Jordan Zimmermann uses lethal fastball to cut down Marlins 5-1

Jordan Zimmermann uses lethal fastball to cut down Marlins 5-1
Right-hander Jordan Zimmermann went old school on the Marlins in a 5-1 victory, perfectly in line with the 1980's theme celebration going on at Nationals Park Saturday night. Zimmermann (11-8) used his fastball, with his velocity spiking in the upper 90's mph, to toss seven innings and allow only one solo homer in recording his third straight win. Manager Matt Williams felt Zimmermann's outing was "really good" because of his fastball command. "Fastball velocity was really up first three...
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Nats game blog: Bryce Harper has four homers vs. Tom Koehler this season

Nats game blog: Bryce Harper has four homers vs. Tom Koehler this season
Nationals center fielder Bryce Harper hit three homers against Marlins right-hander Tom Koehler on May 6 here at Nationals Park. The Nationals won that game 7-5. He has five homers with nine RBIs in 23 plate appearances and 21 at-bats against Kohler with a 1.048 slugging percentage. Four of those homers have come this season. Harper has six homers this season against the Marlins, 15 for his career versus the Fish. Jayson Werth has also hit two homers in his career off of Koehler. Ryan Zimmerman...
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Williams on Desmond's durability, Span, Taylor and Escobar

Williams on Desmond's durability, Span, Taylor and Escobar
With all the injuries the Nationals have had to deal with this season, one constant in the lineup has been starting shortstop Ian Desmond. He was given a day off here and there because his offensive game wasn't as consistent in the first half of the season, but any nagging nicks and bruises never prevented him from missing any time. The rest of the projected starting infield has not been so fortunate. Anthony Rendon (left knee sprain), Yunel Escobar (hand) and Ryan Zimmerman (foot) have all...
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Nats lineup again without Yunel Escobar and Michael A. Taylor (Marlins lineup added)

Nats lineup again without Yunel Escobar and Michael A. Taylor (Marlins lineup added)
Here are the starting lineups for Saturday's second game of the series between the Nationals and Marlins. Amazingly, the second to last place Marlins have a 6-4 record versus the Nationals this season. One reason why the Mets have the lead in the NL East is they do well against teams with losing records. Danny Espinosa is back at second base tonight while Clint Robinson gets the start in left field. But Yunel Escobar and Michael A. Taylor are still not in the lineup for the second consecutive...
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Turner displays speed on defense in start, now looking for first base hit in majors

Turner displays speed on defense in start, now looking for first base hit in majors
Trea Turner made his first major league start at a new position, second base, and made a couple of impressive plays on defense that showcased his speed, balance and glove work. Turner is still looking for his first major league base hit. He went 0-4 with three of the four outs on fly balls or a line out to right field. Turner looked comfortable at second base even though shortstop is his natural position. Turner had played 161 minor league games at shortstop and only two games at second base...
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Scherzer not crisp, inability to generate big inning leads to Nats' 4-3 loss

Scherzer not crisp, inability to generate big inning leads to Nats' 4-3 loss
The Nationals fell to the Marlins 4-3 on Friday night in a game they pretty much had to have against a team near the basement in the National League East. Right-hander Max Scherzer allowed a couple of early home runs and the Nationals failed to score more than one run with the bases loaded and no outs in the sixth. That all added to a demoralizing one-run setback to a 77-loss club. The Marlins are now surprising 6-4 against the Nationals this season. Miami is 46-73 against everyone else and...
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Scherzer allows two homers, Desmond and Ramos homer for Nats (Marlins win 4-3)

Scherzer allows two homers, Desmond and Ramos homer for Nats (Marlins win 4-3)
It didn't take the Marlins long to get to Nationals right-hander Max Scherzer. Left fielder Derek Dietrich slapped a run-scoring double high off the right-center field wall to score Martin Prado, who had singled to right with two down, and Miami led 1-0. Center fielder Bryce Harper had a single to right field with two outs in the bottom of the first. He has now hit safely in eight straight games. Ryan Zimmerman struck out to end the first inning. Update: Ian Desmond took the first pitch off of...
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Nats game blog: Nationals face Fish with September on the horizon

Nats game blog: Nationals face Fish with September on the horizon
The Nationals and the Marlins begin a three-game set at Nationals Park with right-hander Max Scherzer moved up in the rotation to take on left-hander Adam Conley. Scherzer was pushed to today so he could pitch Wednesday night on schedule in St. Louis. He is 11-10 with a 2.79 ERA. Conley is 1-1 with a 4.88 ERA for the Marlins, who are 26 games below .500. Amazingly, and part of an issue this season, the Marlins actually hold a 5-4 lead in the season series with the Nationals. It is Miami's only...
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Williams on Span's hip surgery; Taylor "thankful" knee is OK; Escobar update

Williams on Span's hip surgery; Taylor "thankful" knee is OK; Escobar update
Nationals manager Matt Williams reported that center fielder Denard Span is out for the season because he will have to undergo surgery on Tuesday. "He's going to have left hip surgery, it's a labrum surgery," Williams said. "He has some damage in there that needs to get fixed." Span has dealt with core surgery recovery, his back and now his hip. Were the Nationals given any answer as to how this latest injury occurred? "Don't know. Don't know how it happens," Williams said. "This...
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Who will replace Span in the Nationals lineup?

Who will replace Span in the Nationals lineup?
The news that center fielder Denard Span has a left hip injury and will go back on the disabled list will make it difficult for him to return this season - unless the Nationals can win the National League East and play deep into October. But without their leadoff man, the scenario becomes tougher as the regular season games wind down. The Nationals will have to make a corresponding move today to fill Span's roster spot. With first baseman/outfielder Tyler Moore still a week away from...
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Ross delivers another standout performance

Ross delivers another standout performance
Rookie right-hander Joe Ross was again outstanding - on a night when the Nationals lost two position players during a 4-2 win and announced after the game that their leadoff man could be done for the season. Yunel Escobar left in the fifth with a hand injury and Michael A. Taylor hurt his knee in the seventh. Taylor was in for Denard Span, who did not play because of back tightness. After the game manager Matt Williams said that Span will have to go back on the disabled list with left hip...
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Injuries to Span, Escobar and Taylor take luster off of Nats' gutsy 4-2 win

Injuries to Span, Escobar and Taylor take luster off of Nats' gutsy 4-2 win
The Nationals dropped the Padres 4-2 Thursday night behind strong pitching from Joe Ross and home runs from Jayson Werth and Ryan Zimmerman. But news about three injured players - center fielder Denard Span, third baseman Yunel Escobar and center fielder Michael A. Taylor - made it feel a bit like a loss rather than a joyous series-clinching victory. The worst news involved Span, who is heading back to the disabled list with left hip inflammation. He was activated from the DL on Tuesday and...
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Werth and Zimmerman homer, Ross another quality start (Nats beat Padres 4-2)

Werth and Zimmerman homer, Ross another quality start (Nats beat Padres 4-2)
The Padres tallied the first run of the game after Joe Ross rolled through the first three innings. The Nationals right-hander did not allow a hit through the first three frames. But in the fourth, Cory Spangenberg hit a dribbler in front of home plate. Catcher Wilson Ramos retrieved it, but through wildly to first. The ball was not close to first baseman Ryan Zimmerman and sailed down the line into foul territory. Spangenberg ended up at third base. Ramos was charged with a two-base error on...
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Nats game blog: Nats have one more shot at series win over Friars

Nats game blog: Nats have one more shot at series win over Friars
The Nationals have another shot tonight at a series win as they wrap up a three-game set against the San Diego Padres. Washington has gone 4-2 against the Friars this season and is 16-9 against San Diego since 2012. But the Padres lead the overall series 38-30. The Nationals also haven't lost a series to the Padres since 2011. Right-hander Joe Ross (4-5, 3.56 ERA) opposes righty Andrew Cashner (5-12, 4.03 ERA). Ian Desmond is 3-for-10 against Cashner, while Ryan Zimmerman has the lone...
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Span gets day off with back tightness, Roark shines at Potomac

Span gets day off with back tightness, Roark shines at Potomac
Center fielder Denard Span is not in the lineup tonight. The Nationals put left fielder Jayson Werth back in the leadoff role for Thursday night's series finale against the San Diego Padres. Manager Matt Williams said it was nothing serious for Span, who has been on the disabled list already twice this season and has had recurring issues with his back. Instead, it is just a day off because of what Span told Williams this morning. "Yesterday, coming in, he was a little bit tight (and) loosened...
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Brotherly love: Little brother Joe Ross looks to return favor to Tyson Ross in series finale

Brotherly love: Little brother Joe Ross looks to return favor to Tyson Ross in series finale
Nationals 22-year-old right-hander Joe Ross has impressed from his major league debut as a pitcher who doesn't get rattled. That is sometimes a surprising trait in a rookie hurler. In his last start against the Brewers on Saturday, Khrys Davis slammed a solo homer to start the seventh inning. Ross did not let the run alter his goal and was able to get the next three outs and complete a tremendous quality start. He went seven innings and allowed only six hits, one run and no walks while...
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Gonzalez on loss to Padres: "You got to make a better pitch"

Gonzalez on loss to Padres: "You got to make a better pitch"
The Nationals got down early against the Padres with left-hander Gio Gonzalez on the mound. San Diego led 4-0 after three innings and 5-1 after four. The Padres would eventually hold on for the 6-5 win. It marked Gonzalez's third straight loss. Unfortunately, this trend of early deficits has been repeated in his three most recent starts. Gonzalez has now allowed four or more earned runs in those three starts since August 15. He has been unable to record more than five innings of work in six of...
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Derek Norris looks back at time with Nats as important to his MLB development

Derek Norris looks back at time with Nats as important to his MLB development
The Nationals are taking on the Padres this week and there has been talk about rookies Trea Turner and Joe Ross playing for the first time against the team that drafted them. But San Diego also has a starting catcher/first baseman in Derek Norris who began his career in the Nationals system and was drafted by the team in 2007 as a fourth-round selection. Norris played five seasons (2007-2011) in the Nationals organization, reaching Double-A Harrisburg, before being traded to the Oakland A's in...
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Nats game blog: Nationals seek third straight series win tonight against the Padres

Nats game blog: Nationals seek third straight series win tonight against the Padres
The Nationals can win their third straight series with a victory in tonight's second game of the series against the San Diego Padres. The Nationals toppled the Friars 8-3 last night behind a grand slam from Ryan Zimmerman. They also dropped the Rockies (2-1) and Brewers (2-1) in their last two series. Left-hander Gio Gonzalez (9-6, 3.98 ERA) looks to bounce back from two losses in a row. He is 2-0 with a 2.33 ERA in three starts against San Diego. Padres right-hander Tyson Ross (8-9, 3.32) is...
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Nationals starter Joe Ross came within one day of facing older brother Tyson Ross

Nationals starter Joe Ross came within one day of facing older brother Tyson Ross
According to Baseball Almanac, it has happened only 21 times. The last time was 2009 when Jered faced his brother Jeff Weaver. Phil and Joe Niekro squared off nine times in their careers. It almost happened in this series here at Nationals Park this week. Brother vs. brother on the starting pitching mound. The Nationals and Padres came within one day of pulling it off at Nationals Park. Right-hander Tyson Ross pitches tonight for the Padres. Little brother Joe Ross starts for the Nationals...
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