10 in 10: Youth Baseball Academy welcomes Nats to showcase summer progress

10 in 10: Youth Baseball Academy welcomes Nats to showcase summer progress
From the time they arrived from Montreal before the 2005 season, the Nationals have been a mainstay in the Washington, D.C., sports scene. But the Nats are also very active in the community, working diligently over the past decade to touch the lives of many in the region and proving that baseball has a further reach than wins and losses, balls and strikes, batters and pitchers. Each Thursday through mid-August, MASNsports.com's Byron Kerr will explore the Nationals' community outreach...
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18-year-old Dominican outfielder Victor Robles shining for Auburn

18-year-old Dominican outfielder Victor Robles shining for Auburn
A lot of buzz has been generated by the start for 18-year-old Dominican outfielder Victor Robles, who moved quickly from the Dominican Summer League Nats to the Gulf Coast League and is now playing for the short-season Single-A Auburn Doubledays. Robles has hit .342 in his last 10 games and is batting .363 overall in 44 minor league games. I checked in with Auburn manager Gary Cathcart on a recent road trip to spotlight the progress of Robles. Cathcart said Robles is impressing on all...
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Scherzer looking to build off of changeup; Zimmerman on "big" western trip

Scherzer looking to build off of changeup; Zimmerman on "big" western trip
There are very few starting pitchers that I have come across in all my years of covering major league baseball that are as articulate and thoughtful as Max Scherzer. Win or lose, he can eloquently break down what went right and what went wrong, and he already is devising a plan of attack for his next outing. Scherzer had a no-decision Sunday. He went six innings, allowed eight hits and four runs, one intentional walk and still struck out 10 batters. He allowed three homers and left with 84...
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Storen victimized and missed opportunities cost Nationals series against Rockies

Storen victimized and missed opportunities cost Nationals series against Rockies
The eighth inning turned into a big inning for the Rockies in this series. Their ability to score runs in that frame against Nationals right-hander Drew Storen helped them to a series win. Friday night, Carlos Gonzalez belted a grand slam off Storen in a Rockies 5-4 win. The Nationals had entered the inning with Storen on the hill and a 4-1 lead. On Sunday, the game was tied at 4-4 in the top of the eighth. The Rockies scored two runs in the frame again off Storen to help them to a 6-4 victory...
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Game blog: Nats seek first series win in August against Rox today

Game blog: Nats seek first series win in August against Rox today
The Nationals look to win their first series since Miami on July 30 with a win over the Rockies today. Right-hander Max Scherzer (11-8, 2.31 ERA) battles left-hander Yohan Flande (2-1, 3.54). The Nationals will face three southpaw starters in their next four games. Yunel Escobar is back in the lineup for the Nationals and will lead off. He is hitting .301 with 22 hits, two homers and 12 RBI in 73 career at-bats against Colorado. Ryan Zimmerman has hit 11 homers and 56 RBIs in his career against...
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Harper, Zimmerman and Robinson put on show in middle of lineup, Nats win 6-1

Harper, Zimmerman and Robinson put on show in middle of lineup, Nats win 6-1
For the second night in a row, the Nationals offense was ignited with Bryce Harper on first base and Ryan Zimmerman at the plate. On Friday night, Harper reached first base on single in the fourth. Zimmerman followed with a double, and Harper scored all the way from first base. Saturday night in the fifth, Harper was on first base thanks to a walk. Zimmerman slammed a double off the wall, and again Harper raced all the way from first base for another run. "I think I had a pretty good read on...
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Game blog: Nats need to get off to good start as Strasburg returns

Game blog: Nats need to get off to good start as Strasburg returns
The Nationals look to get on the board in their series with the Rockies and welcome back right-hander Stephen Strasburg, making his first start since July 5. Not only do the Nats need to get off to a good start in this game to benefit Strasburg, they also need to find a way to get off to a good start in each series they play. Recently that has not been the case. The Nationals have now lost the first game of a series in the last five series in a row. They have also lost the first game of a...
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Espinosa adjusts to new role as utility hitter (updated)

Espinosa adjusts to new role as utility hitter (updated)
With the return of three starters, players like Danny Espinosa have had to go back to their utility role planned from opening day. Espinosa is extremely valuable because of his defensive ability and has had a pretty good season at the plate. Obviously, he went through a tough period beginning in late June, but despite the loss Friday, had a solid night at the plate. Espinosa went 2-for-4 with a double, two runs and a hit by pitch. On Wednesday, he started at shortstop going 0-4 with a...
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Harper can't deliver in ninth and is seeing less opportunity to impact games

Harper can't deliver in ninth and is seeing less opportunity to impact games
Unless the Nationals can get some power from those around Bryce Harper in the lineup, this is how it's going to be for the slugger the rest of the season: lots of walks. The Rockies defeated the Nationals 5-4 thanks to a grand slam from Carlos Gonzalez in the eighth. The Nationals had one last chance in the bottom of the ninth. With a man on, Harper battled right-hander Tommy Kahnle to a 3-2 count before striking out on an 89 mph changeup. Earlier, Harper singled and came around to score...
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Nationals game blog: Zimmermann seeks sixth win against Rockies

Nationals game blog: Zimmermann seeks sixth win against Rockies
The Colorado Rockies are in D.C. for three games against the Washington Nationals. The teams match up in Denver next week. The Rockies are an amazing 21-13 on the road in D.C. against the Nationals, but Washington swept last year's Nats Park matchup, outscoring the Rockies 36-19 behind Jordan Zimmermann, Stephen Strasburg and Doug Fister. Zimmermann is 5-0 with a 2.20 ERA in his career against Colorado. But he allowed three home runs against the Mets on August 2 in his last start, a 5-2...
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Williams said he's not worried about Werth's power numbers right now

Williams said he's not worried about Werth's power numbers right now
With the Nationals' offense struggling to score runs, part of the issue has been the power numbers from the three returning hitters: Anthony Rendon, Ryan Zimmerman and Jayson Werth. Rendon hit one home run in New York. Zimmerman has crushed two since his return. But Werth hasn't hit a home run since May 13. Manager Matt Williams was asked during Friday's pregame session with the media how he thinks Werth is coming along in returning to full form offensively. He said the patience Werth is...
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Joe Ross earns more starts with sterling performance to beat Diamondbacks 8-3

Joe Ross earns more starts with sterling performance to beat Diamondbacks 8-3
Right-hander Joe Ross continued to showcase his ability to pitch at the major league level with another solid six innings Thursday in an 8-3 win over the Diamondbacks. Ross allowed only five hits, one run and no walks while striking out seven over 89 pitches, an amazing 62 for strikes. His only mistake was a changeup to Jarrod Saltalamacchia for a solo homer. Manager Matt Williams said the poise that the 22-year-old Ross has displayed in only his seventh major league start is rare but...
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Nationals game blog: Nats look to Ross to split series with Arizona

Nationals game blog: Nats look to Ross to split series with Arizona
The Nationals and Diamondbacks wrap up their four-game series today. Rookie right-hander Joe Ross (2-3, 3.00 ERA) faces Arizona right-hander Jeremy Hellickson (7-7, 4.95 ERA). The season series is split 3-3. The Nationals have won eight of their last 11 games in the series. Ryan Zimmerman gets the day off for the Nationals, and Ian Desmond is back in the lineup. The Nationals wrap up the homestand with three games versus the Rockies starting Friday night. Manager Matt Williams conducted a team...
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Matt Williams' pregame message to Nats: "We're best when we're aggressive"

Matt Williams' pregame message to Nats: "We're best when we're aggressive"
Nationals manager Matt Williams said Wednesday night after his team's 11-4 loss to Arizona that he would have a pregame team meeting on Thursday prior to the series finale to discuss some important topics. Williams gave the media gathering hints as to what the subject of that pregame team meeting would be and what he wants his team to get back to doing well. "I think it's important for us to understand we're best when we're aggressive," Williams said. "When we're an aggressive team,...
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Strasburg likely to start Saturday, Treinen available today, plus Fister update

Strasburg likely to start Saturday, Treinen available today, plus Fister update
Nationals manager Matt Williams all but confirmed that right-hander Stephen Strasburg will return to the team and start Saturday night's matchup against the Rockies. Strasburg has been on the disabled list with an oblique issue since July 5. He has had two promising rehab starts and came out of each feeling back to full strength. "We've got some options, certainly his day falls Saturday, but he'll go out and do his towel drills today and make sure," Williams said. "So we'll have a better...
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Nationals recall Treinen, option Barrett (with lineups, updated)

Nationals recall Treinen, option Barrett (with lineups, updated)
The Nationals look for a series split with the Arizona Diamondbacks in Thursday's late afternoon tilt. The club announced prior to the game that right-hander Blake Treinen has been recalled from Triple-A Syracuse. Right-hander Aaron Barrett, who took the loss Wednesday night, was optioned to Syracuse to make room for Treinen, who has had five scoreless appearances with the Chiefs. Treinen recorded 14 strikeouts in 12 innings, allowing six hits since July 21 with Syracuse. Barrett is 3-3 with a...
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Tyler Moore makes pitching debut in Nats' 11-4 loss

Tyler Moore makes pitching debut in Nats' 11-4 loss
There was nothing comfortable about the Nationals' 11-4 loss to the Diamondbacks. The game lasted four minutes shy of four hours. Arizona left fielder Ender Inciarte and center fielder A.J. Pollock were each credited with six at-bats. The Diamondbacks pounded out 17 hits, which tied the season high of hits allowed by the Nationals (also April 28 at Atlanta.) The Nationals had to go to their bullpen in the sixth inning. Four relievers could not slow down Arizona over those final 11 outs. The...
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Nationals game blog: Gonzalez seeks his fifth straight win as Nats face D-backs

Nationals game blog: Gonzalez seeks his fifth straight win as Nats face D-backs
Welcome to the Nats game blog! The Nationals look for two wins in a row as left-hander Gio Gonzalez (8-4, 3.75 ERA) takes on Arizona right-hander Rubby De La Rosa (8-5, 4.59). Gonzalez has not lost a game since June 15 at Tampa Bay and has not surrendered more than two earned runs in six consecutive starts. Danny Espinosa gets the call to start at shortstop as Ian Desmond will get the day off. Jose Lobaton will catch for Gonzalez as he has all season. Gonzalez is 2-0 with a 2.84 ERA in four...
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Denard Span battles emotions in recovery from back issue

Denard Span battles emotions in recovery from back issue
Center fielder Denard Span (back spasms) took another step toward finally returning to the Nationals with an outside batting practice session Wednesday, plus defensive drills, as his team prepared for Game 3 against the Diamondbacks. "Felt pretty good the first couple of rounds," Span said. "By the third round, I got a little bit gassed. A lot of that is just conditioning. But felt good to be out there for the first time hitting. I've been hitting in the cage for the last three days, but...
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Jayson Werth said timing at the plate helping him get back into a good groove

Jayson Werth said timing at the plate helping him get back into a good groove
In building back into full strength since breaking his wrist, Nationals left fielder Jayson Werth has been able to see a ton of pitches each at-bat by staying patient and making the pitcher show his entire repertoire. Tuesday he dove into first base to try to break up a potential double play in his first at-bat. The RBI fielder's choice helped score the last of three runs, and the Nationals had an early advantage over the Diamondbacks. In the third inning, he worked reliever Josh Collmenter...
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