Dan Kolko

Examining the closer candidates

Examining the closer candidates
PHILADELPHIA - Now that Davey Johnson is at the very least considering other options when it comes to the closer's role, it's probably worthwhile for us to take a look at the guys the Nationals' skipper has to work with. Henry Rodriguez's struggles have caused Johnson to look for alternatives in save situations, and while the Nationals don't have an obvious backup plan at this point, they do have some hurlers who Johnson could look to in the ninth inning. Johnson has indicated he might...
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Dan Kolko

Desmond provides pop, Mattheus awaits further word on injured foot

Desmond provides pop, Mattheus awaits further word on injured foot
PHILADELPHIA - Last season, in 154 games, Ian Desmond hit eight home runs. In 2010, also in the span of 154 games, Desmond jacked 10 homers. This season, in just 41 games, the Nationals' shortstop already has seven home runs, tied with Adam LaRoche for most on the team. What's the reason for his newfound power stroke? Possibly his baby boy. "I think daddy strength," Desmond said. "They say when you have a kid, you get stronger. Thanks, Grayson." Desmond delivered his seventh longball...
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Dan Kolko

Johnson on closer role: "I'm looking at alternatives"

Johnson on closer role: "I'm looking at alternatives"
PHILADELPHIA - Davey Johnson has stood by Henry Rodriguez through his three blown saves, handfuls of wild pitches and bunches of baserunners allowed. But after tonight's performance, in which Rodriguez was pulled after putting the tying runners in scoring position and throwing two wild pitches over 1/3 of an inning, Johnson finally said he's considering a change when it comes to the closer role. "I'm going to sleep on it, but I'm looking at alternatives," Johnson said. There aren't...
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Dan Kolko

Nats escape with 2-1 win over Phillies

Nats escape with 2-1 win over Phillies
PHILADELPHIA - Breathe, Nats fans. Facing a Phillies team which came into tonight having won seven of its last 10, scoring 4.9 runs per game over that span, the Nationals' pitching staff did the trick yet again. But that's not to say it wasn't interesting. Gio Gonzalez pitched six shutout innings, striking out nine and allowing just three hits. Craig Stammen delivered two monster frames in relief, serving as the bridge to the ninth inning. Things then got very tricky (and I mean very...
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Dan Kolko

The Ian and Gio show (plus a Gonzalez strikeout note and more)

The Ian and Gio show (plus a Gonzalez strikeout note and more)
PHILADELPHIA - Ian Desmond has provided the offense. And despite a quickly rising pitch count, Gio Gonzalez has done the job on the mound. The Nationals have a 2-0 lead after four innings thanks to a solo home run and RBI single by Desmond and a really sharp start by Gonzalez, who has struck out eight Phillies hitters. Desmond is now 5-for-8 with four RBIs since being moved into the No. 5 spot in the Nats order. Gonzalez, meanwhile, has needed 76 pitches to get through four innings, but...
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Dan Kolko

Harper excited for Philly debut, plus Lidge and Morse updates

Harper excited for Philly debut, plus Lidge and Morse updates
PHILADELPHIA - There's a slight drizzle coming down here at Citizens Bank Park, but it looks like we'll likely avoid any heavy stuff and should be able to get tonight's game in. Unless I just jinxed it, and the sky suddenly opens up, which will probably happen. Bryce Harper will get his first taste of Philadelphia tonight, and the Nationals' outfielder says he's legitimately excited to play in this city and this ballpark over the next few days. "It's going to be a great experience,"...
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Dan Kolko

Strasburg will make his next start, Mattheus has foot injury

Strasburg will make his next start, Mattheus has foot injury
PHILADELPHIA - If Stephen Strasburg taking part in a game of Ultimate Frisbee on the field at Citizens Bank Park wasn't indication enough that the Nationals' ace is feeling just fine health-wise, manager Davey Johnson confirmed today that his ace came out of yesterday's start OK. Johnson said he wasn't really concerned about Strasburg's status, and he doesn't expect there to be any lingering effects from Strasburg's biceps tightness/overall fatigue. "He's going to make his next...
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Dan Kolko

Lombardozzi in left, leading off

Lombardozzi in left, leading off
PHILADELPHIA - Here is the lineup for Game 1 against the Phillies. Steve Lombardozzi will be leading off for the Nats. Gio Gonzalez (5-1, 2.22 ERA) will take the mound. For the Nats: Steve Lombardozzi LF Bryce Harper RF Ryan Zimmerman 3B Adam LaRoche 1B Ian Desmond SS Danny Espinosa 2B Rick Ankiel CF Jesus Flores C Gio Gonzalez P
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Dan Kolko

Strasburg appears OK, plus other notes from Philly

Strasburg appears OK, plus other notes from Philly
PHILADELPHIA - This is my first time in Citizens Bank Park in a working capacity, and man, this place is nice. The press box is pretty spiffy and the park just has a nice intimate feel to it. I'll stop complimenting a division rival, I promise. For anyone concerned about Stephen Strasburg after yesterday's health scare, you can probably stop worrying. Strasburg was out on the field a bit ago running around playing Ultimate Frisbee with a bunch of the Nationals pitchers. He appeared to be...
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Dan Kolko

Espinosa gives his take on his high strikeout numbers

Espinosa gives his take on his high strikeout numbers
Making his first start in the leadoff spot this season during yesterday's win over the Orioles, Nationals second baseman Danny Espinosa went 2-for-5 with a two-run home run, a double and two runs scored. For the most part, it was a successful day for Espinosa, whose low offensive numbers have been a hot topic so far this season. But manager Davey Johnson saw something in Espinosa's performance he still didn't like: the 25-year-old recorded two more strikeouts. That gives Espinosa 50 Ks on...
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Dan Kolko

Heading out of D.C. on a high note

Heading out of D.C. on a high note
Who's ready for Philly? Bryce Harper is. And he hopes the City of Brotherly Love is ready for him, as well. "Hopefully, I get a couple boos," Harper said, when asked what type of reception he expects in Philadelphia tonight. "That'd be awesome. I'm excited to get up there and play and hopefully they don't throw any batteries at me." If it happens (and let's sure hope it doesn't), it
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Dan Kolko

Strasburg's homer the talk of the clubhouse

Strasburg's homer the talk of the clubhouse
Here was Stephen Strasburg's day today: he allowed three runs in his first two innings, struck out eight overall, retired the last 10 hitters he faced, went 2-for-2 at the plate with his first major league home run, and was pulled after his manager learned he might not be completely healthy. Just another day at the park. We've discussed the health situation, so let's move past that and touch on the rest of the stuff. Strasburg might not have been showing much emotion right after he hit...
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Dan Kolko

Strasburg pulled after five innings because of health concerns

Strasburg pulled after five innings because of health concerns
A group of reporters sat in the press conference room at Nationals Park ready to ask manager Davey Johnson about Stephen Strasburg hitting his first major league home run and bouncing back from a slow start to post five strong innings in today's win over the Orioles. Instead, we ended up asking Johnson a whole lot of questions about Strasburg's health. Johnson revealed that Strasburg was dealing with some sort of discomfort during his start today, discomfort which the Nats' skipper...
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Dan Kolko

Nats avoid sweep with impressive 9-3 win

Nats avoid sweep with impressive 9-3 win
The Nationals were completely outplayed through the first two innings of today's game. Stephen Strasburg looked rattled, Washington had made multiple defensive miscues and yet again fell behind the Orioles, this time by a score of 3-0. Then the Nats flipped the switch, and they didn't look back. From the third inning on, the Nats outscored the O's 9-0, outhit them 11-2 and went on to earn a 9-3 win, perhaps unleashing some pent-up frustration after three straight losses, including two to...
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Dan Kolko

Yup, Stephen Strasburg went yard (updated)

Yup, Stephen Strasburg went yard (updated)
No, that's not a typo. Stephen Strasburg has hit the first home run of his major league career. And boy, did Nats Park ever explode when the ball landed in the visitors bullpen in left-center field. Strasburg took an 0-2 curveball from Wei-Yin Chen and dropped the barrel to it, sending it out and bringing another near-capacity crowd to its feet. The 23-year-old hurler took a slow trot around the bases and entered a dugout filled with smiling teammates. After the crowd requested a curtain...
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Dan Kolko

Ugly start for Strasburg, Nats (but they battle back)

Ugly start for Strasburg, Nats (but they battle back)
Safe to say this isn't how Stephen Strasburg and the Nationals wanted to open up their series finale against the Orioles as they try to avoid a sweep. The Nats trail 3-0 in the second inning after a rocky top of the first for Strasburg and an all-around sloppy performance by Washington in the second. Strasburg gave up three hard-hit balls in the first and frankly was lucky to escape having just allowed a single run. He gave up an RBI single to Nick Markakis to get the O's on the board, but...
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Dan Kolko

Talking leadoff spot, Wang's rehab start and Beltway Battle

Talking leadoff spot, Wang's rehab start and Beltway Battle
Yes, the Nationals will have a guy with 48 strikeouts - tied for fourth-most in the majors - and a .291 on-base percentage in the leadoff spot today. If Ian Desmond isn't a traditional leadoff guy, Danny Espinosa is even less so. Espinosa did hit a ball really hard during his pinch-hitting appearance last night, so there's that. We'll see if a move to the top of the lineup can get him jump-started. In 170 career plate appearances out of the leadoff spot, Espinosa has struggled, however,...
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Dan Kolko

Espinosa hitting leadoff

Espinosa hitting leadoff
Yesterday's Nationals lineup had success with second baseman Steve Lombardozzi hitting in the leadoff spot. Today, Davey Johnson will again put his second baseman atop the lineup. Today, though, it's Danny Espinosa, who will get the start at second. Ian Desmond will hit fifth for the second consecutive day. The Nats will face O's lefty Wei-Yin Chen, who has gotten off to a great start, going 4-0 with a 2.45 ERA. Stephen Strasburg gets the ball for the Nats, looking to put an end to a...
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Dan Kolko

In defeat, offense puts up a good fight

In defeat, offense puts up a good fight
What a great atmosphere we had here at Nationals Park tonight, as 42,331 packed the yard to catch an exciting game between two surprisingly successful teams early in the season. Tonight was actually the second-largest crowd in the history of Nats Park, yet, despite that fact, it wasn't even a sellout. Those on hand watched the Nationals fall behind big early and then scratch their way back in the middle innings. Things got really good in the ninth when Ryan Zimmerman smacked a two-out homer...
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Dan Kolko

Detwiler: "It was just terrible"

Detwiler: "It was just terrible"
Ever honest after a poor performance, Ross Detwiler put full responsibility on himself for the Nationals' 6-5 loss to the Orioles tonight. "I mean, give up six in five innings? That's awful," Detwiler said. "Put the team in a hole early and they did a great job trying to dig out and it was just too much, really." Detwiler allowed nine hits (a season high) and a walk over his five innings, and gave up two two-run home runs. He lacked command the entire night, struggling to locate his...
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