse, thus keeping the bullpen in tact. ...
Behind John Lannan's outstanding pitching, the Nationals played one of their best all-round games of the season and avoided getting swept by the Orioles. ...
The Nationals acquired infielder Mike Morse from the Seattle Mariners in exchange for outfielder Ryan Langerhans. ...
The Orioles are playing the Nationals have this season, dropping balls and running themselves out of big innings. ...
Adam Dunn became the first National to hit a ball onto Eutaw Street. ...
Lefty John Lannan had a seven pitch third inning, getting a double play to erase a lead-off single. ...
Now that the Nationals have decided to move right-hander Craig Stammen to the bullpen, the big question is who will they move? ...
Here are manager Manny Acta's comments on today's lineup, Scott Olsen and Craig Stammen moving to the bullpen. ...
Manager Manny Acta moves the middle of his lineup down a spot for the series finale this afternoon. ...
The Nationals look to salvage the series finale with the Orioles this afternoon as Interleague play comes to an end. ...
Right-hander Shairon Martis continues to struggle with locating his pitches and tonight was no different. ...
When the Nationals look back on tonight's 6-3 loss to the Orioles, all they need to know is that they had the bases loaded with nobody out twice and only managed to score two runs, both on walks in the first. ...
According to Nationals reporter Debbi Taylor, right-hander Craig Stammen will be moved into the bullpen when lefty starter Scott Olsen comes of the disabled list on Sunday. ...
The two Nationals struggling the most couldn't push a run across when they had the bases loaded with no outs in the sixth. ...
Miss your location in the big league and you get hit, hard, and that's exactly what happened to Shairon Martis tonight. ...
Left-hander Matt Chico threw three innings of two-hit ball in his first start for Double-A Harrisburg tonight. ...
Shairon Martis loaded the bases in the first on a single and two walks, but got himself out of the jam by striking out Luke Scott to end the inning. ...
First baseman Dmitri Young went 0-3 this afternoon in his second rehab game for the Gulf Coast League Nationals against the GCL Marlins. ...
Washington hitters were very patient in the first inning against O's starter Jeremy Guthrie. ...
Manny Acta is giving Nick Johnson the night off so Adam Dunn will play first. Cristian Guzman will DH. ...
After last night's 11-1 thrashing at the hands of the Orioles, the Nationals will try to regroup and even the series at one game apiece. ...
Right-handed reliever Joel Hanrahan continues to struggle, whether as the Nationals closer, which he no longer does, or coming into a game and trying to keep it close. ...
The first three innings between the Nationals and Orioles tonight were played pretty closely. After that, the Orioles dominated, scoring two in the fourth and eight in the sixth and cruising to the 11-1 victory. ...
It appears that right-hander Joel Hanrahan has lost all confidence when he takes the mound. ...
First baseman Dmitri Young, who hasn't played all season due to back and hip injuries, went 0-1 with a walk and a run scored tonight for the Gulf Coast League Nationals against the GCL Mets. ...
Left-hander Ross Detwiler just never looked to settle into a groove tonight. He only threw first-pitch strikes to 13 of the 24 batters he faced. ...
Right-hander Collin Balester has allowed three runs, one earned thru five innings tonight in the Syracuse Chiefs game with Scranton Wilkes-Barre. ...
Left-hander Ross Detwiler threw a lot of pitches in the first two innings, 38 to be exact, but he only allowed one run on two hits. He also walked a batter. ...
Manager Manny Acta said after catcher Jesus Flores was placed on the 15-day DL with a right shoulder contusion, that Josh Bard and Wil Nieves would share time until one of them would step up and prove they deserve to get the majority of the playing time. ...
First baseman Nick Johnson, who left last night's game with a left shin contusion, is fine and is in the starting lineup. ...
Adam Dunn will DH tonight with Josh Willingham starting left. Catcher Josh Bard will make his fourth start in five game. ...
Washington heads north to Baltimore to finish the final Interleague series of the 2009 season. ...
It took rookie right-hander Jordan Zimmermann two month's to finally pick up the third win of his career and what a better time to do it. ...
In front of the largest crowd ever at Nationals Park, 41,985, Jordan Zimmermann held the mighty Red Sox to one run on five hits in seven stellar innings to earn his third win of the season and first in two months. ...
Jordan Zimmermann never got in any real trouble tonight and when he did, he worked himself out of it. ...
Thru three innings Jordan Zimmermann looks as good as he has all season. He's kept the Red Sox off the scoreboard after being handed a 4-0 lead in the first. ...
The Nationals wasted little time getting to 42-year old John Smoltz, making his 2009 and Red Sox debut. ...
After tonight's series finale with the Red Sox, the Nationals will wrap up the most difficult portion of Interleague play. ...
When Red Sox starter John Smoltz takes the mound tonight in his season and Red Sox debut, pay close attention to what you are watching because you'll be seeing a special kind of pitcher. ...
Adam Dunn is back in the starting lineup for the series finale with the Red Sox. ...
Tonight is the final game of the three-game series between the Nationals and the Red Sox and Washingtonians won't be sad to see The Nation leave the Nations Capital. ...
Rookie right-hander Craig Stammen pitched well tonight, but just not well enough to keep the best team in the American League from winning their fourth straight game. ...
Rookie right-hander Craig Stammen suffered his third loss of the season in front of the largest crowd even to see a game at Nationals Park, 41,530. ...
Scott Olsen tossed six innings of two-run ball tonight in his rehab start for Triple-A Syracuse. ...
Craig Stammen didn't pitch all that bad, but the long ball tonight hurt his chances of getting his second win of the season. ...
The Washington Nationals welcomed the ten millionth fan in franchise history to Nationals Park this evening. ...
In the fourth, Craig Stammen ran into a bit of trouble and the Nationals now trail 3-1. ...
Left-hander Scott Olsen, making what is expected to be his final rehab start, has allowed four hits, all singles, in the first three innings against Scranton Wilkes-Barre tonight. ...
Rookie right-hander Craig Stammen has retired all nine Red Sox on 33 pitches, 28 of which are strikes. He's thrown first-pitch strikes to eight of the nine. ...
Tyler Clippard thought he's been called up to the Nationals after Saturday's game when reliever Jesus Colome left the game against the Blue Jays with a strained right quad. ...
Outfielder Adam Dunn will miss tonight's game, not just because left-hander Jon Lester is on the mound, but because he's nursing a right wrist injury. ...
Most people who follow the Nationals will say what took so long. I guess it's better late than never. ...
Adam Dunn gets his first off day of the season. Willie Harris will bat lead off with Nick Johnson batting clean-up ...
After last night's bullpen allowed eight runs in the Nationals 11-3 loss, I won't be surprised to see some new faces in the clubhouse when I arrive at the ballpark this afternoon. ...
Are more changes to the Nationals bullpen on the way? It sure sounded that way when manager Manny Acta all but called out three members of the 'pen after Tuesday night's eight-run effort. ...
The box score to tonight's game doesn't indicate how close the game was for seven innings. Believe it or not, Washington had a chance to win the game until bullpen couldn't get any one out and the offense missed an early opportunity. ...
Thru six innings, there have been three leads and four ties and right now the game is tied 3-3 in the top of the seventh. ...
Left-hander Matt Chico was in the clubhouse today, the first time he's been with this team since last May. ...
Thru three innings, the Nationals and red Sox are knotted at one. ...
Just before first pitch I walked around the concourse and the first thing I noticed was the amount of Red Sox fans that made the trek to DC. ...
I had a chance to catch up with acting GM Mike Rizzo prior to tonight's game with the Red Sox and ask him about a couple of players who are currently on the DL. ...
Tonight's game against the Red Sox is somewhat special for outfielder Willie Harris, who spent part of the 2006 season with the Nation, although it didn't turn out the way he had planned. ...
Josh Willingham will make his second career start in right field tonight. ...
Interleague play continues for the Nationals tonight as the Red Sox come to DC for a three-game series. ...
According to several reports, the Nationals have added right-hander Tyler Clippard to their 25-man roster. ...
A little more than a month ago Ryan Zimmerman was enjoying a 30-game hit streak and his average was up to .359 on the season. Since then, his average has dropped 63 points to .293 after his third straight 0-5. ...
The Nationals chances of extending their winning streak to a season-high five games was quickly squashed when starter Shairon Martis gave up four runs in the first inning en route the a 9-4 loss to the Blue Jays in the series finale. ...
After six full innings, the Nationals trail the Blue jays 6-2 and starter Shairon Martis is out of the game. ...
Right-hander reliever Jesus Colome left last night's game with a strained right quad. After the game, he visiting the hospital but it was determined that he didn't do any damage to the quad. ...
One positive for right-hander Shairon Martis is that his pitch count has gone down over the last two innings. ...
Ryan Zimmerman is hitless in his last 13 at bats, leaving 15 men on base, including two in the first inning today. ...
What a brutal first inning for Shairon Martis. The Blue Jays scored four runs on four hits and two walks. ...
Alberto Gonzalez has been playing so well that manager Manny Acta has to find a spot for him in the starting lineup. ...
Austin Kearns in in the lineup in right today. Alberto Gonzalez gets his second straight start at second. ...
With a win this afternoon against the Blue Jays in their series finale, the Nationals will sweep their first series of the season and first since taking three from the Braves from August 29-31 last year. ...
Left-hander Ross Detwiler pitched well enough to pick up the first win of his big league career, but it didn't happen. ...
Utility man extraordinaire Willie Harris did something on Saturday night he'd never done before, he hit a walk-off homer. In fact, it was his first extra-inning home run of his career. ...
Four and counting. Who would have thought that the Nationals would take the last two games in New York against the Yankees, return home and take the first two against the Blue Jays? ...
Willie Harris's second home run of the season, a two-run shot in the bottom of the 12th gave the Nationals a 5-3 win and extended their winning streak to a season-high four games. ...
Update Colome left the game with a right quad strain. He's listed as day-to-day. ...
For the second straight night the Nationals and Blue Jays are going to extra innings. ...
Poor decision making and bad defense cost lefty Ross Detwiler a chance to pick up his first career victory tonight. ...
Ross Detwiler is following in his rotation mate's shoes as he's only allowed two runs thru seven-plus innings tonight. ...
Center fielder Willie Harris is playing all around solid baseball these days. He doubled, stole third and scored on Wil Nieves' sac fly, giving the Nationals the 1-0 lead in the fifth. ...
In the first game of a doubleheader last night, left-hander Matt Chico gave up one run on six hits in five solid innings for Hagerstown as the Suns beat Delmarva 4-2. ...
After three full innings, the Nationals and Blue Jays are scoreless. The Nationals have two hits and the Jays one. ...
Outfielder Roger Bernadina broke his right ankle two months ago yesterday and since the injury, he had been seen in the clubhouse, with a boot on his right foot, listening to his IPod and talking with teammates, alway with a smile on his face. ...
Left-hander Jack McGeary, the Nationals sixth round draft pick in the 2007 draft out of Standford, has struggled this season pitching for Single-A Hagerstown. ...
Left-hander Scott Olsen, who was roughed up last night in his rehab start for Triple-A Syracuse, will get another start for the Chiefs before the Nationals decide to reinstate him for the DL. ...
Alberto Gonzalez will start at second base for Manny Acta today. Josh Willingham is avaliable to pinch hit ...
Outfielder Josh Willingham was officially reinstated from the bereavement list today and outfielder Corey Patterson was optioned back to Triple-A Syracuse. ...
It took 11 innings, four hours and a walk-off single from Adam Dunn for the Nationals to extend their winning streak to a season-high three games last night. ...
For the first time this season, the Nationals won a game in extra innings as Adam Dunn delivered a bases loaded single with one out in the bottom of the 11th to beat the Blue Jays 2-1. ...
Seth Bynum's solo homer in the eight made a winner out of Tyler Clippard, who tossed a perfect eighth to pick up his fourth win of the season. ...
The Nationals and Blue Jays are headed to the 10th tied at 1. ...
The Nationals failed to score with runners in scoring position, nobody out and the heart of the order up in the seventh in a 1-1 game. ...
Jordan Zimmermann couldn't get out of the sixth and it cost him a shot at his third win of the season. ...
Pitching for Triple-A Syracuse, lefty Scott Olsen allowed four runs on seven hits in 3 2/3 innings tonight his rehab start against Columbus. ...
Jordan Zimmermann picked up his first career RBI in the fourth inning by busting his butt out of the batters box. ...
Jordan Zimmermann has thrown first-pitch strikes to all 13 batters he's faced thru the first three innings. ...
If you want to see something funny, check out the two guys sitting behind home plate wearing the umpire's equipment. ...
Left-hander Scott Olsen gave up a one-out double in the first inning tonight in his rehab assignment with Triple-A Syracuse. ...
After winning the last two games against the Yankees, the Nationals welcome two more AL East teams to Nationals Park as Interleague play continues. ...
One week ago rumors started swirling that manager Manny Acta would lose his job and the team would replace him with bench coach Jim Riggleman. ...
Left-hander Scott Olsen will start tonight for Triple-A Syracuse in what could be his final rehab assignment. ...
Manager Manny Acta just finished his media session prior to tonight's series opener with the Blue Jays. ...
Willie Harris remains in the starting lineup after last night's great diving catch on Alex Rodriguez's liner to left. ...
The Nationals return home tonight to begin a six-game homestand with a three-game series against the Blue Jays. ...
Rookie right-hander Craig Stammen doesn't care that he waited nearly 8 ½ hours to pick up his first career victory. ...
After six scoreless innings, Craig Stammen struggled in the seventh and was pulled after giving up a single and a double with one out. ...
Craig Stammen is not pitching like a rookie thru six innings tonight as he has a 3-0 lead on the Yankees. ...
After 4 ½ innings, the Nationals have a 3-0 lead on Joba Chamberlain and the Yankees. ...
Cory VanAllen had a rough start for Double-A Harrisburg against Binghamton tonight. ...
Rookie right-hander Craig Stammen, looking for his first career big league victory, cruised thru the first three innings. ...
For the sixth straight game, the Nationals have a lead during their six-game, Interleague road trip. ...
After rain delayed the start of the series finale between the Nationals and Yankees for 5 ½ hours, the two teams have taken the field. ...
While waiting for the Nationals and Yankees to play their series finale in the Bronx, which is expected to start in a half hour, I was listening to the Scott Garceau and Anita Marks show. ...
Still no word if and when the Nationals and Yankees will get underway. ...
After a three hour rain delay, the Nationals and Yankees aren't close to playing baseball in the Bronx any time soon. ...
It's 90 minutes past the original start time for the Nationals and Yankees and the tarp is still on the field at Yankee Stadium. ...
It is pouring rain in the Bronx. The Nationals and Yankees are hoping for a start time somewhere between 2:30-3:00 p.m. ...
Outfielder Elijah Dukes and second baseman Anderson Hernandez get the day off. It may be a while for the two teams to take the field. It's raining in the Bronx and a 1:05 p.m. start time isn't likely. ...
The Nationals go for the series win over the Yankees this afternoon as rookie right-hander Craig Stammen faces Joba Chamberlain. ...
With his parents in attendance, left-hander John Lannan held the powerful Yankees lineup to two runs on four hits in 8 1/3 solid innings to earn his fourth win of the season, beating New York 3-2. ...
Drew Storen, the Nationals 10th pick in the first round of this years' draft, has been added to the Hagerstown Suns roster. ...
I didn't want to mention it in my earlier post because John Lannan had a no-hitter thru four innings. ...
Good, smart base running set the table for Nick Johnson in the fifth inning for the Nationals. ...
Chien-Ming Wang has been horrible this season, but tonight, he looks like the second coming of Cy Young, at least thru the first three innings. ...
Late Tuesday night, the Nationals traded left-hander Mike O'Connor to the San Diego Padres for a player to be named later. ...
Manager Manny Acta has changed his outfield for tonight's game. From left to right he has Willie Harris, Corey Patterson and Elijah Dukes. ...
It looks like Red Sox right-hander John Smoltz will make his season debut next week. ...
Remember Dmitri Young? I almost forgot about him too. He's going to start a rehab assignment next week with Triple-A Syracuse. ...
Another tough loss sent the Nationals to their fourth consecutive defeat, a 5-3 decision in the series opener with the Yankees on Tuesday night. ...
Last night, Shairon Martis and the Nationals were primed to take down CC Sabathia and Yankees, but reliever Ron Villone couldn't contain their powerful offense and suffered his fourth loss of the season. ...
Despite taking a 3-2 lead after 5 innings, the Nats saw the advantage slip away as the bullpen allowed two runs in the seventh and one in the eighth, giving the Yankees a 5-3 win. ...
The Nationals have already committed one error, leading to an unearned run as Shairon Martis has given up two total. ...
Cristian Guzman will lead off and DH tonight for Manny Acta. Adam Dunn drops to the fifth spot in the order. ...
While everything about the Nationals the past few days has been about manager Manny Acta and if he'll keep his job, I wanted to pass along some other team notes. ...
It appears that manager Manny Acta has bought himself at least three more games before the Nationals decide his fate. ...
While the team is undecided about manager Manny Acta, the Nationals have signed 16 of their 51 drafts picks. ...
It's Monday afternoon and as of right now, Manny Acta is still the manager of the Washington Nationals. ...
Typical of the way the season has gone for the Nationals, third baseman Willie Harris ran into bullpen catcher Nelson Robledo on a foul pop up in a 4-4 tie with a runner on second and nobody out in the eighth. ...
Left-hander Ross Detwiler has issued 14 walks this season and six of those base runners ended up scoring, including three today. ...
Diminutive shortstop Alberto Gonzalez has driven in three of the Nationals four runs this afternoon. ...
Ross Detwiler has gotten himself out of trouble twice by inducing two inning-ending double plays. ...
What a nice piece of hitting by the Nationals in the second inning today against Rays starter James Shields. ...
Ryan Zimmerman will DH today with Willie Harris playing third. Corey Patterson starts in right. ...
Today's series finale with the Rays pits rookie right-hander Ross Detwiler (0-3, 5.06) against James Shields (5-5, 3.36) ...
The Nationals bullpen, which had been solid the past few weeks, had a sixth inning meltdown that cost rookie Jordan Zimmermann a chance at his third win. ...
Rookie Jordan Zimmermann tossed five innings of on-run ball before being lifted prior to the sixth. ...
Ryan Zimmerman's fielder's choice with the bases loaded in the third scored Anderson Hernandez to put the Nationals up 2-0. ...
According to Foxsports.com, the Nationals are going to replace manager Manny Acta with bench coach Jim Riggleman. ...
Ryan Zimmerman hit his 12th homer of the season with two down in the first to give the Nationals the early 1-0 lead. ...
Austin Kearns gets the start in right with Elijah Dukes moving to left. ...
The Nationals placed outfielder Josh Willingham on the bereavement list today after his brother, Jon, was killed in a car accident early this morning. ...
After last night's devastating loss, Jordan Zimmermann (2-3, 5.71) looks to get the Nationals back in the win column. ...
First baseman Nick Johnson's drop of pinch hitter Gabe Kapler's pop foul with two outs in the bottom of the eighth extended the at bat and proved costly. ...
Six Harrisburg Senators hit home runs tonight including catcher Luke Montz's grand slam in the six-run seventh. ...
After six full innings, the Nationals and Rays are tied at three. ...
J.D. Martin came within one out of a complete game in the second game of the Chiefs doubleheader with Pawtucket. ...
Rookie Craig Stammen has allowed two runs in three innings. ...
The Nationals, who have only scored 25 first-inning runs, got three off Rays starter Matt Garza in the first tonight. ...
Up in Syracuse, right-hander Garrett Mock out dueled 42-year old John Smoltz as the Chiefs beat the Pawtucket Red Sox, in the first game of a doubleheader, 4-1. ...
As I told you yesterday, Adam Dunn will DH in the series. Josh Willingham will be in left and Eiljah Dukes in right ...
A short two and a half months ago, the Nationals offense was tearing the cover off the ball, but the pitching was so bad they weren't winning any games. ...
Washington begins Interleague play on the road with a three-game series against the Tampa Bay Rays. ...
In the last week or so, the Nationals pitching, especially the bullpen, has pitched pretty well, keeping the team in the game even when the offense has been struggling. ...
Today's game came down to a hard slide and a bad throw and with that the Nationals snapped their three-game losing streak and finished their nine-game homestand on a positive note. ...
I just spoke to Nationals amateur scouting director Dana Brown and he had a few interesting things to say about the 2009 draft. ...
John Lannan made his 13th start of the season today and like the previous 12, the Nationals offense has failed to give him enough run support to earn a victory. ...
After three full innings, the Nationals offense continues to struggle against Reds pitching. ...
Tomorrow, the Nationals begin a six-game Interleague road trip beginning in Tampa Bay with a three-game series with the AL Champion Rays. ...
With the first pick in the 34th round, the Nationals selected right-handed pitcher Shane McCatty. ...
Nick Johnson gets the afternoon off because the Nationals will be playing on artificial turf in Tampa this weekend and Manny Acta wants to give him some rest. ...
In the final game of their nine-game homestand, left-hander John Lannan faces Micah Owings. ...
Reliever Ron Villone gave up his first run of the season in the Reds two-run 12th, as the Nationals fall for the third straight game 4-2. ...
In one of the biggest boneheaded moves I've ever seen in baseball, Reds manager Dusty Baker sent his closer, Francisco Cordero, back in the game after a 2:10 rain delay. ...
For the 10th time in 31 home contests, a game has been affected by rain and tonight was no different. ...
Update Just got word that the grounds crew is aiming to get the field ready for an 11:40 p.m. start. ...
In the bottom of the ninth, with a runner on first and Josh Willingham at the plate, crew chief Tim McClelland pulled the teams off the field with the Reds leading 2-0 ...
Right-hander Shairon Martis allowed only three hits in seven innings, but one of them was a two-run homer. ...
After two full days of the draft, the Nationals have selected 31 players, 20 of which are pitchers, 14 of them are right-handed. ...
The Nationals have a base hit in every inning except for the fourth, but they can't get the timely one to score on Reds starter Aaron Harang. ...
The Josh Willingham project in right field didn't get off to such a great start for manager Manny Acta and the Nationals. ...
Day two is in the books. here are the picks the Nationals chose in rounds 11-30. ...
Scott Olsen, who threw three scoreless innings during his rehab start for Potomac last night, will make his second scheduled rehab start for Triple-A Syracuse, but manager Manny Acta didn't say when that will take place. ...
The Nationals introduced closer Drew Storen, who was their 10th pick in the first-round, to the media this afternoon. ...
As expected, Josh Willingham is starting in right field tonight with Elijah Dukes in center. ...
Nationals first-overall draft pick Stephen Strasburg held court, via a conference call, for approximately 15 minutes this morning. ...
After the first three rounds of the 2009 draft, scouting director Dana Brown, assistant GM and VP of player development Bob Boone, crosschecker Deric Ladnier and assistant director of scouting Kris Kline were on hand to talk about the Nationals top four picks. ...
Here are the updated selections the Nationals have made on the second day of the First-Year Player Draft. ...
In less than 24 hours, the Nationals agreed to terms with their second pick in the first round, 10th overall, right-handed reliever Drew Storen. Terms of the deal were not disclosed ...
Last night, left-hander Scott Olsen made his first rehab start since going on the disabled list with left shoulder tendinitis. ...
On their current nine-game homestand, the Nationals are just 2-5 with two games remaining. ...
On the night that the franchise drafted phenom Stephen Strasburg with the first pick in the draft, the Nationals dropped the first game of their three-game series with the Reds, 3-2. ...
With their second pick in the first round, 10th overall, the Nationals selected right-handed closer Drew Storen from Stanford University. ...
With the 81st pick in the draft, third round, the Nationals chose right-hander Trevor Holder from the University of Georgia. ...
If there was one coach who knew how to handle right-hander Stephen Strasburg while he was in college at San Diego State, it had to be a guy with more than 3,000 hits and a member of the Hall-of-Fame. ...
After a 1:47 rain delay and three full innings, the Nationals trail the Reds 1-0. ...
With the 50th pick in the draft, first in the second round, the Nationals selected second baseman Jeff Kobernus from the University of California-Berkley. ...
While I was dealing with Stephen Strasburg and Drew Storen being drafted, I didn't update that the game with the Reds will begin at approximately 8:55 p.m. ...
"A great day in Nationals franchise history," is how acting GM Mike Rizzo started his press conference after Washington selected right-handers Stephen Strasburg and Drew Storen with the first and 10th picks in the 2009 First-Year Players Draft, respectively. ...
With the 10th pick in the first round of the 2009 First-year Player Draft, the Nationals went with another pitcher, right-hander Drew Storen out of Stanford ...
As expected, the Nationals selected San Diego State right-hander Stephen Strasburg with the first overall pick in the 2009 First Year Player Draft. ...
Right-hander Jordan Zimmermann was scratched for his scheduled start tonight due to fatigue in his right elbow. ...
Josh Willingham, who has been out for close to a week while battling a virus, will be back in the starting lineup on Wednesday night. ...
Jordan Zimmermann was scheduled to start tonight, but manager Manny Acta made a change and will go with Ross Detwiler. ...
On the day the Nationals have the first and 10th picks in the draft, 2007 second-round selection Jordan Zimmermann will face the Red in the series opener of their three-game set at Nationals Park. ...
Right-handed pitchers Jeff Mandel and Brad Meyers were selected to represent the Potomac Nationals in the Single-A California/Carolina League All-Star Game being played June 23 at The Diamond, home of the Lake Elsinore Storm, the San Diego Padres affiliate. ...
On the eve of one of the biggest days in franchise history, the Nationals are putting the finishing touches on their draft preparation ...
Right-handed rookie Craig Stammen felt good during his bullpen session prior to today's game, but for some reason, it didn't translate to the game. ...
Less than 24 hours after one of their best all-around games, the Nationals couldn't figure out Livan Hernandez and rookie Craig Stammen got off to a horrendous start in the Mets 7-0 win. ...
The first inning was the downfall of Craig Stammen's day. By the time he settled in, the Mets had scored five runs on three hits, two walks and two wild pitches. ...
Rookie Craig Stammen had allowed more runs in the first inning today than he did in his last outing. ...
Acting GM Mike Rizzo spoke today about the upcoming draft on Tuesday, where the Nationals will select right-handed flame thrower Stephen Strasburg with the first overall pick. ...
Left-hander Scott Olsen, who has been on the disabled list since May 17 with shoulder tendinitis, will make a rehab start on Tuesday for Single-A Potomac. ...
Here are today's lineups for the series finale ...
It was a play that had every one in the press box scratching their heads and trying to figure out how to score it. ...
John Lannan's first career complete game couldn't have come at a better time for him or the Nationals. ...
Left-hander John Lannan tossed his first big league complete game as the Nationals snapped their three-game losing streak with a dominating 7-1 win over the Mets. ...
Lefty John Lannan is making easy work of the Mets tonight. He's only thrown 59 pitches thru six innings. ...
The Nationals just turned their fourth double play of the game, but it was one of the strangest things I've ever seen on a baseball field. ...
John Lannan has walked two and given up a single in the first three innings, but he has faced the minimum nine batters. ...
With the entire scouting department, manager Manny Acta and a handful of the Nationals players looking on, A.J. Pollock took batting and fielding practice. ...
Right-hander Joel Hanrahan is out as the closer for the Nationals, manager Manny Acta said prior to tonight's game with the Mets. ...
Willie Harris gets the start in center tonight and Elijah Dukes moves to right. ...
John Lannan looks to end his four-game winless skid and the Nationals three-game losing streak tonight against the Mets. ...
Closer Joel Hanrahan had an easy ninth inning using three of his pitches. He threw eight pitches, five of which were fastballs and all of them for strikes. ...
On a night when the Nationals committed two errors and a few other mistakes, they took the Mets to extra innings before falling 3-1 in 10. ...
Nine innings wasn't enough to decide the outcome of tonight's game between the Nationals and Mets. ...
The Nationals have only one run and six hits off former teammate Tim Redding thru six innings. ...
Left fielder Adam Dunn lost a liner in the lights, putting runners on second and third with no outs in the fifth, but Shairon Martis got out of the jam. ...
Nationals third baseman, a former All-American at the University of Virginia, donated $250,000 to the Virginia Athletics Foundation for improvements to benefit the UVa baseball program. ...
A missed call and a mental mistake cost the Nationals a run in the second. ...
Outfielder Josh Willingham took batting practice today, but he's still not quite ready to start for manager Manny Acta. ...
Right fielder Austin Kearns has been in a slump over the past 18 games, hitting just .160 with only one extra base hit. ...
Here is manager Manny Acta's lineup against former teammate Tim Redding. ...
Former Nationals GM Jim Bowden broke his silence and spoke publicly for the first time since resigning from the organization. ...
Another wet, miserable day in the district and the Nationals are coming off two losses in one day. ...
Right-handed rookie Jordan Zimmermann will go down in the history books as the other pitcher in the game that Giants starter Randy Johnson won his 300th career game. ...
The Nationals and Giants got five full innings in, but with two outs in the top of the sixth, the game was delayed by rain with San Francisco leading 4-1. ...
At 9:52 p.m. the umpires ordered the grounds crew to put the tarp on the field with two outs in the top of the sixth. ...
With all the hoopla surrounding Randy Johnson collecting his 300th career win, I almost forgot there was a second game tonight. ...
45-year old left-hander Randy Johnson joined an elite group of major league pitchers when he beat the Nationals tonight 5-1 in the first game of a doubleheader. ...
In a classic pitchers duel, the veteran, Randy Johnson, out pitched the rookie, Jordan Zimmermann and in the process joined one of the most exclusive clubs in baseball. ...
45-year old Randy Johnson tossed six innings of two-hit ball and its now up to the bullpen to nail down his 300th career victory. ...
Washington just squandered a golden opportunity against the veteran left-hander and the way Randy Johnson is pitching, they may not get another. ...
Randy Johnson is un-hittable this afternoon. ...
Randy Johnson has retired the first six Nationals on a dreary day here at Nationals Park. ...
After a 36 minute rain delay, the Nationals and Giants are underway. Rain is still falling but not nearly as hard. ...
Update The Nationals just announced that they are aiming for a 5:10 p.m. first pitch. ...
Outfielder Josh Willingham, who hasn't been available for the last two days and declined to comment on his health, finally spoke about his illness. ...
One change to the Nationals lineup for game one this afternoon. Ronnie Belliard will start at second base and bat seventh. Shortstop Alberto Gonzalez moves up to the lead-off spot. ...
Due to Mother Nature, Randy Johnson's date with destiny is pushed back 21 ½ hours. Johnson will try for win 300 this afternoon in the first game of the doubleheader. ...
Tonight's game between the Nationals and Giants has been postponed due to unplayable field conditions. ...
The Atlanta Braves have released veteran left-hander Tom Glavine after signing him to a one-year deal four short months ago. ...
Nationals president Stan Kasten came into the press box at 9:55 p.m. and said that the rain should be gone in the next 15-20 minutes. ...
8:30 p.m. update: The tarp is in the outfield. They appear to be draining it before putting it back on the infield. It's not currently raining, but another storm cell is expected to come through shortly. The team announced that the cell is going to be here in 10 minutes ...
Cristian Guzman is out due to the fact that lefty Randy Johnson is pitching and he's still nursing a sore right thumb. ...
When pitching coach Steve McCatty was promoted to pitching coach of the Nationals on Tuesday, taking the spot of Randy St. Claire, who was fired, acting GM Mike Rizzo said it would be a few days before the organization announced the trickle down effect. ...
Catcher Jesus Flores found out yesterday that he will be out at least three months and possibly the season with a stress fractured of the acromion bone in his right shoulder. ...
Shortstop Cristian Guzman is not in the starting lineup tonight, but he is currently taking grounders. Not sure why he is not starting. I'll find out from Acta during his pregame presser. ...
The Nationals used a six-run eighth to beat the Giants 10-6 Tuesday night and end their six-game losing streak. ...
Tonight's win over the Giants was more than just a win. It snapped the Nationals six-game losing streak, but more importantly, it gave the team a little life. ...
On the same day the Nationals announced they fired their pitching coach, the offense took advantage of the Giants bullpen. ...
Three of the Nationals pitchers, starter John Lannan, closer Joel Hanrahan and reliever Jason Bergmann all were shocked to learn that pitching coach Randy St. Claire was fired. ...
Right-hander Craig Stammen gave up a lead-off homer to Aaron Rowand and a one-out double in the first, but he's retired the last 11 Giants. ...
Steve McCatty is the Nationals new pitching coach. He was promoted from Triple-A Syracuse and has a very good relationship with the majority of the pitchers on the staff. ...
Prior to tonight's game with the Giants, acting GM Mike Rizzo and manager Manny Acta addressed the media regarding the firing pf pitching coach Randy St. Claire. ...
Elijah Dukes is back in the lineup for manager Manny Acta. He'll start in right and Willie Harris will be in center. ...
After seeing Dr. James Andrews in Birmingham, Alabama on Monday, it's been determined that catcher Jesus Flores will be out a significant amount of time with a stress fracture of his acromion bone in his right shoulder. ...
Some might say it was long overdue. ...
After a 0-6 road trip, the Nationals return to DC to begin a nine-game homestand with a three-game series against the San Francisco Giants. ...
Is frustration starting to take its toll on the Nationals? Most of the guys in the clubhouse will say no, but if you listen to the comments, I think it has. ...
The Nationals couldn't solve 46-year old Jamie Moyer and the defense failed to convert three plays, allowing three runs to score in the Phillies 4-2 victory. ...
Outfielder Elijah Dukes is 0-2 with a walk this afternoon with the Double-A Harrisburg Senators. Harrisburg trails Erie 4-0 in the seventh. ...
John Lannan pitched pretty well today, but his pitch count was at 106 after five innings and manager Manny Acta decided to bring in Jason Bergmann to start the sixth. ...
It seems like every time the Nationals score a run, they give it back in the following half inning. ...
John Lannan has five strike outs thru three innings, but he's allowed two runs, one on a solo homer to Chris Coste. ...
With another lefty on the hill, Austin Kearns will be in the lineup and start in center. Josh Bard will be behind the dish. ...
In a battle of left-handers, John Lannan faces Jamie Moyer in the series finale at Citizens Bank Park. ...
Right-hander Shairon Martis considers himself the loss stopper. He takes pride in the fact that when he pitches, he can put an end to Nationals losing streaks. ...
If right-hander Shairon Martis never had to face Ryan Howard, the Nationals may have come away winners tonight. ...
Once again, the Nationals defense has let down Nationals pitchers. Washington cut the Phils lead to 7-6 when an error cost them two runs. ...
Shairon Martis failed for the third straight outing to notch his sixth win of the season, thanks in large part to Ryan Howard. ...
Shairon Martis can't seem to get Phillies slugger Ryan Howard out. ...
The Nationals jumped out to an early 3-0 lead on Phillies ace Cole Hamels when they collected four hits in the second. ...
A few pregame notes to pass along before tonight's game with the Phillies. ...
Cristian Guzman gets the night off due to a sore thumb. Alberto Gonzalez will start at short and Austin Kearns starts in center field. ...
Outfielder Justin Maxwell, struggling to find his swing since being recalled on May 20, was optioned back to Triple-A Syracuse today. ...
"He, who never makes mistakes, never did anything that's worthy." That was the fortune inside rookie pitcher Ross Detwiler's cookie after Friday night's 5-4 loss to the Phillies. ...
Outfielder Elijah Dukes' legal woes continue. Dukes was ordered by a Florida judge to pay nearly $40,000 in outstanding legal fees for lawyers of his wife. ...
Right-hander Shairon Martis (5-0, 4.86) looks to put an end to the Nationals four-game losing streak as he squares off against Phillies ace Cole Hamels tonight. ...
Ross Detwiler never settled into a groove tonight and the Phillies took advantage of his inability to get batters to chase bad pitches. ...
The Nationals have made it a one-run game after scoring three times in the sixth off J.A. Happ and reliever Chad Durbin. ...
The Virginia Cavaliers are treating right-hander Stephen Strasburg like he's an average pitcher in the ACC. ...
Ross Detwiler had his shortest outing of the season tonight. Manager Manny Acta decided he'd see enough of young lefty and pinch hit for him in the fifth. ...
Ross Detwiler has been smacked around pretty good in the first three innings, but his defense hasn't helped him out at all. ...
The NCAA Men's College World Series is underway. San Diego State right-hander Stephen Strasburg is on the hill facing University of Virginia in Irvine, Ca. in the first-round of the double elimination regionals. ...
Update Acting GM Mike Rizzo said Flores had a routine MRI on his shoulder due to tedinitis. The Nationals will seek a second opinion on the results. ...
The tarp is on the field and the rain is coming down hard. It's expected to stay this way until 7:00 p.m. There is a good chance the game won't start on time. ...
After getting swept in New York, the Nationals begin a three-game, weekend series in Philadelphia tonight before returning home to Nationals Park. ...
The Mid-Summer Classic, otherwise known as the All-Star Game, is slated for July 14 in St. Louis. Voting is going on right now. ...
The Nationals did what only two other teams were able to do against Mets starter Johan Santana this season; score three runs off the former Cy Young winner. ...
Catcher Jesus Flores is 2-4 with a run scored as the DH in his rehab assignment with Double-A Harrisburg tonight. ...
The Nationals are expected to call up right-hander Mike MacDougal from Triple-A Syracuse on Friday and have him in uniform for the weekend series vs. the Phillies. ...
Jordan Zimmermann had flashes of brilliance tonight, but when he left the ball over the middle of the plate, the Mets made him pay. ...
For the second time in this series, the umpires had to use replay to determine if a ball left Citi Field. ...
Adam Dunn got the Nationals to within a run when he hit his 16th home run of the season, a two-run bomb to right. ...
The Nationals defense hasn't officially committed an error, but two plays in the third inning cost them a run and Jordan Zimmermann to throw extra pitches. ...
Mets outfielder Gary Sheffield continues to kill Nationals pitching in this three-game series. ...
Catcher Jesus Flores is expected to come off the disabled list on Friday and join the Nationals in Philadelphia for their weekend series with the Phillies. ...
Manager Manny Acta is going with a predominantly right-handed hitting lineup against Johan Santana. ...
Richard Thomas, a Lakeland Florida resident, and his wife Sandra, who were arrested on Tuesday for reportedly selling steroids, told authorities they sold steroids to Washington Nationals and Capitals players. ...
Jordan Zimmermann has the unenviable task of facing Mets ace Johan Santana in the series finale tonight at Citi Field. ...
The Daniel Cabrera project is officially over. The Nationals have designated Cabrera for assignment, essentially ending his short tenure with the organization. ...
Washington couldn't solve former National Livan Hernandez and loss for the second straight night to the Mets. ...
Jason Bergmann was pulled before home plate umpire Dan Iassonga had a chance to toss him. ...
Adam Dunn collected his 1000th career hit with a second inning single. He added a solo home run, his 15th of the season, in the seventh to end Livan Hernandez's shutout bid ...
Craig Stammen's second big league start lasted five innings and the way the Nationals offense is going tonight, will end with his first loss. ...
Right-hander Craig Stammen hasn't had the same effectiveness he had in his last start against the Pirates. ...
Josh Willingham and Josh Bard are back in the lineup tonight. ...
Rookie right-hander Craig Stammen, who received a no-decision in his Major League debut last Thursday, takes the hill tonight against the Mets. ...
John Lannan didn't have his best night and the Nationals couldn't convert when they needed to, stranding 13 runners in the 5-2 loss to the Mets. ...
Moving Daniel Cabrera to the bullpen doesn't appear to have helped him with his control issues. ...
Ryan Zimmerman drew a bases loaded walk in the seventh to cut the Mets lead to 5-2. ...
John Lannan walked four Mets tonight and three of them ended up scoring. ...
For the first time this season, video replay was used to determine a home run in a Nationals game. ...
Catcher Jesus Flores is 2-3 in his first rehab assignment with the Harrisburg Senators against the Bowie Baysox tonight. ...
John Lannan has allowed one run thru five innings thanks in large part to his defense. ...
Austin Kearns may be slumping at the plate, but his defense has been outstanding this season. ...
Austin Kearns gets the start in right tonight. The Mets don't have two of their regulars in the lineup. Joes Reyes and Carlos Delgado are out with injuries. ...
The Nationals ended their 11-game, 10-day homestand on a positive note when they beat the Orioles 8-5 Sunday. ...
Shairon Martis failed for the second straight outing to pick up his sixth win of the season, but he did just enough to keep his team in the game. ...
Adam Dunn put the Nationals on his 6'6'' back and single handedly ended their two-game losing streak. ...
Left-hander Scott Olsen, who has been on the disabled list since May 18 with shoulder tendinitis, will head to Florida after the game to begin rehab on his shoulder. ...
Right-hander Shairon Martis threw 89 pitches, probably one too many. ...
The Nationals offense got a much needed spark from the bottom of the order and got back in the game in the fifth. ...
As i was piutting the finishing touches on this story, Nick Johnson was scratched from the game because of stomach discomfort. It had me, and other media members thinking, did he get traded? ...
Shairon Martis was touched for two runs in the third on Nick markakis' two-RBI triple off the wall in left-center. ...
A late lineup change for the Nationals today. First baseman Nick Johnson was scratched, but no reason has been given. ...
Center fielder Justin Maxwell is still getting his legs under him after missing the majority of the 2008 season with the fractured right wrist. ...
Wil Nieves and Ronnie Belliard are back in the lineup for manager Manny Acta ...
The Nationals finish up their three-game series with the Orioles this afternoon and look to aviod getting swept for the fourth time this season ...
Left-hander Ron Villone didn't give up a run tonight and his ERA still sits at 0.00, but it was the triple that he allowed that drove in the winning run. ...
Left-hander Ross Detwiler put his team in a position to win tonight, but for the second straight outing, the bullpen failed him and he settled for a no-decision. ...
Tuesday night Joe Beimel blew the game in the 10th. Wednesday night is was Joel Hanrahan. Last night, Kip Wells gave the game away in the 12th. ...
Cristian Guzman's solo homer in the fifth tied the game at one. It is his second of the season. ...
Right fielder Austin Kearns has been in a funk recently that has his average hovering just above the Mendoza line. ...
First baseman Dmitri Young, who had been in Florida rehabbing during extended Spring Training, has been with his family after the passing of his mother Bonnie on Monday in Camarillo, California, after a bout with cancer. ...
Ross Detwiler retired the first six Orioles before losing his command in the third. ...
Center fielder Justin Maxwell, who prior to tonight's game was talking defense with first base coach Marquis Grissom, robbed Adam Jones of a home run in the first inning. ...
A few injury updates to pass along. ...
Austin Kearns is back in the lineup tonight. Josh Bard continues to catch the youngsters. ...
Outfielder Adam Dunn is having the kind of season the Nationals envisioned when they signed the slugger to a 2-year deal in the offseason. ...
Left-hander Ross Detwiler makes his second big league start tonight and tries to get the Nationals back on track. ...
In his previous five starts, right-hander Jordan Zimmermann gave up 13 first-inning runs, so prior to tonight's start, he threw extra pitches in the bullpen to simulate the first inning and it seemed to help. ...
Tonight's game between the Nationals and Orioles came down to which bullpen would give in first. ...
After a perfect 11th, Kip Wells gave up a two-out, infield single to pitcher Danys Baez. The only reason Baez was batting for himself was manager Dave Trembley had only one guy left on his bench. ...
The Nationals bullpen has tossed four shutout innings so far. They have allowed two hits and two walks, one intentionally. ...
The Nationals and Orioles games is moving at a pace so fast, the two teams decided nine innings wasn't enough to declare a winner. ...
Jordan Zimmermann tossed seven solid innings of two-run ball. He was replaced by Ron Villone to start the eighth. ...
Jordan Zimmermann and Rich Hill are locked in a pitchers duel tonight. ...
Ryan Zimmerman's two-run homer in the fourth, which tied the game at two, has extended his consecutive games reaching base to 40. ...
After three full innings, the Nationals trail the Orioles 2-0. ...
The MLB First-Year Player Draft is less than three weeks away. It's pretty much a foregone conclusion that the Nationals will select San Diego State right-hander Stephen Strasburg with the first overall pick. ...
Right-hander Jordan Zimmermann has struggled in the first inning of his last five games, giving up 13 runs. ...
It seems the media makes more out of the Battle of the Beltways than the players and coaches do. ...
Second baseman Anderson Hernandez left last night's game with what was described as a dislocated right pinky finger. ...
Anderson Hernandez is out with a dislocated right pinky finger and Josh Willingham gets another start in left. ...
The Battle of the Beltways Part 4 gets underway tonight at Nationals Park with two teams trying to dig out of early season holes. ...
Closer Joel Hanrahan bounced back from a tough loss Wednesday night to close the door on the Pirates in the ninth and nail down the 5-4 win Thursday night. ...
Right-hander Craig Stammen's MLB debut was going along so smoothly thru six innings. ...
Second baseman Anderson Hernandez left tonight's game with a dislocated right pinky finger. ...
Manager Manny Acta's pregame, closed door meeting with his team seemed to pay off, for one night at least. ...
Craig Stammen's 81st pitch, a 90 MPH fastball to Adam LaRoche, was sent into the second deck in right field for a two-run homer, tying the game at three. ...
After retiring the first 12 batters of the game, Craig Stammen gave up a lead-off double to Adam LaRoche. ...
Catcher Jesus Flores who is on the disabled list with a right shoulder contusion, and hasn't played since May 9, will head to Viera, Florida on Monday to begin his rehab assignment. ...
Craig Stammen is perfect thru three innings. He's retired all nine batters on 34 pitches, 26 for strikes. ...
Right-handed rookie Craig Stammen retired the side in order in his first big league inning. ...
Left-handed reliever Ron Villone, who joined the Nationals on May 7, was the only player to talk during manager Manny Acta's closed door meeting prior to tonight's game. ...
Prior to tonight's game with the pirates, manager Manny Acta had a closed door meeting with his team. ...
Josh Willingham starts in left as Adam Dunn moves to right. Josh Bard will start and catch for the rookie Craig Stammen. ...
Right-hander Stephen Strasburg, most likely the Nationals prized pick in the upcoming draft, left last night's Mountain West Conference tournament game with tightness in his lower back. ...
Rookie right-hander Craig Stammen has the unenviable task of trying to earn his first big league win, in his MLB debut, and stop the Nationals seven-game losing streak. ...
Closer Joel Hanrahan's wild pitch with the sacks full in the ninth inning of a tie game, allowed the winning run to score from third. ...
Closer Joel Hanrahan's wild pitch with the bases loaded and the score tied at one in the ninth, proved to be the demise of the Nationals on this night. ...
Closer Joel Hanrahan came into the game in a non-save situation and couldn't keep the Pirates off the scoreboard. ...
John Lannan gave manager Manny Acta and the Nationals something they desperately needed, a solid seven innings. ...
Washington is getting solid pitching from lefty John Lannan, but the defense has left him down and he finds himself in a 1-0 hole. ...
John Lannan had a rough first inning, but didn't allow a run. He and catcher Wil Nieves were having a tough time getting on the same page. ...
Right-hander Craig Stammen will be the latest Minor League call up to make his MLB debut when the Nationals wrap up their four-game series with the Pirates Thursday night. ...
Right-hander Daniel Cabrera has been removed from the starting rotation and moved to the bullpen, manager Manny Acta announced this afternoon. ...
Austin Kearns is back in the lineup after missing five games with a bruised left hand. Justin Maxwell gets the start in center. ...
When teams lose, you can usually point to one play that cost them the game. Or you can look at one at bat where they should have gotten a hit, but didn't. ...
It's something you've heard before, but it's worth repeating; the bullpen, actually Joe Beimel, gave up three runs in the 10th, costing Washington in the 8-5 loss. ...
The Nationals officially announced what I told you earlier this afternoon; outfielder Elijah Dukes was placed on the 15-day DL with a left hamstring strain, retroactive to May 18th. ...
Infielder Alex Cintron, who was designated for assignment after Tuesday night's game with the Pirates, didn't seem all that bothered by the teams decision. ...
Prior to the 10th, Nationals pitchers had not allowed a hit since Andy LaRoche homered with two down in the third. ...
These are the kind of games that the Nationals lose, but tonight, they live to see another inning. ...
Shairon Martis, Ron Villone and Joe Beimel combined to hold the Pirates hitless for the final 6 1/3 innings tonight. ...
Trailing 5-0, the Nationals began to chip away at the Pirates lead by scoring runs in the fourth and sixth. ...
Shairon Martis had trouble in the first and third innings and he finds himself on the wrong end of a 5-0 score. ...
I just learned that outfielder Elijah Dukes will be placed on the disabled list prior to tonight's game with a strained left hamstring. ...
Left-hander Ross Detwiler impressed the Nationals brass enough to earn another start this Saturday against the Orioles here at Nationals Park. ...
With acting GM Mike Rizzo, manager Manny Acta, head trainer Lee Kuntz looking on, outfielder Elijah Dukes did some light jogging and stretching with conditioning coach John Philbin. ...
Elijah Dukes and Austin Kearns remain out of the starting lineup. Wil Nieves will catch for Shairon Martis ...
Call him the stopper; right-hander Shairon Martis, who gets the start tonight against the Pirates, has snapped three separate loosing skids by the Nationals this year. ...
Garrett Mock's season has been like a roller coaster. He'll have some big ups, then all of sudden, severe downs. ...
Cristian Guzman drew a walk tonight. Big deal, every body walks in the big leagues, right? ...
It might be the ugliest loss of the season for manager Manny Acta, but then again there have been a lot of them. ...
Manager Manny Acta told the media that Joel Hanrahan would be his closer again, but tonight, he didn't show that he was ready to be put back in that role. ...
I know you've read this here before, but I have a job to do. ...
Trailing 3-1 in the fifth with a runner on second, manager Manny Acta decided to pinch-hit for lefty Ross Detwiler. ...
After an easy second inning, Ross Detwiler gave up a three-run homer to Craig Monroe and the Nationals trail 3-0 after three innings. ...
Left-hander Ross Detwiler didn't look like a kid making his first MLB start. ...
Right-hander Joel Hanrahan is back as manager Manny Acta's closer. ...
Right-handed pitcher Ryan Wagner, who was with Triple-A Syracuse this season, has retired. I haven't been told why he made the decision. ...
Eiljah Dukes is day-to-day with a strained left hamstring and Austin Kearns can play if needed, but he's not in the lineup. ...
The Nationals and Pirates begin a four-game series tonight at Nationals Park with 23-year old left-hander Ross Detwiler getting his first MLB start. ...
Left-hander Ross Detwiler, the Nationals No.1 pick in the 2007 draft, will make his first ever big league start on Monday night against the Pirates at Nationals Park. ...
The turning point to this afternoon's game was the throwing error by pitcher Jesus Colome in the eighth inning of a one-run game. ...
For the first time since August of 1991, the Nationals/Expos were swept in a four-game series by the Phillies. ...
It might be the strangest play all season by the Nationals. ...
The Nationls took a 6-5 lead in the sixth when Ryan Zimmerman's sac fly scored Cristian Guzman, who led-off with a single and moved to third on Nick Johnson's single. ...
The Nationals and Phillies benches have been warned after Chad Durbin hit Josh Willingham leading off the fifth inning. ...
Jordan Zimmermann hasn't had a solid outing since beating the Mets on April 26. For the fourth straight start, he's allowed more than five earned runs. ...
Elijah Dukes left today's game with left hamstring tightness, the same injury that caused him to miss the last two games. ...
The first inning between the Nationals and Phillies took 36 minutes. The teams combined for six runs and eight hits. ...
Right-fielder Austin Kearns has been out of the lineup since Friday night when he was hit on the left hand in the 12th inning of the Nationals 10-6 loss to the Phillies. ...
Jordan Zimmermann gets the unenviable task of trying to shut down a Phillies offense that's been killing Nationals pitching. ...
Elijah Dukes is back in center field today after missing the last two games with a strained hamstring. Austin Kearns misses another game with a sore hand. ...
Rains put and end to the Nationals game against the Phillies tonight with the umpires calling the game with the Nats trailing 7-5 in the sixth. ...
Left-hander Scott Olsen will be placed on the 15-day DL with shoulder tendinitis on Monday, retroactive to Saturday. ...
Tonight's second game between the Nationals and Phillies has been called in the top of the sixth with the Phillies leading 7-5. ...
According to MASN's Debbi Taylor, Scott Olsen had a cortisone shot in his left shoulder and is expected to land on the 15-day DL. ...
The skies opened up and the rain came down fast and furious in the top of the sixth with the Nationals trailing 7-5. ...
In all my years of watching and covering baseball, I don't think I've ever seen a more fragile pitcher than Daniel Cabrera. ...
Daniel Cabrera got himself out of a first inning jam and had a 1-2-3 second, but in the third, he began to unravel. ...
Due to four games in three days, the Nationals will make a roster move and call up a starter for Monday's series opener with the Pirates. ...
Manager Manny Acta got three good innings out of reliever Garrett Mock this afternoon so his bullpen should be ok for the nightcap. ...
Austin Kearns will miss his second straight game. I'm guessing he's still a little sore from being hit by a pitch last night. ...
Left-hander Scott Olsen was having an MRI on his pitching shoulder due to tightness he experiened during today's 8-5 set-back to the Phillies. Olsen gave up six runs in five innings and suffered the loss. ...
Phillies starter Brett Myers held the Nationals to two runs on three hits in seven innings to earn the win in Philadelphia's 8-5 victory. ...
Scott Olsen lasted five full innings, but didn't give the Nationals a good outing. He allowed six runs, five earned, on nine hits. ...
Left-hander Scott Olsen is struggling big time this afternoon. He's allowed five runs on seven hits, three of which are home runs and two have come off the bat of Raul Ibanez, in three innings. ...
The No. 3 hitter for both the Phillies and Nationals traded home runs in the first inning. ...
Last night, manager Manny Acta used his entire bullpen during the Nationals 10-6, 12-inning loss to the Phillies. ...
Elijah Dukes, Austin Kearns and Wil Nieves have the afternoon off. Struggling Phillies second baseman Chase Utley will sit out game one. ...
Outfielder Elijah Dukes, who left Friday night's game with a left hamstring strain, is listed as day-to-day. ...
After a 4 hour and 31 minute, 12-inning marathon last night that the Nationals lost 10-6, the two teams will play a day-night doubleheader this afternoon. ...
Kip Wells, in his second inning of work, loaded the bases with one out in the 12th. He issued three straight walks before giving up four runs and suffering his first loss of the season. ...
Willie Harris, a defensive replacement for an injured Elijah Dukes, doubled home two runs off Phils closer Brad Lidge with two outs in the ninth, to tie the game 6-6. ...
The Nationals bullpen, which has been the thorn in manager Manny Acta's side the whole season, blew another late inning lead. ...
Center fielder Elijah Dukes left tonight's game with two outs in the top of the seventh with a left hamstring strain. ...
John Lannan fell one out shy of recording his fifth quality start in eight outings. ...
The Nationals got a break in the bottom of the third when home plate umpire Laz Diaz missed a call. ...
Nationals first baseman Dmitri Young, who has been in Florida for extended Spring training, has taken a leave of absence. ...
Catcher Wil Nieves made a nice defensive play to save a run from scoring in the second. ...
Third baseman Ryan Zimmerman, who had his 30-game hitting streak come to an end on Wednesday afternoon in San Francisco, got a standing ovation from the Nationals faithful when he stepped into the batters box for the first time tonight. ...
Catcher Jesus Flores, who took a foul ball off the right shoulder last Saturday in Arizona, was placed on the 15-day DL today, retroactive to May 10th, with a deep bruise. ...
Manager Manny Acta talked the media today about a wide range of topics from Jesus Colome and Logan Kensing to Ryan Zimmerman's streak and Jesus Flores' injury. Here's a little bit of what he said. ...
With Jesus Flores on the DL, Wil Nieves will get the start tonight. ...
The Nationals placed catcher Jesus Flores on the 15-day DL, retro active to May 10, and recalled catcher Josh Bard from Triple-A Syracuse. ...
Washington begins an 11-game, 10-day homestand tonight with a four-game series with the defending World Series Champion Phillies. ...
Three streaks ended today at AT&T Park in San Francisco. ...
The streak is over. In his fifth plate appearance, Ryan Zimmerman grounded into a 6-4 force out in the ninth. ...
After cruising through the first six innings, Shairon Martis struggled in the seventh. ...
With runners on first and second and one-out in the seventh, a wild pitch by Barry Zito took the bat out of Ryan Zimmerman's hands. ...
Shairon Martis doubled, his first career two-base hit, and scored on Nick Johnson's double in the fifth, giving the Nationals a 1-0 lead. ...
Ryan Zimmerman has grounded into a double play and walked in his two plate appearances this afternoon. ...
"We have tried everybody and their cousins," Well not exactly, but it sure seems that way. ...
Adam Dunn finally gets a day off. Prior to today, Dunn had appeared in every game for the Nationals. Anderson Hernandez also has the afternoon off. Jesus Flores will get another day to rest his ailing shoulder. ...
With last night's devastating 9-7 loss to the Giants, the Nationals have now lost three straight games and nine consecutive contests to San Francisco, dating back to last season. ...
With the Nationals leading 7-6 in the bottom of the ninth, lefty Joe Beimel served up a three-run homer with two outs, handing the Giants the 9-7 win. ...
Nick Johnson's three-run homer in the seventh brought the Nationals within a run of the Giants. ...
Thru five innings Jordan Zimmermann has allowed five runs, three earned, on six hits. ...
Triple-A outfielder Lastings Milledge, who broke the ring finger on his right hand on Monday, had surgery today. ...