Williams on Span, Rendon, Zimmerman, Werth and more

Williams on Span, Rendon, Zimmerman, Werth and more
BALTIMORE - Nationals manager Matt Williams arrived in Baltimore with a positive update on center fielder Denard Span and the back spasms that landed him on the 15-day disabled list this week. The results of the MRI and what the back specialist saw revealed no major structural damage. "It's good news," Williams said. "The results of the MRI and the specialist he saw finds nothing alarming, which is good. We have to look at his history and the two surgeries he had this winter and say...
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Is Difo ready for call-up? How will Gonzalez react to all this down time?

Is Difo ready for call-up? How will Gonzalez react to all this down time?
Shortstop Wilmer Difo has now not played in two games in a row for Double-A Harrisburg. The team was in Richmond to play the Flying Squirrels for a series. Manager Matt Williams did say Wednesday that infielder Emmanuel Burriss has some experience in the outfield. Burriss has played two games in left field and two games in right field in his career. As I have talked about in this space recently, if Denard Span (back spasms) is placed on the disabled list, the Nationals have some depth in the...
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10 in 10: Span starts his own foundation to help single-parent families

10 in 10: Span starts his own foundation to help single-parent families
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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Span to see back specialist, rules himself out of O's series (game postponed)

Span to see back specialist, rules himself out of O's series (game postponed)
Nationals center fielder Denard Span is scheduled to see a back specialist on Thursday as the Nationals try to figure out why his back spasms continue to occur. "I haven't done much. I've been instructed to kind of take it easy," Span said Wednesday afternoon. "That's where we are." Span ruled himself out of the Orioles series. "No chance," Span answered when asked about playing in Baltimore over the weekend. Manager Matt Williams said the Nationals are in a holding pattern until the...
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Nationals need to call up Difo if Span and Escobar not available tonight

Nationals need to call up Difo if Span and Escobar not available tonight
The Nationals were significantly short-handed Tuesday offensively without Denard Span (back spasms) and Yunel Escobar (left hamstring tightness). Both left Monday's game early, so the Nationals have gone close to 15 innings without their starting one and two-hole hitters. Already the team is without Jayson Werth (wrist), Ryan Zimmerman (plantar fasciitis), Anthony Rendon (quad) and Stephen Strasburg (oblique). That is five starters unavailable offensively. Not to mention that the bench was...
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Scherzer ready to move on after 5-0 loss to Reds: "I've had stinkers before"

Scherzer ready to move on after 5-0 loss to Reds: "I've had stinkers before"
Nationals fans haven't seen Max Scherzer pitch less than six innings this season. But Tuesday, Scherzer tossed a season-low 4 2/3 innings in a 5-0 loss to the Reds. Scherzer allowed five runs on seven hits. Reds first baseman Joey Votto did most of the damage with three hits off of Scherzer and three RBIs, highlighted by a solo homer and a run-scoring double. "I just didn't have it today," Scherzer said. "I just missed my location on a few pitches to the wrong hitters and they made me pay...
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Reds jump out quickly on Scherzer and Nats (Reds win 5-0, Cueto dominant)

Reds jump out quickly on Scherzer and Nats (Reds win 5-0, Cueto dominant)
The Reds got out quickly against the Nationals and Max Scherzer. Brandon Phillips led off with a single in the top of the first and went to second thanks to a fielding misplay by Nationals second baseman Dan Uggla. Joey Votto followed with a run-scoring double, and the Reds led 1-0. They added to the margin later on a Jay Bruce RBI triple off of the right center field scoreboard wall. Michael A. Taylor made a diving attempt at the catch but to no avail. The inning could have been worse if not...
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Span to see specialist regarding recurring back spasms

Span to see specialist regarding recurring back spasms
Nationals starters Denard Span and Yunel Escobar are not in Tuesday's lineup against the Reds. Span (back spasms) and Escobar (left hamstring tightness) left Monday's game early with injuries. Manager Matt Williams had limited updates on both players as they underwent treatments today. Span went for an MRI this morning for his ailing back. "No change really in that Yunel's hamstring's still tight, so they are working on him," Williams confirmed. "And then Denard went for an MRI this...
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No Span or Escobar as Nationals face Reds again (with lineups)

No Span or Escobar as Nationals face Reds again (with lineups)
Nationals ace Max Scherzer will look to get his team on the board against the Reds in tonight's second game of the series. Cincinnati has won all four meetings between the clubs this season. Reds right-hander Johnny Cueto will oppose. Cueto is 7-3 with a 4.06 ERA against the Nationals, but is only 2-2 in D.C. Both Denard Span (back spasms) and Yunel Escobar (left hamstring tightness) are out of today's lineup. For the Reds: 2B Brandon Phillips 1B Joey Votto 3B Todd Frazier RF Jay Bruce C...
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den Dekker another example of utility player delivering for Nats

den Dekker another example of utility player delivering for Nats
He had played in only five games since June 17. Fifteen minutes before he was needed, he was waiting in the dugout. Then, in the third inning, an injury to a starter thrust Matt den Dekker into the game. Suddenly, after two outs in the bottom of the frame, he hit a crisp single to right field and couple of batters later, he is standing on third base. His team is down 1-0, and he has a chance to make a difference. den Dekker watched for any mistake by Reds starter Anthony DeSclafani. The...
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Janssen still confident in curveball despite loss to Reds

Janssen still confident in curveball despite loss to Reds
Reliever Casey Janssen thrives on those late-inning calls. He got one Monday night against the Reds in a tie ballgame. But for the first time in his career, Janssen allowed a home run on a 0-2 count. Reds shortstop Eugenio Suarez drove the offering deep down the left field line for the solo shot just inside the foul pole that lifted the Reds to a 3-2 win over the Nationals. It was his third homer of the season. The Reds went on to win the game by not allowing a hit over the final three...
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Williams on cleanup spot, bench, Espinosa, Barrett, Ramos, Janssen and more

Williams on cleanup spot, bench, Espinosa, Barrett, Ramos, Janssen and more
On Sunday night, Nationals manager Matt Williams placed first baseman Clint Robinson in the cleanup spot behind right fielder Bryce Harper. In Monday's opener against the Reds, Williams placed catcher Wilson Ramos in the cleanup role. It didn't hurt that Ramos was coming off a game in which he went 2-for-3 with a single, a home run and a walk, plus two RBIs. But Williams said during his pregame meeting with the media there are a few different strategic reasons why they adjust the cleanup...
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Ramos hits homer on special day to help drop the Giants 3-1

Ramos hits homer on special day to help drop the Giants 3-1
Warning: Buffalo Crossing Nationals Park felt like Yellowstone Park on Sunday with Wilson Ramos - nicknamed "The Buffalo" - leading the Nationals past the Giants 3-1. Ramos belted a solo shot and RBI single, finishing 2-for-3 with two RBIs and two runs scored in the win. Ramos said the homer was good for the Nationals, but also special for him on a personal level. "Soon as I hit the ball, I felt in my bat that ball is gone," Ramos said. "I see the replay it was just behind the wall. Next...
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Bryce Harper "definitely excited" about returning to All-Star Game as starter

Bryce Harper "definitely excited" about returning to All-Star Game as starter
Nationals right fielder Bryce Harper was selected to his third All-Star Game as the leading vote-getter in the National League. Harper garnered well over 13.9 million votes to get the opportunity to start in the 86th All-Star Game on July 14 in Cincinnati at Great American Ball Park. The 13,964,950 votes were the third most of any player in Major League Baseball. This will be his second career start. After Sunday's 3-1 win over the Giants, Harper said he was thrilled to get voted to start this...
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More opportunities for Moore helped solve Bumgarner

More opportunities for Moore helped solve Bumgarner
Tyler Moore knew he had to try a different approach against Madison Bumgarner. In the second inning Saturday, Moore led off and struck out. Arriving to the plate in the fourth, with his team leading 3-0, Danny Espinosa at first base and one out, he had a shot at creating a rally. But Moore knew he had to change his approach because the first at-bat didn't work out. Coming into Saturday's game, Moore was just 1-for-12 (.083) in six games in his career against the Giants, with three walks and...
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Patriotic Harper uses star-spangled bat to slay Giants

Patriotic Harper uses star-spangled bat to slay Giants
The message from Bryce Harper and the Nationals was clear: Happy birthday, America! The Nationals dropped the Giants 9-3 on Independence Day thanks to a huge first inning, highlighted by a two-run line drive home run from Harper, his 25th round-tripper of the season. Harper, donning plenty of patriotic colors in his uniform, swung a special star-spangled bat. He took the third offering from San Francisco left-hander Madison Bumgarner quickly over the right field fence on a rope. The two-run...
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After extra time off, Gonzalez keeps the ball down for win against Giants

After extra time off, Gonzalez keeps the ball down for win against Giants
The Nationals edged the Giants 2-1 on a dramatic two-run shot from Clint Robinson and the calm and methodical pitching of left-hander Gio Gonzalez. Gonzalez was frustrated last Saturday when the rain in Philadelphia forced a postponement after he had tossed only 18 pitches. The rainout also forced Gonzalez into an extra day of rest. Sometimes that additional time off throws some starters out of rhythm. But Gonzalez (6-4) was on target Friday, going seven innings and allowing just a solo homer...
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Williams updates Zimmerman, Rendon, Barrett, Gonzalez and Desmond

Williams updates Zimmerman, Rendon, Barrett, Gonzalez and Desmond
Nationals manager Matt Williams had an update on first baseman Ryan Zimmerman and the plantar fasciitis in his right foot that has kept him out of the lineup since June 10. "Good. (He's) progressing," Williams said. "Zim's not quite running yet, but he's doing the other things that he needs to do to get prepared. Once that pain gets out of there, he'll be able to get running on the basepaths and move the process along a little bit." Williams said Anthony Rendon's left quad strain...
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Nationals sign a pair of teenage international players; Suero promoted to Double-A

Nationals sign a pair of teenage international players; Suero promoted to Double-A
Several teams are making news with the signings of Dominican baseball teenagers. The Nationals have spent a great deal of time and resources combing the Dominican for the best talent available and have had continued success with the opening of their Dominican baseball academy. Today the team announced they have agreed to terms with outfielder Juan Soto and infielder Luis Aquino. Nationals president of baseball operations and general manager Mike Rizzo and director of Latin American operations...
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Curveball big key to Jordan Zimmermann's recent surge

Curveball big key to Jordan Zimmermann's recent surge
Nationals starter Jordan Zimmermann has been able to locate and establish his curveball early in counts, which has helped his fastball and approach in his last two starts. On Tuesday night, he held the Braves scoreless for 7 2/3 innings on six hits with no walks while striking out six for the win, 6-1. "I had a good curveball the last two starts and felt like I could throw it when I wanted to, where I wanted to, any count," Zimmermann told reporters. "Keep them off balance, just pound the...
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