On Nationals staff, competition is king

On Nationals staff, competition is king
Five days ago, Ross Detwiler went five shutout innings. The next day, Stephen Strasburg threw six shutout frames. Gio Gonzalez followed with seven scoreless innings. Jordan Zimmermann then tossed seven innings of one-run ball in a 2-1 13-inning win. Then yesterday, Edwin Jackson threw a complete game, allowing just one run. If it seems like the Nationals' starters are actively trying to one-up each other on a daily basis, it's because they are. The guys in the Nationals rotation are on fire...
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A new side to Edwin Jackson

A new side to Edwin Jackson
Edwin Jackson had thrown a complete game before. He'd actually thrown four of them, including a no-hitter. But never had he been nearly this pitch-efficient when going a full nine innings. Jackson finished today's outing having thrown just 92 pitches in his nine frames of one-run ball, a far cry from his 149-pitch no-hitter back in 2010. Known for elevated pitch counts and having to work with runners on base, Jackson was a different guy today. He was able to pitch from the windup nearly...
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Jackson closes out complete game in style

Jackson closes out complete game in style
When pitching coach Steve McCatty went out to talk to talk to Edwin Jackson after the Nationals righty had issued a four-pitch leadoff walk in the eighth inning, the conversation was pretty cut and dried. As McCatty puts it, it was like a scene out of the movie "Full Metal Jacket." "I went and asked him, 'How are you doing?' " McCatty said. "He says, 'I'm fine.' I say, 'Well, do you want this?' He goes, 'Yes.' I said, 'Well, if you want it, you tell me you want it.' And he...
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Jackson the latest Nats starter to dominate (Nats win 4-1)

Jackson the latest Nats starter to dominate (Nats win 4-1)
Given the workload that the Nationals' bullpen had to handle last night, the team needed Edwin Jackson to step up and work deep into today's game. Jackson's done just that. The hard-throwing righty has worked seven incredibly impressive innings, allowing just a single run on two hits with no walks and four strikeouts. Jackson has now retired 16 straight hitters and shockingly has needed just 66 pitches to get through the seven frames. Of the 66 pitches, a whopping 52 have been...
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LaRoche gives Nats lead over Reds

LaRoche gives Nats lead over Reds
In his 43 games played last season, Adam LaRoche had 15 RBIs. This season, in nine games, LaRoche already has 10 runs batted in. The Nationals first baseman added to his team-high RBI totals with a two-run double in the bottom of the third inning, giving Washington a 3-1 lead. LaRoche is now hitting .324 on the season and has exactly one-third of the Nationals' 30 RBIs this season. Think for a second about where this team would be through the first week and a half of the season without...
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Johnson: Nationals' infield best defensive unit I've been around

Johnson: Nationals' infield best defensive unit I've been around
Davey Johnson has been in baseball more than 50 years. He's played with some of the best, and managed some exceptional players and teams, as well. And of all the infields the Nationals' 69-year-old manager has seen in his time in professional baseball, he says the best defensive unit he's even been around is the one he's writing onto lineup cards this season. "I've never had an infield this talented," Johnson said. "Now, I've had Hall of Famers at different positions, but as a...
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Nats' lineup has Ankiel in center, hitting seventh

Nats' lineup has Ankiel in center, hitting seventh
Rick Ankiel will make his 2012 debut this afternoon against the Reds after missing the first eight games of the season due to a left quad injury. The 32-year-old will bat seventh today and play center field after hitting .400 with three home runs during his rehab assignment. Ankiel said the quad is feeling good and he's ready to get back out and rejoin his teammates at the major league level. "The last few days, the first time I played nine, I felt like I was 100 percent then, so every day...
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Even more from another walk-off win

Even more from another walk-off win
The last six outs Craig Stammen have recorded go down in the scorebook as such: strikeout swinging, strikeout swinging, strikeout swinging, strikeout swinging, strikeout swinging, strikeout swinging. "I kind of messed up," manager Davey Johnson said last night. "I should have brought in Stammen earlier because he seems to make things happen when he comes in." Stammen has been absolutely filthy in his last two outings, having struck out the side against the Reds in consecutive games. And...
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Nationals' Jayson gets it done on Friday the 13th

Nationals' Jayson gets it done on Friday the 13th
When Jayson Werth saw the sharp ground ball get through the infield, allowing the game-winning run to touch home, he tossed his bat aside, left the arm extended for a second and casually trotted down to first base. After 13 innings of minimal hits and missed offensive opportunities, was that the look of relief? "That was let's go home," Werth said. "Didn't want to go home without the win, though, that's for sure. You play that long and to lose, that stinks." Kristina Akra talks to...
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Johnson talks after Nationals' 2-1 win in 13 innings

Johnson talks after Nationals' 2-1 win in 13 innings
Before we get to the fun stuff from another walk-off win, there's a roster move to pass along. The Nationals designated infielder Brett Carroll for assignment after the game, making room for Rick Ankiel on the 25-man roster. Ankiel will be activated from the disabled list and play tomorrow against the Reds. When manager Davey Johnson sat down for his postgame press conference, he let out a sigh and cracked a smile. "Where do you want to begin?" he said. Davey Johnson meets with the media...
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And we keep on playing (Werth wins it in the 13th)

And we keep on playing (Werth wins it in the 13th)
We're going to the 12th here at Nationals Park, as the Nats and Reds are still locked in a 1-1 tie. The two teams have combined for just the two runs and nine hits through 11. The Reds have failed to score since the fifth, and haven't recorded a hit the last six innings, either. The Nats, on the other hand, are now 0-for-7 with runners in scoring position, and have wasted an opportunity to bring in the game-winning run off typically-wild Reds righty Alfredo Simon for the second straight...
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Can Zimmermann get a little help, please? (we're heading to extras)

Can Zimmermann get a little help, please? (we're heading to extras)
The Nationals' hitters have to feel terrible for Jordan Zimmermann. Time and again, the guy goes out and pitches his butt off, and time and again, he doesn't get any run support. Zimmermann has left tonight's ballgame after yet another stellar outing, and leaves on the hook for yet another tough-luck loss. The righty went seven innings, allowing just one run on three hits with two walks and three strikeouts. He threw 100 pitches, 71 for strikes, and leaves on the wrong end of a 1-0...
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The streak is over

The streak is over
The Nationals entered tonight's game with their starting pitchers having thrown 19 consecutive scoreless innings. That streak reached 23 before coming to an end tonight in the fifth inning. The Reds took a 1-0 lead in the fifth after Jordan Zimmermann allowed a double to Willie Harris (remember him?) leading off the inning, and then Cincinnati starter Bronson Arroyo drove Harris home with a sac fly. Gio Gonzalez (seven innings), Stephen Strasburg (six innings) and Ross Detwiler (five...
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Forget the slow starts, LaRoche is in a zone

Forget the slow starts, LaRoche is in a zone
What's the difference between the 2012 Adam LaRoche and the Adam LaRoche that we've seen around this time in previous seasons? "He isn't struggling," manager Davey Johnson deadpanned. Well, yeah. There's that. LaRoche, typically a slow starter, has opened this season on a tear, hitting .345 with two homers and eight RBIs. He's tied for sixth in the majors in both homers and RBIs, at times, it seems like he's single-handedly kept the Nationals' offense afloat, with yesterday's...
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Ankiel to return tomorrow, serve as primary center fielder

Ankiel to return tomorrow, serve as primary center fielder
Rick Ankiel has rejoined the Nationals after a week-long rehab assignment as he works back from a lingering quad injury, and the veteran center fielder is set to come off the DL and enter the Nats lineup tomorrow. Manager Davey Johnson said that Ankiel took part in a team workout this afternoon and "looks good to go." "He's in great shape," Johnson said. "He had a great rehab program. Did awfully well. Talked to him in the training room earlier. He's feeling fine." Ankiel hit .400...
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Today's Reds-Nationals lineups

Today's Reds-Nationals lineups
Manager Davey Johnson's lineup for tonight's game against the Reds has Mark DeRosa back in left field, hitting sixth. Jordan Zimmermann takes the hill, hoping for his first win of 2012. Here are the lineups for both teams: Reds CF Drew Subbs SS Wilson Valdez 1B Joey Votto 3B Scott Rolen RF Jay Bruce LF Ryan Ludwig 2B Willie Harris C Ryan Hanigan P Bronson Arroyo Nationals SS Ian Desmond 2B Danny Espinosa 3B Ryan Zimmerman 1B Adam LaRoche RF Jayson Werth LF Mark DeRosa CF Roger Bernadina C...
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Runners on base, but not runners crossing the plate

Runners on base, but not runners crossing the plate
As a team, the Nationals have 61 hits through the season's first week, a total which is fourth-best in the majors. Ian Desmond is hitting .406 out of the leadoff spot, Danny Espinosa has a .367 on-base percentage out of the two-hole and the Nats are giving themselves plenty of chances to drive in runs. They're just missing out on opportunities to do so in bunches. The Nationals have gone just 3-of-16 with three walks when they've come up with the bases loaded this season, and in 17 plate...
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For starters, Nats' rotation dominating

For starters, Nats' rotation dominating
A lot has changed for the Nationals this season. They have a new sense of optimism, five legitimate quality starting pitchers and a deep back end of the bullpen with a number of power arms. But not everything's changed. Teddy Roosevelt still can't win a race. Those hoping the 2012 home opener would serve as Teddy's first ever win were left disappointed yesterday, when Tom took home the W after a battling it out with Teddy down the stretch. "What's the poor guy got to do to get a...
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Late-inning roller coaster ends with Nats on top

Late-inning roller coaster ends with Nats on top
The message from multiple guys in the Nationals' clubhouse after today's 3-2 extra-inning win over the Reds was the same: It's too bad we couldn't finish this one off for Gio. Gio Gonzalez pitched seven exceptional innings in his debut at Nationals Park, allowing just two hits and no runs, but even though the Nationals held a 2-0 lead entering the ninth inning, they were unable to get the left-handed starter his first win of the season. "Just an outstanding effort," manager Davey...
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Lidge blows ninth-inning lead (Nats walk off with 3-2 win in 10th)

Lidge blows ninth-inning lead (Nats walk off with 3-2 win in 10th)
So much for all the headlines about Gio Gonzalez leading the Nationals to a win in his home debut. Gonzalez won't get a victory in the Nats' home opener despite throwing seven shutout innings, and we've got a tie game here heading to the bottom of the ninth. The Reds tied this game 2-2 in the top-half of the ninth after Ryan Ludwick's single to left plated two runs off Nats closer Brad Lidge. Ludwick's grounder could've been handled by third baseman Ryan Zimmerman, but the ball skipped...
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