Taylor, Robinson make most of starting opportunity

Taylor, Robinson make most of starting opportunity
Michael A. Taylor was supposed to bat seventh, not second. Clint Robinson wasn't supposed to be batting anything, unless the situation called for a pinch-hitter late in last night's game. Funny how these things work sometimes, because wouldn't you know the two biggest offensive stars of the Nationals' 5-1 victory over the Pirates happened to be named Michael A. Taylor and Clint Robinson? Robinson recorded two hits against left-hander Francisco Liriano and drove in the Nationals' first run...
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Opening second half in style, Strasburg improves to 13-0

Opening second half in style, Strasburg improves to 13-0
In explaining why he was choosing not to pitch in the only All-Star Game that will take place in his hometown during his active career, Stephen Strasburg emphasized how it was more important for him to pitch not in an exhibition game in San Diego but in as many big games as possible for the Nationals the remainder of this season. "In my head, I want to make up for the two starts I missed (while on the disabled list)," the right-hander said last weekend in New York. "So hopefully I'll start...
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Strasburg dominating early once again (Nationals win 5-1)

Strasburg dominating early once again (Nationals win 5-1)
Stephen Strasburg skipped the All-Star Game so he could put all of his efforts into pitching tonight's second-half opener. So far, the right-hander is putting that extra preparation to good use. Strasburg has tossed four scoreless innings so far against the Pirates, allowing only one batter to reach base (via walk). It's the third straight start in which he hasn't allowed a hit through his first four innings on the mound. Francisco Liriano has been nearly as sharp himself, retiring the first...
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Late scratch of Murphy foils Baker's plan for altered lineup

Late scratch of Murphy foils Baker's plan for altered lineup
Dusty Baker thought he had figured out his preferred lineup when the Nationals are facing a left-handed starter, one that included Trea Turner leading off, Michael A. Taylor in center field and Daniel Murphy shifting to first base. But then Murphy had to be scratched from the lineup for tonight's second-half opener against the Pirates, and Baker's master plan had to be thrown out the window. Murphy was scratched due to "general leg soreness," according to the Nationals. Club officials...
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Game 91 lineups: Nats vs. Pirates (Murphy scratched)

Game 91 lineups: Nats vs. Pirates (Murphy scratched)
And we're back. After a four-day break for All-Star festivities, the Nationals are back in action tonight, opening a nine-game homestand that begins this weekend with three against the Pirates. Stephen Strasburg sat out the Midsummer Classic in San Diego in part because he wanted to make sure he was fresh to start tonight's second-half opener. So this is a big start for the right-hander, who (by the way) is attempting to improve to 13-0 on the season. Erratic left-hander Francisco Liriano...
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Nats hope to open second half as strong as they closed first

Nats hope to open second half as strong as they closed first
Dusty Baker believes strongly in entering the All-Star break on a high note and coming out of the All-Star break on a high note, likening this portion of the schedule to the final minutes of the first half and the opening minutes of the second half of a basketball game, when momentum swings often feel more pronounced. Baker's Nationals did their part in entering their four-day break on an upswing, winning 11 of their last 14 games, including 6-of-7 against the Mets. Now they'll see if they...
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Top storylines for the Nationals in the second half

Top storylines for the Nationals in the second half
The first half of the 2016 season was full of compelling storylines for the Nationals, most of them positive but not all. The end result: a 54-36 record and a six-game lead in the National League East at the All-Star break. Now the real work begins. The Nats have put themselves in position to win another division title, but in order to do that they've got several issues to address over the remainder of the regular season. Here, then, are five top storylines for the second half ... 1. Can Ryan...
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Nationals' first-half report card

Nationals' first-half report card
The Home Run Derby and All-Star Game have come and gone, but now we've got the long, two-day wait without any baseball until the second half of the season opens Friday night at Nationals Park. So we'll spend these two days looking back at what has transpired so far and looking ahead at what may transpire the rest of the way. Tomorrow, we'll break down the top storylines of the second half for the Nationals. First up today, though, we look back at the first half and hand out grades for the...
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Harper, Murphy, Scherzer all step up in All-Star Game

Harper, Murphy, Scherzer all step up in All-Star Game
All four of the Nationals' eligible players appeared in tonight's All-Star Game, and three of them did their part to try to help their league emerge victorious. The fourth, unfortunately, came up short in his one key at-bat, and the rest of the National League squad didn't have enough offense to overcome a tough American League team that took an early lead and held on to win 4-2 in San Diego. Bryce Harper and Daniel Murphy combined for three hits, and Max Scherzer dominated during one inning...
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How Ramos' relationship with Nats made him an All-Star

How Ramos' relationship with Nats made him an All-Star
Any discussion of Wilson Ramos' offensive breakthrough this season naturally begins with the obvious: his eyes. Ramos had LASIK surgery in March after his annual spring training exam suggested his vision could be improved. And almost instantaneously, the 28-year-old catcher began seeing the ball like never before. Those sliders off the plate he used to flail helplessly at now are clear as day, so he just lets them go by, waiting instead for a pitch over the plate he can hit. But ask Ramos the...
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Roark dazzles in surprise relief appearance to close first half

Roark dazzles in surprise relief appearance to close first half
NEW YORK - Tanner Roark didn't know what to expect when he headed down to the bullpen early yesterday afternoon at Citi Field, other than to make sure he was ready in case he was needed to pitch the Nationals' first-half finale against the Mets. Only four days after throwing 99 pitches in a win over the Brewers, Roark knew he wouldn't be starting another game until next weekend at the earliest. So he made himself available to pitch in relief for this one, not sure if or when or how he would...
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With extra emphasis on Mets series, Nats finish first half strong

With extra emphasis on Mets series, Nats finish first half strong
NEW YORK - The situations weren't identical, they never are from one season to the next. Rosters change, injuries happen, guys who had good years come back with bad years and vice versa. But if nothing else, there was a sense of familiarity when the Nationals arrived in Queens on Thursday for the opener of a key July series against the team directly behind them in the National League East standings. They led the Mets by four games, with four games to play at Citi Field. Not quite one year ago...
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Nationals finish off big weekend with third straight win over Mets

Nationals finish off big weekend with third straight win over Mets
NEW YORK - Daniel Murphy supplied the big blast once again, but this time it was Gio Gonzalez and a surprise member of the bullpen pitching the Nationals to victory over the Mets. Gonzalez held the depleted New York lineup in check for 5 2/3 innings before handing things off to none other than Tanner Roark, who in his first relief appearance of the season tossed another 2 1/3 innings of perfect ball to help lead the Nationals to a 3-2 win at Citi Field. Murphy's two-run homer in the top of the...
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Murphy does it again, homers vs. Mets (Nats win 3-2)

Murphy does it again, homers vs. Mets (Nats win 3-2)
If the Nationals are playing the Mets, Daniel Murphy must be driving in runs. It has been occurring with such regularity, astrophysicists are nearly ready to declare it a new law of the universe. When Murphy stepped to the plate in the top of the first this afternoon with a man on base, the question wasn't whether he would drive in the runner. It was how he would do it. How does a two-run homer off the second deck in right field at Citi Field sound to everyone? With that blast off left-hander...
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Baker looks Scherzer in the eye, lets his starter finish

Baker looks Scherzer in the eye, lets his starter finish
NEW YORK - When he saw Dusty Baker walking to the mound with two outs in the seventh inning last night, Max Scherzer assumed what all starting pitchers assume when their manager walks to the mound. "I thought he was going to take me out," the right-hander said. Baker, however, hadn't yet made up his mind. "When I went to the mound, I didn't know what exactly what I was going to do," the manager said. "Usually, I know what to do." Scherzer had just walked Alejandro De Aza, prolonging the...
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Game 90 lineups: Nats at Mets

Game 90 lineups: Nats at Mets
NEW YORK - And so we have reached the first-half finale of what has been a most interesting season so far for the Nationals. They are guaranteed to go into the All-Star break at least four games up in the National League East, possibly six if they can beat the Mets again this afternoon. It'll be Gio Gonzalez on the mound for this one, and though he has been erratic for most of the last two months, he has dominated at Citi Field over his career (7-1, 1.53 ERA in 12 starts). Fellow left-hander...
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Nationals rave about Murphy's latest takedown of Mets

Nationals rave about Murphy's latest takedown of Mets
NEW YORK - Daniel Murphy will never admit it, but make no mistake how much he is enjoying tormenting a Mets organization that made no serious effort to re-sign him last winter despite his consistent track record and historic postseason performance that helped lead the franchise to its first pennant in 15 years. Murphy hides his emotions well, and he expertly refuses to take the bait whenever he's asked to comment on his individual exploits, let alone when he does it to his former team as he...
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Murphy, Scherzer lead the way again in 6-1 win over Mets

Murphy, Scherzer lead the way again in 6-1 win over Mets
NEW YORK - Two things you can pretty much count on when the Nationals play the Mets: Daniel Murphy will drive in runs and Max Scherzer will pitch well. Both, of course, came true during tonight's 6-1 victory at Citi Field. Murphy homered and drove in four runs to lead the Nationals' offensive attack and give Scherzer some cushion to go after the New York lineup en route to his latest victory over his division rivals. Murphy delivered an RBI single in the top of the third, then an RBI double...
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Murphy continues to terrorize former team (Nats win 6-1)

Murphy continues to terrorize former team (Nats win 6-1)
NEW YORK - Daniel Murphy has done damage against just about everybody he's faced this season, but he has saved some of his best work for his former employer. And he's doing it again tonight. Murphy has driven in one of the Nationals' three early runs off right-hander Logan Verrett, lacing a one-out single up the middle to give his team a 3-1 lead over the Mets. It was Murphy's 16th RBI in 12 games this season against the same New York club that drafted and developed him, the same one he...
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Treinen on his latest double play and emotional reaction

Treinen on his latest double play and emotional reaction
NEW YORK - Blake Treinen knows his biggest strength as a reliever: the ability to induce ground balls, often in key situations that demand a double play. So he knew why manager Dusty Baker summoned him with one out and two on in the bottom of the eighth inning last night, the Nationals clinging to a 3-1 lead over the Mets. It's one thing to know your job, though, and another thing to actually perform it. And Treinen performed to near-perfection, getting Juan Lagares to ground to second baseman...
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