Healthy and locked in, Ryan Zimmerman is on a tear

Healthy and locked in, Ryan Zimmerman is on a tear
ST. LOUIS - The script seemed to be headed in the same direction as the previous two nights - Nationals blow a late lead only to lose in heartbreaking fashion. But after the Cardinals evened the score in the seventh, Ryan Zimmerman once again stepped up, delivering a double in the eighth to score Anthony Rendon for the eventual game-winning run as the Nationals took the finale 4-3. "Tonight was vintage Zim," manager Matt Williams said. The RBI was Zimmerman's third of the night after...
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Bryce Harper day-to-day with glute tightness (Taylor injury update)

Bryce Harper day-to-day with glute tightness (Taylor injury update)
ST. LOUIS - Bryce Harper left tonight's game in the fourth inning with left glute tightness. Harper popped out to second to start the frame, jogging slowly down the first base line. "At this point in the season, there's always aches and pains, but this one felt a little different, a little worse," Harper said after the Nationals' 4-3 win. "On that last swing, it just didn't feel good. I didn't want to run it out. It just did not feel good at all. Hopefully, it feels better...
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Ryan Zimmerman lifts Nats to 4-3 win (Bryce Harper injured)

Ryan Zimmerman lifts Nats to 4-3 win (Bryce Harper injured)
ST. LOUIS - Max Scherzer's recent problem with the longball continued into tonight's start when Brandon Moss launched a 96 mph heater deep to right-center to begin the second inning. The 454-foot blast was the longest homer ever hit by a left-handed batter at Busch Stadium. The Nationals responded in the third when Jayson Werth drilled Tyler Lyons' fastball to straightaway center for a two-out solo homer. It was Werth's sixth tater of the season. Scherzer has yielded six hits already but...
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Nationals game blog: Max Scherzer looks for first win in over a month

Nationals game blog: Max Scherzer looks for first win in over a month
ST. LOUIS - Max Scherzer takes the mound tonight in his hometown looking for his first win since July 30. The right-hander is 0-3 with a 6.43 ERA while surrendering seven homers in his last five starts. "It's a big game for us," manager Matt Williams said. "I think he's ready. He's ready to compete anytime he takes the mound. He's working hard in his bullpens and staying on top of the baseball a little bit more. The ability to throw that fastball down and away to the righties is...
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Stephen Strasburg unable to make Friday's start

Stephen Strasburg unable to make Friday's start
ST. LOUIS - Stephen Strasburg will not make his scheduled start on Friday against the Braves at Nationals Park. Manager Matt Williams announced before tonight's game that right-hander Tanner Roark will be recalled from Double-A Harrisburg to fill Strasburg's spot. Strasburg left Sunday's 7-4 win over the Marlins after just four innings with upper back tightness. Williams indicated that Strasburg reported today feeling good after throwing on flat ground yesterday. He threw again on the field...
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Michael A. Taylor scratched tonight, Danny Espinosa now starts in left

Michael A. Taylor scratched tonight, Danny Espinosa now starts in left
ST. LOUIS - Max Scherzer returns home to pitch at Busch Stadium for only the second time in his career. The St. Louis native looks to rebound from a brutal August, where the right-hander went 0-3 with a 6.43 ERA in five starts after dominating for most of the season's first four months. Scherzer allowed two runs on six hits with four strikeouts over seven innings in a 4-1 loss to the Cardinals at Nationals Park on April 23. He is 0-2 with a 3.71 ERA in three career starts against St....
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Orioles to host 5K walk benefiting the LUNGevity Foundation in memory of Monica Pence Barlow at Oriole Park

Orioles to host 5K walk benefiting the LUNGevity Foundation in memory of Monica Pence Barlow at Oriole Park
The Orioles will host the LUNGevity Foundation's Breathe Deep Baltimore, a 5K walk to raise funds and awareness for lung cancer in memory of Orioles' late Public Relations Director, Monica Pence Barlow, on Saturday, October 3, at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. The 5K walk will begin at 9:00 a.m. and conclude on the field. Registration begins at 7:00 a.m., and participants will receive a T-shirt and refreshments. Registration fees are $25 for adults, $15 for students and seniors, and $10 for...
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Best of the BBQ: Adam Jones and Wayne Kirby face off against CareFirst Fan Challenge winner

Best of the BBQ: Adam Jones and Wayne Kirby face off against CareFirst Fan Challenge winner
"Work or Don't Eat." That phrase was scripted across the front of All-Star center fielder Adam Jones' shirt as he and Wayne Kirby strolled down Eutaw Street to Boog's BBQ stand. Trays of ribs in hand, the duo set to take on CareFirst Fan Challenge winner Thomas Turnbaugh in a good, old-fashioned BBQ battle. While Jones and Kirby prepared Greek-style ribs, throwing them on the grill and adding lemon and secret spices, Turnbaugh brought a unique course to the table: a classic pulled-pork BBQ...
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Joe Ross suffers shortest outing of his career in 8-5 loss

Joe Ross suffers shortest outing of his career in 8-5 loss
ST. LOUIS - For the past few weeks, the question has lingered of how many innings rookie Joe Ross has left this season. On Tuesday night, that issue didn't even get pressed as Ross departed after 2 2/3 innings, battling major command concerns. "He had problems holding it and feeling it and throwing it over the plate," manager Matt Williams said. "No issues physically. Just couldn't command it." The game time temperature was 89 degrees at a humid Busch Stadium as Ross retired the side in...
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Nationals dealt devastating blow in walk-off loss

Nationals dealt devastating blow in walk-off loss
ST. LOUIS - The replay of the walk-off homer he surrendered had stopped playing several minutes before, but Casey Janssen still sat staring blankly at the monitor screen. When the veteran reliever finally made his way to his locker, he stood for the second consecutive night trying to explain how the Nationals let another late lead slip away. "These are two big losses and I had my hand in both of them," Janssen said. Janssen took over the in the ninth with the scored tied 5-5 and promptly...
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Casey Janssen gives up walk-off homer, Nats lose 8-5

Casey Janssen gives up walk-off homer, Nats lose 8-5
ST. LOUIS - Cardinals rookie left-hander Marco Gonzales' first start of the season didn't last too long. Joe Ross and Jayson Werth delivered consecutive singles to start the third. After bunting Gonzales' first pitch foul, Anthony Rendon roped a double to right-center, scoring Ross and Werth to put the Nationals on the scoreboard. Rendon advanced to third on the play and then scored on Bryce Harper's sacrifice fly to center. A red-hot Ryan Zimmerman followed with a deep blast to center. The...
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Domenic Vadala: Cal Ripken Jr. belongs to fans of baseball

Domenic Vadala: Cal Ripken Jr. belongs to fans of baseball
If you're used to what I write on Birds Watcher and for that matter even here on MASN, a lot of what you read here today might come as a surprise. For the most part, I feel that writers should remain above the fray of the fan on the street when writing about the team. So most of what I try to put out there is analytical as opposed to emotional in nature. But some events rock the world. The career of the great Cal Ripken Jr. spanned my entire childhood, adolescence and into early adulthood....
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Nats game blog: Nationals look to ride Ryan Zimmerman's hot bat

Nats game blog: Nationals look to ride Ryan Zimmerman's hot bat
ST. LOUIS - Ryan Zimmerman nearly willed the Nationals to victory last night. The 11-year veteran blasted a go-ahead three-run homer in the seventh inning before the Nats bullpen collapsed in the 8-5 loss. Zimmerman has driven in runs in seven of his last eight games, batting .333 (10-for-30) with four homers, two doubles and 15 RBIs over the stretch. Since returning from the disabled list on July 28, Zimmerman is leading the Nats with eight homers, 10 doubles, 29 RBIs and a .587 slugging...
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Stephen Strasburg throws, status remains unclear for next start

Stephen Strasburg throws, status remains unclear for next start
ST. LOUIS - Stephen Strasburg threw, albeit casually, for the first time since leaving Sunday's game with upper back tightness. "He played catch," manager Matt Williams said. "We'll see how he comes out of that. He didn't feel anything abnormal today, and so we'll do a little more of that tomorrow and look to get him to a bullpen (session)." Tanner Roark made his second minor league start last night since the Nats optioned him on Aug. 25. However, the right-hander's outing at Double-A...
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Nats reinstate Dan Uggla, call up Pedro Severino and recall Sammy Solis

Nats reinstate Dan Uggla, call up Pedro Severino and recall Sammy Solis
ST. LOUIS - The Nationals have reinstated second baseman Dan Uggla, selected the contract of catcher Pedro Severino from Double-A Harrisburg and recalled left-hander Sammy Solis from Triple-A Syracuse. To make room for Severino on the 40-man roster, right-hander David Carpenter was put on the 60-day disabled list with right shoulder inflammation. Uggla returns to the Nats after missing 22 games with back spasms. He played in seven rehab assignment games with Harrisburg, hitting .217 (5-for-23)...
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Nats looking to get the most out of rookie Joe Ross (with lineups)

Nats looking to get the most out of rookie Joe Ross (with lineups)
ST. LOUIS - As right-hander Joe Ross prepares to make his 12th start of his rookie season in tonight's game against the Cardinals, the question remains how much longer the Nationals intend to use the 22-year-old. "It's an interesting scenario because, one, he hasn't been hurt," manager Matt Williams explained. "It's not like he's had an injury and we're cautious in that regard." Combined with his 76 innings thrown in the minors this season, Ross has totaled 142 2/3 innings in 2015....
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MASN holds exclusive Chris Davis autograph signing for Twitter followers

MASN holds exclusive Chris Davis autograph signing for Twitter followers
Orioles fans who follow @masnOrioles on Twitter were able to take a long lunch break at Dempsey's Brew Pub & Restaurant at Camden Yards on Monday, Aug. 31 to grab a burger, walk down Eutaw Street ... and meet Chris Davis! Before Monday's event, MASN tweeted out an exclusive ticket for its Twitter followers, giving them access to an autograph signing with Davis. IT'S HERE: Show this at our event tomorrow (8/31) at Dempsey's Brew Pub to get into @CrushD19's autograph signing!...
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Matt of Matt's Bats: Giving thanks for Denard Span

Matt of Matt's Bats: Giving thanks for Denard Span
Last week, Nationals fans got the disappointing news that center fielder Denard Span, who had just come off the disabled list, needed hip surgery and would be out for the rest of the 2015 season. This is a huge blow for the team and Nats fans. In his three seasons on the Nationals, Span became a fan favorite and a Gold Glove-caliber center fielder. Since he becomes a free agent at the end of this season, and given how Michael A. Taylor has played this year, chances are Span has played his last...
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Matt Kremnitzer: Despite O's crumbling season, Adam Jones still raking

Matt Kremnitzer: Despite O's crumbling season, Adam Jones still raking
When it comes to the Orioles, there's a lot to be negative about right now. They just lost yet again and they've dropped 12 of their last 14 games. They ended August with only 11 wins in 29 games. Hisashi Iwakuma fired a no-hitter against them in Seattle. The Twins took all four games in a crucial series at Camden Yards. They were also swept out of Texas to complete a dismal road trip. Considering what they've done since the day Buck Showalter arrived on the scene, this horrendous stretch of...
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Nats' playoff hopes fading after dismal August

Nats' playoff hopes fading after dismal August
ST. LOUIS - The Nationals ended a disappointing August in fitting fashion, wasting a comeback three-run homer from Ryan Zimmerman in last night's 8-5 loss to the Cardinals. Washington began the month holding a two-game lead over the Mets in the National League East. But that margin quickly evaporated as the Nats were swept out of New York on Aug 2. Bolstered by several trade deadline acquisitions, the Mets rolled off seven in a row, taking a commanding first-place lead. The Nationals dropped...
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