Scherzer unable to have his usual changeup command in 6-1 loss

Scherzer unable to have his usual changeup command in 6-1 loss
The Nationals could not solve Mike Leake in the series finale, and that was part of a 6-1 loss to the Cardinals. Right-hander Max Scherzer had an up-and-down start. While he struck out 10 hitters, command of his changeup caused issues, as the Cardinals put up a run in the first and two more in the fifth to salvage Game 3 of the series. "It's never fun taking a loss," Scherzer said. "Any time that happens, you always reflect on the things you could be better at. The wild pitches, sometimes...
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Scherzer allows early offense in series finale (Cards win 6-1)

Scherzer allows early offense in series finale (Cards win 6-1)
The Cardinals again score in the first inning, but this time they got the rally started with two outs. Max Scherzer struck out the first two batters he faced. Matt Carpenter then nursed a walk. After a wild pitch, Carpenter raced home on a Stephen Piscotty RBI double. The Nationals had the exact opposite happen to them in their first at-bat of the game. Adam Eaton doubled and Anthony Rendon singled to put runners on the corners with no one out. It was Eaton's 100th career double. But...
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Gonzalez's confidence made it tough on Cardinals' approach

Gonzalez's confidence made it tough on Cardinals' approach
Left-hander Gio Gonzalez has something going after his first two starts. He earned his first win Tuesday in an 8-3 Nationals defeat of the Cardinals. Gonzalez went seven innings and allowed only two runs (one earned), scattering six hits, walking none and striking out six for back-to-back quality starts to begin 2017. Combined this season, he has pitched 13 innings, allowing only one earned run on 13 hits. But the most important number on his stat line to begin the season? He has surrendered...
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Murphy's magical night tempered with Drew's injury

Murphy's magical night tempered with Drew's injury
Daniel Murphy participated in the World Baseball Classic this spring as the United States went on to win the title for the very first time. But Murphy did not get everyday at-bats in the tournament. Even his Nationals manager, Dusty Baker, worried that he would have to play catch-up to get into a nice rhythm once the season started. The regular season has arrived, and Murphy has had a hit in all eight games, which is a new career-high to begin a season. Tuesday was his best game so far in 2017....
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Murphy raking Cards, Gonzalez solid (Nationals win 8-3)

Murphy raking Cards, Gonzalez solid (Nationals win 8-3)
The Cardinals were able to generate offense against Nationals left-hander Gio Gonzalez in their first at-bat. Dexter Fowler doubled to deep left. Aledmys Diaz popped out to Ryan Zimmerman. But when Zimmerman exchanged the ball out of his glove, he dropped it. Fowler raced to third base. Yadier Molina then provided a sac fly RBI to center field, and Fowler scored. The Cardinals lead 1-0. Cardinals starter Lance Lynn has not allowed a Nationals base hit in the first two frames. Gonzalez battled...
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Matt Albers' debut as advertised after solid spring

Matt Albers' debut as advertised after solid spring
Right-hander Matt Albers made his season and Nationals debut a memorable one with two scoreless innings to bridge the middle of the game to the final two innings in a 14-6 win over the Cardinals. Albers struck out the first batter he faced, Randal Grichuck. He fought through a Stephen Drew error to strike out Dexter Fowler to end the inning. In the seventh, he allowed a one-out single to Matt Carpenter. But a hotshot liner to right field by Stephen Piscotty was turned into a double play as...
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Baker gives Rendon day off; Treinen good to go

Baker gives Rendon day off; Treinen good to go
It has been a slow start for Anthony Rendon, so manager Dusty Baker decided to give his third baseman a day of rest. Rendon has hit just .115 (3-for-26) with no extra base hits, two walks, eight strikeouts and one RBI. The lineup features Wilmer Difo batting second and playing shortstop. Stephen Drew will be at third base and bat seventh. This will be only Difo's fourth appearance. He has gone 1-for-4 to begin the season. "I hate to see (Rendon) struggle like this," Baker said. "I don't...
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Game 8 lineups: Cards at Nats

Game 8 lineups: Cards at Nats
The Nationals returned home worrying about their bullpen. Turns out the Cardinals' bullpen issues are causing them a lot of difficulty. The Nats rolled past the Cardinals 14-6, propelled by a seven-run eighth inning. One big factor heading into tonight's game two is that the Cards had to use five relievers to try to slow the Nats onslaught. The Cards bullpen was taxed for four innings, eight hits, eight runs while walking four batters. Kevin Siegrist's ERA is 19.29. Jonathan Broxton's ERA...
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Drew ignites offense and defense in Nats comeback win

Drew ignites offense and defense in Nats comeback win
With starting shortstop Trea Turner placed on the 10-day disabled list, the Nationals lineup had to be shifted. Adam Eaton was moved up to the leadoff spot. It also meant that manager Dusty Baker would have to decide who would play shortstop. Baker had said before Monday's opener against the Cardinals that Stephen Drew would start the first and third games of the series. Youngster Wilmer Difo would start Tuesday night. Maybe Baker will reconsider that platoon after Drew's 3-for-4, four RBI...
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Eaton adopts Turner's role and delivers in Nats' 14-6 win

Eaton adopts Turner's role and delivers in Nats' 14-6 win
Adam Eaton was acquired to be the leadoff guy for the Nationals, but early on this season, the club had shortstop Trea Turner play that role. Eaton was the second leadoff man. Turner headed to the disabled list Monday before the Nationals began a three-game set against the Cardinals. The right hamstring strain will keep the Nats' top speedster on the disabled list for 10 days. But Eaton set the tone tonight with a double in the bottom of the first. The center fielder later added a pair of...
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Eaton helps Nats get going (Nats win 14-6)

Eaton helps Nats get going (Nats win 14-6)
So far this trade for Adam Eaton is paying big dividends for the Nationals. Desperate to solidify the leadoff spot, the Nats went after Eaton in a huge December trade, giving up three top pitching prospects, including Lucas Giolito. Now with the news that his top-of-the-order counterpart Trea Turner is on the shelf for at least seven more games with a right hamstring strain, the need for Eaton's offense sparking services becomes even more critical. In the bottom of the first, Eaton led off...
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Offense could help bullpen ease the pain early this season

Offense could help bullpen ease the pain early this season
It wasn't a pretty sight for the bullpen Friday in Philadelphia. The relievers had struggled to close out the Marlins in the rain-delayed Thursday getaway game. Miami scored four runs in the final three innings to win 4-3 in 10-innings. Then in the series opener against the Phillies, the Nationals came oh-so-close to blowing a 7-0 lead and held on for a 7-6 victory. Move ahead to Sunday, when the Nationals fought back late on a Ryan Zimmerman three-run shot in the ninth, but surrendered...
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Minor league pitching updates: Ross and Fedde

Minor league pitching updates: Ross and Fedde
On Saturday, right-hander Joe Ross made his debut with the Triple-A Syracuse Chiefs in a 10-0 setback to Rochester. Ross went 2 2/3 innings, allowing four runs (three earned) on six hits with three walks and three strikeouts. Here's what a source who was at the game told me: "First before anything, it has to be said that it was 41 degrees at first pitch, and felt a lot colder than that (with 17 mph winds). So I'm not sure it's fair to judge a whole lot from anything that happened. "A few...
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Hot start: Zimmerman treating April like it's August

Hot start: Zimmerman treating April like it's August
Ryan Zimmerman is doing it again. This time he reached down and drove a ball to the deepest part of the park - vintage of his walk-off home run against the Braves to win the inaugural game at Nats Park. Another line drive laser that went 402 feet, bounced off the grass on the berm in center field and was finally reviewed as a homer. Remember when he hit that home run in Game 2 against the Marlins to right-center? That's an indication he has his swing back to where it was. But this center field...
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Gonzalez continues consistent pitching into regular season with quality start

Gonzalez continues consistent pitching into regular season with quality start
Nationals left-hander Gio Gonzalez put together a tremendous quality start (no decision) in a rain-delayed 4-3 10-inning loss to the Marlins Thursday night. Working with a quick tempo, Gonzalez got ahead of Marlins hitters all day, not allowing a run over six innings. He was able to scatter seven hits, striking out seven and showing tremendous command; his only walk was intentional in the sixth. Manager Dusty Baker was impressed with how Gonzalez was able to not allow the Marlins to ever...
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Eaton launches first D.C. homer (Nats fall 4-3 in 10)

Eaton launches first D.C. homer (Nats fall 4-3 in 10)
Adam Eaton spent his first two days with the Nationals getting on base just about every chance he got. He opened his third day in D.C. showing everybody he also knows how to circle the bases. Eaton launched his first home run with his new team this afternoon, sending a solo shot over the out-of-town scoreboard in right-center field to give the Nats a quick 1-0 lead over the Marlins in their rain-delayed series finale. The center fielder, acquired from the White Sox over the winter for three...
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Scherzer on Roark, Baker on bullpen and minor league rainouts

Scherzer on Roark, Baker on bullpen and minor league rainouts
Right-hander Max Scherzer is relieved that the knuckle injury he suffered at the end of last season is fully recovered and he is feeling 100 percent as he prepares to make his season debut tomorrow afternoon in Philadelphia. Wednesday night, starter Tanner Roark (1-0) got roughed up early but managed to pitch six innings in a 6-4 win over the Marlins. It was only the third start for Roark with the Nationals since March 5 because of his involvement in the World Baseball Classic and Friday's...
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Despite lineup not completely in tune, Nats are 2-0

Despite lineup not completely in tune, Nats are 2-0
The lineup is not clicking on all cylinders, yet the Nationals are 2-0, courtesy of two comeback wins over the Marlins. On Monday, the Nationals got a pinch-hit two-run homer from Adam Lind in a 4-2 win. On Wednesday, the Nationals plated four runs in the fourth inning to top the Marlins 6-4. But even with 11 hits on the board in Game 2, there was Trea Turner and Anthony Rendon going 0-for-4. Even with Daniel Murphy going 2-for-4 with a run scored and an RBI, manager Dusty Baker admits his...
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Healthy Zimmerman connecting early with solo home run

Healthy Zimmerman connecting early with solo home run
First baseman Ryan Zimmerman delivered a big time solo homer early in Wednesday's game, when not much was going right for the Nationals offense, already trailing 2-0 to the Marlins. Miami starter Dan Straily had recorded four consecutive outs to begin the game. But with one out in the second inning, Zimmerman lined a solo shot over the right-center field fence to get the Nationals rolling. The Nats would go on to score five more runs, highlighted by a four-run fourth inning, in a 6-4 comeback...
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Roark looks rusty in first start of season (Nats win 6-4)

Roark looks rusty in first start of season (Nats win 6-4)
Tanner Roark didn't get a lot of work this spring, and unfortunately he looks like it in his first start of the season. Roark labored through his first two innings against the Marlins, walking two batters and hitting two others. He also was charged with a wild pitch that advanced a pair of runners into scoring position. Luckily, the Nationals right-hander has been able to keep the damage to a minimum so far, allowing two runs on Marcel Ozuna's bases-loaded single in the top of the first but...
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