Erick Fedde strikes out nine in third start of season for P-Nats

Erick Fedde strikes out nine in third start of season for P-Nats
WOODBRIDGE - Right-hander Erick Fedde, starting his first full season in the Nationals organization following Tommy John surgery almost two years ago, allowed three homers in his last start for Single-A Potomac versus Wilmington on April 15. One of the three homers against the Blue Rocks was of the inside-the-park variety, but last season he had allowed only two homers over the entire campaign. In his third start this season, the 2014 first-rounder again surrendered a longball when designated...
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Stevenson on hit streak to begin season for P-Nats

Stevenson on hit streak to begin season for P-Nats
Center fielder Andrew Stevenson went 2-for-5 with a three-run triple in high Single-A Potomac's 9-6 loss to Lynchburg Monday night. The LSU product is leading off the P-Nats and doing a nice job of starting the offense. His on-base percentage is .381 through the first two weeks of the season. Stevenson told me before the season began that they haven't made any major changes to his swing or approach, just trying to get him to feel relaxed at the plate. "Right now just trying to see the ball...
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Reaction to Harper's record-setting home run streak

Reaction to Harper's record-setting home run streak
It looked like Bryce Harper had done it again. In the top of the 10th, Harper stepped to the plate with an opportunity to give his club the lead for good. He launched a dramatic solo homer off of Phillies reliever Jeanmar Gomez on a 3-2 count, well above the right-center field wall. The blast gave the Nationals a 2-1 lead. This time it did not lead to a victory. The Phillies came back for a 3-2 win in 10 innings. But the records are still piling up for Harper with each successive game-changing...
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Harper homers again, but Phils solve Papelbon for comeback win

Harper homers again, but Phils solve Papelbon for comeback win
PHILADELPHIA - Nationals closer Jonathan Papelbon was back in a familiar place Sunday: on the hill at Citizens Bank Park looking to close out another victory. But his former team had other ideas. Suffering his first blown save of the season, Papelbon allowed a run-scoring double by Freddy Galvis in the 10th as the Phillies scored two runs to salvage the final game of the series 3-2. The Nationals had gone ahead 2-1 in the top of the 10th thanks to another dramatic home run by Bryce...
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Even with roster built for power, Baker is open to bunting

Even with roster built for power, Baker is open to bunting
Even with a lineup chock-full of power-hitting potential, Nationals manager Dusty Baker does not shy away from the opportunity to employ small ball. Even his top slugger, Bryce Harper, has the green light to bunt when the game circumstance is right. Sometimes it's the element of surprise, especially if you have speed and you see the infield playing way back. "If the situation calls upon it, yeah, that's cool with me," Baker said. "How many home runs you going to hit, 30 or 40? What you...
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Phillies take first lead in series (Nats lose 3-2 in 10)

Phillies take first lead in series (Nats lose 3-2 in 10)
PHILADELPHIA - After the Nationals took 5-0 and 3-0 first inning leads to begin the series, the Phillies finally scored a run early in Sunday's finale. In the second inning, Carlos Ruiz turned on a Gio Gonzalez 3-0 fastball and deposited the solo homer in the left field stands. Ruiz's second homer of the season gave the Phillies a 1-0 advantage. It was the first run Gonzalez had allowed this season. Bryce Harper had a two-out single to right field in the first. He was initially called safe at...
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Game 11 lineups: Nationals at Phillies

Game 11 lineups: Nationals at Phillies
PHILADELPHIA - The Nationals go for the sweep in Philadelphia after winning the first two games of the series by a combined scored of 17-2. Left-hander Gio Gonzalez gets the nod for the Nationals against Phillies right-hander Charlie Morton. Gonzalez is 5-3 with a 2.66 ERA in 10 starts at Citizens Bank Park. Overall, he is 8-5 with a 3.02 ERA in 16 starts against the Phillies. Even though the Nationals have played 10 games, Gonzalez has made one start. On April 12, he went six innings, allowed...
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Harper and Ramos heat up to keep Nationals clicking

Harper and Ramos heat up to keep Nationals clicking
PHILADELPHIA - Bryce Harper is leading his team with his bat again. For the third consecutive game, he slammed a home run as the Nationals dropped the Phillies 8-1. It was his third homer in as many games. He has at least two hits and a homer in five straight games at Citizens Bank Park. "When he gets locked in, it gets scary," said right-hander Max Scherzer. "Just because he can hit any pitch out in any direction. We are seeing it right now where he just can get in a zone. He can kind of...
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Scherzer double trouble in 8-1 win over Phillies

Scherzer double trouble in 8-1 win over Phillies
PHILADELPHIA - For the second consecutive night, the Nationals provided early offense for their starting pitcher. For a second consecutive night, a Nationals starting pitcher contributed at the plate. It all added up to another convincing win for the Nationals, 8-1 over the Phillies. The Nationals already led 3-0 with two outs in the fourth. Wilson Ramos was on second courtesy of a double, and the Phillies elected to intentionally walk Danny Espinosa to get to pitcher Max Scherzer. It's the...
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Nats hit the ground running again, roll past Phillies 8-1

Nats hit the ground running again, roll past Phillies 8-1
PHILADELPHIA - If you are going to watch the Nationals and Phillies at Citizens Bank Park on Sunday, here is some advice: Make sure you are in your seats for first pitch. The Nationals jumped on the Phillies starter again in the first inning, scoring three runs on a RBI triple by Daniel Murphy, a run-scoring single from Ryan Zimmerman and a sacrifice fly by Bryce Harper. On Friday night, the Nationals scored five runs in the first inning e route to a 9-1 victory. Max Scherzer allowed a walk and...
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Dusty Baker on managing to win with players in mind

Dusty Baker on managing to win with players in mind
PHILADELPHIA - Manager Dusty Baker knew that during this portion of the schedule, the Nationals would be in the midst of 16 games in a row without an off day. So at the end of the Braves series, he rested two starters for each of the final two games. The Nationals bench came up big and helped the team win both of those games. Then, following a rest Thursday, Michael A. Taylor and Jayson Werth returned and combined to contribute four hits, two doubles, a solo homer, three runs and four...
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Revere shooting for May 3 return

Revere shooting for May 3 return
PHILADELPHIA - Nationals center fielder Ben Revere gave an update today on his rehab from a strained right oblique. He has not ventured to baseball related activities, but is concentrating now on strengthening other parts of his body. He is on the disabled list, retroactive to April 5. "Definitely taking my time with this injury," he said. "But hopefully the process goes quickly. I am doing more and more activities. I am going to Miami do a lot more stuff, then go home do a lot more stuff....
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Game 10 lineups: Nationals at Phillies

Game 10 lineups: Nationals at Phillies
PHILADELPHIA -- The Nationals have now won six in a row and are off to their best start in franchise history at 8-1 following Friday's 9-1 series-opening win over the Phillies. The previous best starts were 7-2 by the 1974 Montreal Expos and the 1951 Washington Senators. Tonight's second game of the weekend series features right-hander Max Scherzer (1-0, 4.15 ERA) facing right-hander Aaron Nola (0-1, 3.21 ERA). It is Scherzer's third start of the season and seventh all-time against the...
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Holding pattern: Scherzer on the art of frustrating runners

Holding pattern: Scherzer on the art of frustrating runners
PHILADELPHIA - Max Scherzer is a student of the game. And that means more than just throwing the ball over the plate. When you think of Scherzer, many gravitate to the pair of no-hitters he threw last season or the Cy Young Award he won in 2013. But one of the big assets that some may fail to realize is his ability to derail an opponent's running game. Against the Atlanta Braves during Monday's start, Scherzer was able to catch speedster Mallex Smith attempting to steal second base with the...
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Ross says Harper's Jackie Robinson socks brought him good luck

Ross says Harper's Jackie Robinson socks brought him good luck
PHILADELPHIA - Not too many times do you see the starting pitcher bat in the first inning. Even more unusual is the opportunity to see that starter contribute in that first chance with a double. The Nationals scored five runs on six hits in the first inning in their 9-1 shellacking of the Phillies on Friday night. Joe Ross went 7 2/3 innings, allowing only three hits and yielding no runs with two walks and five strikeouts his first matchup with the Phillies. The scariest moment for Ross was in...
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Offense explodes early and Joe Ross takes advantage in 9-1 win

Offense explodes early and Joe Ross takes advantage in 9-1 win
PHILADELPHIA - So much for the pitching carrying the offense. The Nationals scored five runs in the first inning and Joe Ross pitched 7 2/3 scoreless innings in a 9-1 throttling of the Phillies on Friday night. Michael A. Taylor and Bryce Harper homered, and Jayson Werth collected two doubles and three RBIs, as the Nationals pounded out 16 hits and nine runs, both season highs. The Nationals also had a season-high seven extra-base hits. The 8-1 start is the best in franchise history. "This is...
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Nats score five runs in first (Nats win 9-1)

Nats score five runs in first (Nats win 9-1)
PHILADELPHIA -- The Nationals greeted Phillies starter Jeremy Hellickson rudely in the first inning. Apparently, Michael A. Taylor took full advantage of his day off. Taylor crushed a solo shot well over the left field wall off a 1-0 pitch and the Nationals jumped out to a 1-0 lead. Anthony Rendon lined out to third baseman Makiel Franco, who was protecting himself by making the waist-high catch. Bryce Harper and Ryan Zimmerman hit sharp singles and Daniel Murphy walked to load the...
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Dusty Baker's thoughts on the legacy of Jackie Robinson

Dusty Baker's thoughts on the legacy of Jackie Robinson
PHILADELPHIA -- Major League Baseball is honoring the legacy of Jackie Robinson today as it has on every April 15 since 2004. Robinson broke the color barrier on April 15, 1947, becoming the first African-American player to play in the major leagues in the modern era. To honor the pioneer, every player, coach and manager in the game is wearing his jersey No. 42 at all of today's scheduled games. Those teams - like the Nationals - who are playing on the road will have a future home day where...
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Revere makes trip, no timetable set for his return

Revere makes trip, no timetable set for his return
PHILADELPHIA - Injured outfielder Ben Revere made the trip here with his teammates. Revere is on the 15-day disabled list, retroactive to April 5, due to a stained right oblique suffered in the first game of the season at Atlanta. But Nationals manager Dusty Baker does not know when Revere will be healthy enough to return to the lineup. "I just looked at the reports," Baker said. "They say he's doing better. But I haven't talked to him and I haven't talked to director of athletic...
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Game 9 lineups: Nationals at Phillies

Game 9 lineups: Nationals at Phillies
PHILADELPHIA - The Nationals venture on the road for the second time this season, heading up Interstate 95 to face the National League East rival Phillies. It is their first matchup this season. The Nats are off to a great start at 7-1, but the Phillies are doing fairly well, riding good pitching to a 5-5 record. Manager Dusty Baker will start right-hander Joe Ross, who is 1-0 with a 1.29 ERA. Tonight marks his first appearance against the Phillies. Ross notched his first win of the season with...
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