Solís and bullpen rested after supreme Scherzer effort

Solís and bullpen rested after supreme Scherzer effort
Nationals starter Max Scherzer came up big for his team in so many ways Monday night in the 2-0 shutout of the Braves. The complete game ended their five-game losing streak, helped Scherzer regain his confidence and, maybe most importantly, rested a heavily used bullpen. No fewer than six relievers toiled Sunday night in the extra-inning loss to the Mets, and without another off day before April 19, having a full day of rest is a big thing this early in the season. It was one of those things...
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Top prospect Robles leaves Triple-A game with apparent arm injury

Top prospect Robles leaves Triple-A game with apparent arm injury
Triple-A Syracuse Chiefs center fielder Victor Robles dove for a fly ball in shallow left-center field Monday night in a game at Rochester and rolled over awkwardly on his left elbow. According to a video replay from WROC-TV, Robles left the game under his own power, but his left arm hung down and it was not moving as he headed to the clubhouse. See the video below. The Chiefs did not have an update immediately after the game. A Nationals spokesman said there would be no update on Robles until...
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Scherzer and Kendrick ignite quick start (Nats win 2-0)

Scherzer and Kendrick ignite quick start (Nats win 2-0)
Nationals starter Max Scherzer set the tone early by striking out two in the first: Ozzie Albies swinging and Freddie Freeman looking. Then the Nationals offense did likewise in their half of the first. Anthony Rendon doubled and Bryce Harper walked. With two outs, Howie Kendrick lined a double down the left field line to score two. The Nationals have scored at least one run in the first inning in eight of their 10 games. Update: Scherzer allowed a single to Kurt Suzuki in the second, but no...
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Despite his rough start, Martinez sees Taylor building on at-bats

Despite his rough start, Martinez sees Taylor building on at-bats
Nationals center fielder Michael A. Taylor has yet to get into a nice groove early in 2018, but he showed some signs of consistency in a couple of at-bats in Sunday night's 6-5 loss to the Mets. After starting the game 0-for-2, Taylor singled in the fifth and then added an RBI single in the seventh that tied the game at 5-5. Unfortunately, he struck out in the ninth with the bases loaded and one out. The pitches that got him off of Mets reliever Seth Lugo were a slider, a curveball and then a...
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Kintzler allows go-ahead run, but Nats bullpen holds up well

Kintzler allows go-ahead run, but Nats bullpen holds up well
The Nationals bullpen held up its end of the ballgame for more than six innings, giving the team a chance to get back in the game. But in the end, it was not enough, as the Mets outlasted the Nats 6-5 in 12 innings. Brandon Kintzler allowed a leadoff single to begin the 12th inning. The Mets then used a sacrifice bunt to get pinch-hitter Juan Lagares into scoring position. The Nationals decided to intentionally walk Michael Conforto to get to Yoenis Céspedes. Céspedes muscled a Kintzler...
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Harper crushes another homer (Mets won 6-5 in 12 innings)

Harper crushes another homer (Mets won 6-5 in 12 innings)
Attempting to snap a four-game losing streak, the Nationals wanted to jump start their offense on a chilly Sunday night before a nationally televised audience. Of course, it had to be No. 34 first in line for the super charge. Bottom of the first after a one-out single from Anthony Rendon, Bryce Harper blasted a 1-1 Matt Harvey pitch over the right field wall just inside the foul pole. The Nats had the early lead 2-0. It was the seventh time in the Nats first nine games they have scored at...
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Martinez reflects on ejection and updates Eaton's status

Martinez reflects on ejection and updates Eaton's status
A little over 24 hours have passed since Nationals manager Davey Martinez was ejected from the 3-2 loss to the Mets. Martinez was tossed for the first time in his managerial career, arguing against the ejection of third baseman Anthony Rendon by home plate umpire Marty Foster. Since that incident on the field, Martinez has had some time to reflect. And he has heard and read a lot about the ejection on his phone and on television. "It was all over the news," Martinez said. "I'm not typically...
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Kiebooms light up box scores in Friday night minor league update

Kiebooms light up box scores in Friday night minor league update
Friday night highlights for high Single-A Potomac included shortstop Carter Kieboom and third baseman Jake Noll each cranking solo homers. Designated hitter Austin Davidson contributed a two-run triple in a 9-2 victory over Wilmington. Right-hander Sterling Sharp (1-0) surrendered only one run in five innings, striking out six. Second baseman Bryan Mejia later added a two-run double while left fielder Telmito Agustin scored one with a double as well. Catcher Tres Barrera had an RBI double and...
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Triple-A Syracuse 2018 roster released

Triple-A Syracuse 2018 roster released
The Nationals have announced the Triple-A Syracuse Chiefs roster for the 2018 season. It will be the Nats' final season in Syracuse, though it is not known where their Triple-A affiliate will be located next season. Syracuse opens its season tonight at Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. Randy Knorr is the manager. The pitching coach is Brad Holman and the hitting coach is Brian Daubach. Top prospect Victor Robles is in the outfield. Erick Fedde and Austin L. Adams, who are on the Nats' 40-man roster, are...
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Strasburg not down after 8-2 setback, laments two pitches

Strasburg not down after 8-2 setback, laments two pitches
Right-hander Stephen Strasburg was pretty satisfied with his work in Thursday's 8-2 loss to the Mets, but would want back two pitches and a misstep. Strasburg gave his team a chance. The Nationals were down only 4-2 when he departed. Yoenis Cespédes hit a solo shot in the fourth on a low four-seam fastball. Michael Conforto gave the Mets a 4-2 lead on a two-run shot in the fifth. That pitch was a 97 mph four-seam fastball on a 1-2 count. "I thought my stuff was pretty good," Strasburg...
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Zimmerman and Turner react to failed sixth-inning rally

Zimmerman and Turner react to failed sixth-inning rally
The Nationals' best chance to put a big inning together in Thursday's 8-2 loss to the Mets came in the sixth inning. Having seen Mets starter Jacob deGrom two times through the lineup, the Nats found themselves down 4-2. The top of the lineup was the only part of the Nationals offense that clicked all day. In the sixth, Adam Eaton led off with a single and Anthony Rendon and Bryce Harper walked. Suddenly, the Nats had the bases loaded and the sellout crowd of 42,477 sensed this was the home...
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Eaton and Rendon get started quickly (Mets win 8-2)

Eaton and Rendon get started quickly (Mets win 8-2)
Stephen Strasburg charged up the home crowd with a pair of strikeouts and a scoreless first frame to get the home opener underway at Nationals Park. In the bottom of the first, Adam Eaton doubled to right-center field and scored on an Anthony Rendon single and a Jay Bruce bobble of the ball in right field. The error allowed Eaton to scoot home for a 1-0 Nationals lead. In the second, Bruce doubled and went to third on a groundout. With two outs, Strasburg walked Kevin Plawecki. Strasburg was...
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Martinez and players thrilled for home opener; Wieters improving

Martinez and players thrilled for home opener; Wieters improving
After six games on the road, the Nationals are finally back in D.C. for their home opener against the Mets. It is also the first chance the home fans can say hello to their new manager. "For me, first and foremost, opening day in Washington, very excited," said Nationals manager Davey Martinez. "It's my first one as a manager. I'm super excited and elated. I know the players are, as well. Analyzing the first week, it's been a lot of fun. It's been positive. We are doing a lot of things...
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Rosters for Harrisburg, Potomac and Hagerstown

Rosters for Harrisburg, Potomac and Hagerstown
Here are the official rosters for the Single-A Hagerstown Suns and Potomac Nationals and the Double-A Harrisburg Senators. The Triple-A Syracuse Chiefs roster will be released at a later date. Pitchers are right-handed unless otherwise noted. Left-hander Bryan Harper is on the Senators roster, as are outfielders Daniel Johnson and Rafael Bautista. Pitcher Wil Crowe joins the P-Nats, alongside infielder Carter Kieboom. Hagerstown has pitcher Tomas Alastre and outfielder Juan Soto. HARRISBURG...
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More on Eaton's catch, Scherzer's day and the Law Firm

More on Eaton's catch, Scherzer's day and the Law Firm
Left fielder Adam Eaton demonstrated Wednesday against the Braves that his knee is fine and he can take the hard hit. Eaton dove to his left and stretched out toward the warning track to rob Braves hitter Ozzie Albies of extra bases with a spectacular catch in the third inning of the Nats' 7-1 series finale setback in Atlanta. Eaton had promised that his knee was solid and that he would go all out on every play as he returns from major knee surgery that forced him to miss most of the 2017...
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Scherzer can't put Braves away early, falls 7-1

Scherzer can't put Braves away early, falls 7-1
ATLANTA - The Braves took advantage of an early fielding mistake by the Nationals and a rare uneven performance from Max Scherzer in a 7-1 series-clinching victory at SunTrust Park on Wednesday. It was the first series loss of the season for the Nats. Both teams are 4-2, and are tied for second place in the National League East. Spurred by another three-run homer from Preston Tucker, the Braves raced out to a 3-0 lead. Tucker had a three-run shot in Tuesday's 13-6 Atlanta victory. Tucker got...
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Braves get to Scherzer early after costly Difo error (Nats fall 7-1)

Braves get to Scherzer early after costly Difo error (Nats fall 7-1)
ATLANTA - Game 3 of the series has been filled with a couple surprises in the first inning. Nothing surprising, but the Nationals got something going in the first. Surprisingly, they couldn't finish off the frame with runs scored. Facing Braves starter Mike Foltynewicz, Anthony Rendon singled and Bryce Harper walked with one away. Matt Adams struck out. After a wild pitch, Trea Turner was called out on strikes to end the threat. Nationals right-hander Max Scherzer allowed a double by Freddie...
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Off to fast start, Eaton continues building strength in knee

Off to fast start, Eaton continues building strength in knee
ATLANTA - Nationals left fielder Adam Eaton literally hit the ground running to begin the 2018 season, his first regular season play since April 28 of last year. That's the night Eaton suffered a serious knee injury that required surgery. He has rehabbed the past 10 months to get back to nearly 100 percent and has displayed the leadoff talent general manager Mike Rizzo envisioned when he made the deal for the sparkplug prior to the 2017 campaign. Eaton was rewarded for an outstanding first...
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Hellickson throws solid six innings in Florida warmup game

Hellickson throws solid six innings in Florida warmup game
ATLANTA - The Nationals continue to stretch out veteran right-hander Jeremy Hellickson in West Palm Beach, Fla., and he is on schedule to be game-ready in the next week or two. "He actually pitched two days ago," manager Davey Martinez said. "He did good. Six innings, 92 pitches. He's doing well. His next start is Saturday. He's basically just trying to get ready. We want him to be consistent, stretch him out, so that he's ready to go. "Now it's just getting him consistent. Six innings,...
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Davey Martinez on impact of Kevin Long, plus more notes

Davey Martinez on impact of Kevin Long, plus more notes
ATLANTA - The Nationals have raced out of the blocks with a 4-1 record, scoring 35 runs in their first five games. The lineup has been outstanding and has found ways to hit in several situations. Many could point to the work of hitting coach Kevin Long and how quickly he has become acclimated to his new team. "It definitely helps," said Nationals manager Davey Martinez of the relationship Long has with this hitters. "He's another guy. We talk about building relationships. He came in and...
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