Harper proved to be a leader and star for Nationals in postseason setback

Harper proved to be a leader and star for Nationals in postseason setback
One major bright spot from the National League Division series was the play of Bryce Harper. On a national stage, in the most difficult of moments, he delivered. Offensively, besides an early surge in the series by Anthony Rendon, he was the best hitter for the Nationals. Every one of his hits changed momentum or added to it for D.C. In Game 1, with the offense spinning its wheels and the team down 3-0 late, Harper crushed a home run off of Hunter Strickland into the third deck at Nationals...
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Nationals now must look within to find answers after stunning postseason defeat

Nationals now must look within to find answers after stunning postseason defeat
Suddenly, the Nationals season is over. The season began on March 31 and ended on Oct. 7. The team that won 96 games, had the best record in the National League, is out of the postseason after a mere four games. The Nationals have won 280 games over the past three seasons, won a pair of division titles, but have yet to advance to the League Championship Series. What happened? Really, how did this happen so fast? The pitching was good. Allowing the Giants to score nine runs in four games....
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Nationals showed some fight in Game 3 to earn right to play tonight

Nationals showed some fight in Game 3 to earn right to play tonight
It was good to see the fight the Nationals showed in Game 3 of the National League Division Series. Doug Fister deserves a ton of credit. Bryce Harper played well in the field, drew a walk and hit a crucial solo homer in the ninth. That gave Drew Storen some room to breathe and he battled out of a two-on jam in the bottom of the ninth. You got the feeling that this team was better than their two games to none hole in the bets-of-five series and they proved it with a 4-1 win. It will now be...
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Fister has pitched well against Bumgarner in big games

Fister has pitched well against Bumgarner in big games
Yes, the Giants hold a two games to none lead in the best-of-five National League Division Series. Yes, they're returning home and ace lefty Mardison Bumgarner is on the hill for Game 3 today. But Nationals right-hander Doug Fister has pitched well against Bumgarner in the past. June 10, 2014. Nationals at Giants: Fister defeated left-hander Madison Bumgarner 2-1. The weather was 59 degrees and the wind was coming in from center field at 16 mph, according to Baseball Reference. The Nationals...
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Patient approach, starting Zimmerman could be keys to Game 3

Patient approach, starting Zimmerman could be keys to Game 3
The Nationals are now in a difficult situation down 2-0 in the National League Division series to the Giants with Game 3 on Monday afternoon. The pitching matchup features right-hander Doug Fister against left-hander Madison Bumgarner. Some callers to "Nats Insider" on Sunday morning on 106.7 The Fan have repeated a consistent theme that Ryan Zimmerman should get the start in Game 3 and replace Adam LaRoche at first base. MASN's Bob Carpenter, appearing on the same show, liked the idea...
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Rendon gives Nationals first lead of NLDS (Belt homers in 18th for 2-1 Giants win)

Rendon gives Nationals first lead of NLDS (Belt homers in 18th for 2-1 Giants win)
Right-hander Jordan Zimmermann allowed a base hit in each of the first three innings of Game 2 of the National League Division Series. But in each inning, he has found away to get out of trouble. In the third, with a man on second and one out, Zimmermann struck out Gregor Blanco and got Joe Panik to ground out to first base. The Nationals were unable to get much going against Giants right-hander Tim Hudson in the first two innings. But in the third inning, Asdrubal Cabrera dropped a double down...
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Span's defense sets tone, center fielder says Nats needs to "settle down"

Span's defense sets tone, center fielder says Nats needs to "settle down"
The way you come out and play defense can set the tone for the game and send your teammates the clear signal that you will do everything in your power to make it a tough afternoon for your opponent. Center fielder Denard Span set the tone early for the Nationals in Game 1 of the National League Division series against the Giants by making some big catches in the first inning behind starter Stephen Strasburg. Span tracked down long drives by the first two Giants hitters, Gregor Blanco and Joe...
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Peavy edges Strasburg as Giants take series opener

Peavy edges Strasburg as Giants take series opener
The Giants defeated the Nationals 3-2 in Game 1 of the National League Division Series on Friday, with Jake Peavy outpitching Stephen Strasburg. But it wasn't like the Giants were teeing off on Strasburg. They had no extra-base hits until Strasburg had departed, but their eight singles were damaging enough. In turn, the Nationals were unable to avoid the Giants' gloves, minus two huge home runs from Bryce Harper and Asdrubal Cabrera. Strasburg did not believe the location of all of the Giants...
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Harper and Cabrera crank homers, but Giants win 3-2

Harper and Cabrera crank homers, but Giants win 3-2
Game 1 of the National League Division series is under way in Washington, D.C. It is only the fourth home playoff game in the nation's capital since 1933. Nationals right-hander Stephen Strasburg induced three flyouts to begin the game. Giants right-hander Jake Peavy walked Jayson Werth with two outs in the bottom of the first. He was the first baserunner for either team. But Adam LaRoche struck out to end the inning. Update: Peavy has managed to get swinging strikeouts to end the first two...
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Williams on Roark's role and who will pinch-run in NLDS

Williams on Roark's role and who will pinch-run in NLDS
Manager Matt Williams spoke with the media prior to the National League Division series opener Friday at Nationals Park. Williams confirmed that right-hander Tanner Roark will come out of the bullpen in the series. Williams was asked if he planned this 25-man roster with specialists in mind or preferred long men coming out of the pen. "With the days off, especially the first round with the days off, you have those options," Williams said. "Nobody is ever going to have to go three days in a...
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Soriano and Schierholtz make NLDS roster, Detwiler and Hairston do not

Soriano and Schierholtz make NLDS roster, Detwiler and Hairston do not
The Nationals' Natonal League Division Series roster has been announced and features 12 pitchers (three left-handed, nine right-handed) and 13 position players (two catchers, seven infielders, four outfielders). There had been some question as to whether or not reliever Rafael Soriano would make the NLDS roster. The veteran right-hander has indeed made the Nats' group of 25. Instead, the Nationals left Ross Detwiler off the roster. He played an important role in keeping the Nationals in the...
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Jake Peavy: "I'm a Stephen Strasburg fan"

Jake Peavy: "I'm a Stephen Strasburg fan"
Veteran pitcher who has seen it all vs. rising fireballer who watched him growing up. New buddy vs. new buddy. Workout partner vs. workout partner. Nationals vs. Giants. In Game 1 of the National League Division Series, right-hander Jake Peavy will face right-hander Stephen Strasburg. San Diegan vs. San Diegan. Or is it San Diego-an? Will Ferrell, help me out here. It is San Diegan, of course. Either way, the two righties who exchanged texts throughout the season now pitch against each other...
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Strasburg "thankful for the chance" to start Game 1 against Giants

Strasburg "thankful for the chance" to start Game 1 against Giants
Nationals manager Matt Williams named right-hander Stephen Strasburg his Game 1 starter for Friday's National League Division Series opener against the San Francisco Giants. Strasburg was proud to get the call because he knew the Nats have several outstanding starters to chose from for such an crucial game. "I was excited. I think it wasn't an easy decision by any means," Strasburg said. "I think that's a testament to the guys we have in the rotation. I think every single one of them is...
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Nationals catchers stingy on stolen bases (LaRoche award finalist)

Nationals catchers stingy on stolen bases (LaRoche award finalist)
While watching the miraculous Royals comeback Tuesday and thrilling(!) 9-8 12-inning dispatch of the A's, I marveled at the speed and running ability of the home team. Kansas City stole seven bases in the game. During each comeback attempt, the Royals took an extra base on steals and wild pitches. Instead of relying on base hit after base hit, the Royals needed just a couple per inning to score runs. The Nationals were sixth in the National League in stolen bases with 101. The Dodgers (138)...
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Will Ryan Zimmerman start postseason coming off the bench? (Rendon named Hank Aaron award finalist)

Will Ryan Zimmerman start postseason coming off the bench? (Rendon named Hank Aaron award finalist)
Nationals third baseman Ryan Zimmerman, appeared with The Junkies on Sports Radio 106.7 The Fan Monday morning, said he will not be 100 percent until spring training, and is still 80-to-85 percent healthy as he recovers from a hamstring strain suffered July 22 and his team heads into the postseason. Zimmerman had said during his rehabilitation process that he never thought of being just a pinch-hitter, but there is a very good chance that is how he will be used in Game 1 of the National League...
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Zimmermann on Nats' historic no-hitter: "One of those special days"

Zimmermann on Nats' historic no-hitter: "One of those special days"
With the postseason five days away, Nationals manager Matt Williams used 17 position players in the final game of the season, as he wanted to rest his starters after a couple of at-bats. His starting pitcher got a couple of base hits. His shortstop hit a home run for the only run the Nationals needed in a 1-0 shutout of the Marlins and the club's 96th win of the season. Oh, wait. Right-hander Jordan Zimmermann tossed the first no-hitter in Nationals history, going nine innings, allowing...
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Jordan Zimmermann tosses first no-hitter in Nationals history (Nats win 1-0)

Jordan Zimmermann tosses first no-hitter in Nationals history  (Nats win 1-0)
Shortstop Ian Desmond hit a line-drive home run into the Marlins bullpen to emphatically signal the beginning of the scoring in the regular season finale. The Nationals lead 1-0. The home run was his 24th of the season, this one off of Henderson Alvarez on a 1-2 pitch. It was also his 91st RBI of the season. Jordan Zimmermann set down the Marlins in order the first and second frames, ending each inning with a strikeout. The Nationals lead 1-0 after two innings. Update: Denard Span's...
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Strasburg, Harper and Clippard speak after 5-1 win over Marlins

Strasburg, Harper and Clippard speak after 5-1 win over Marlins
Right-hander Stephen Strasburg is in a groove at the right time for the Nationals. He is also pitching at a time of year he wasn't afforded the luxury of enjoying two seasons ago because he was shut down after recovering from Tommy John surgery. Now the National League will have to contend with Strasburg in the postseason. Strasburg went six innings Saturday without giving the Marlins a run, allowing just two hits and striking out seven as the Nationals won 5-1. "Oh yeah, 98, 97, 98, 98,...
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Span sets Nationals record with 58 multi-hit games (Nats win 5-1)

Span sets Nationals record with 58 multi-hit games (Nats win 5-1)
Right-hander Stephen Strasburg is home for his final regular season start prior to the National League Division Series commencing Friday. He went 2-0 on the Nationals' recent road swing. In the bottom of the first, Bryce Harper and Wilson Ramos reached with base hits. Asdrubal Cabrera reached first on a fielder's choice, moving Harper to third. Strasburg brought Harper home with a sacrifice bunt to give the Nationals a 1-0 lead. Update: Denard Span has two singles in the game and 58...
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Despite loss, Taylor Hill "pretty jacked up" to earn first major league start

Despite loss, Taylor Hill "pretty jacked up" to earn first major league start
Right-hander Taylor Hill got his first major league start for the Nationals and almost got through five innings. But that last out in the fifth proved to be too much, and the Marlins scored five runs to take the lead for good, 7-4, on their way to a 15-7 victory over the Nationals. Hill went 4 2/3 innings, allowing 10 hits and seven runs, with two walks and four strikeouts. "I definitely wasn't sharp like I obviously wanted to be," Hill said. "But that's part of it. It's part of...
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