Zimmerman to host fifth annual A Night at the Park on June 16

Zimmerman to host fifth annual A Night at the Park on June 16
Washington Nationals third baseman Ryan Zimmerman will once again host “A Night at the Park,” presented by MASN Sports at Nationals Park on Monday, June 16. The fifth annual fundraising event for the ziMS Foundation will feature performances by country music stars Billy Currington and Jerrod Niemann. The evening includes an expanded concert experience, powered by Live Nation, along with silent and live auction featuring one-of-a-kind items and experiences. Nationals Park will again be...
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Strasburg to pitch Wednesday, Fister on Friday

Strasburg to pitch Wednesday, Fister on Friday
The Nationals have now set two-thirds of their starting rotation for the three-game series against the Los Angeles Dodgers that begins Monday at Nats Park. Washington right-hander Jordan Zimmermann will battle 5-0 Dodgers righty Zack Greinke on Monday. And following Sunday's loss in Philadelphia, Nats manager Matt Williams announced that right-hander Stephen Strasburg would start for the home team on Wednesday against ex-Nat Dan Haren. That leaves only Tuesday's starter for the Nationals...
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Missed opportunities dog Nats in 1-0 loss to Phillies

Missed opportunities dog Nats in 1-0 loss to Phillies
You won't find the Nationals lamenting breaks that didn't go their way in a 1-0 loss to the Phillies on Sunday. To a man, they admitted they ran into a tough pitcher in Phillies righty Roberto Hernandez., who outdueled Washington's Gio Gonzalez on an afternoon when windy conditions made things tough for both teams. They Nats ran themselves out of a possible big inning in the first and didn't come through with the tying run on third in the eighth. It all added up to a loss capping a 3-2 road...
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Gonzalez strong, but Nats drop finale 1-0

Gonzalez strong, but Nats drop finale 1-0
Phillies right-hander Roberto Hernandez is pitching more like Fausto Carmona circa 2010 than the guy who toted a 5.74 ERA into today's game against the Nationals at Citizens Bank Park. Gio Gonzalez is doing his usual routine of holding the opposition in check, but trails 1-0 after three innings. The Phillies took a 1-0 lead in the first when Jimmy Rollins tripled with one out and scored on Chase Utley's single to center.r. The Nats had runners on first and second with one down in the third,...
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Moore's homer cuts Phils' lead to 3-1 (Nats rally for 5-3 victory)

Moore's homer cuts Phils' lead to 3-1 (Nats rally for 5-3 victory)
The Phillies took a quick 3-0 lead against Stephen Strasburg and the Nationals, with ex-Nat Marlon Byrd crushing a three-run homer in the first inning. All three runs were unearned by virtue of an error charged to right fielder Jayson Werth, who couldn't come up with a foul pop off Byrd's bat in the tricky corner at Citizens Bank Park for the third out, prolonging the at-bat. It was a tough call to make on a tough play, and I wouldn't be surprised to see it changed at some point. Tyler...
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Williams updates progress of Ramos, Hairston, Fister, Zimmerman

Williams updates progress of Ramos, Hairston, Fister, Zimmerman
Wilson Ramos caught three innings in an extended spring training game today in Viera, Fla., hitting two homers and a double. But the strong showing may not sway the Nationals from taking the more patient and conservative course in his rehabilitation from surgery to remove the hamate bone from his left hand. "We'll see how he does tomorrow," manager Matt Williams said before the Nationals opened a three-game weekend series at Citizens Bank Park against the Phillies. "He's scheduled to catch...
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Zimmermann becomes winningest pitcher in Nats history

Zimmermann becomes winningest pitcher in Nats history
Once the Nationals offense got going, right-hander Jordan Zimmermann had no trouble becoming the winningest pitcher in team history. Anthony Rendon had four hits, including a home run, and three RBIs, and Zimmermann combined with three relievers on a shutout as the Nats completed a two-game sweep with a 7-0 victory over the Astros on Wednesday night. Zimmermann posted his 45th victory for the Nats, breaking a tie with Livan Hernandez atop the team's all-time wins register. He scattered seven...
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Williams on Harper's injury and what's next

Williams on Harper's injury and what's next
The decision to place outfielder Bryce Harper on the 15-day disabled list with a sprained left thumb was two-fold, said Nationals manager Matt Williams: It gives the team time to get a full evaluation of what's wrong with the digit, and allows Harper some additional time to let the swelling in the thumb dissipate. Williams said there's some concern in the organization because Harper has previously injured the thumb. So he's going to Cleveland on Monday to get a second opinion from Dr. Thomas...
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Fans encouraged to "Vote Orange" and send O's to All-Star Game

Fans encouraged to "Vote Orange" and send O's to All-Star Game
The Orioles want you to vote early, vote often and - perhaps most importantly - "Vote Orange" to send deserving O's to the All-Star Game in Minnesota on July 15. Online voting has begun here, and in-stadium voting begins Sunday at Camden Yards. Who's on the ballot? First baseman Chris Davis, second baseman Ryan Flaherty, shortstop J.J. Hardy, third baseman Manny Machado, catcher Matt Wieters, designated hitter Nelson Cruz, and outfielders David Lough, Adam Jones and Nick Markakis. Fans can...
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Roark blanks Padres on three hits in 4-0 win

Roark blanks Padres on three hits in 4-0 win
If you liked last night's offensive explosion from the Nationals, you'll like the start to this afternoon's game. After one inning, the Nats have a 3-0 lead on the Padres. So much for any worries that a day game after a rain-delayed night game would lead to some sort of hangover. The bats are alive, all right. After Tanner Roark dispatched the Friars on nine pitches in a 1-2-3 top of the first, the Nats quickly went to work. With one out, Anthony Rendon singled, Jayson Werth reached on an...
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Williams says Harper is available, Gonzalez is feeling fine (updated)

Williams says Harper is available, Gonzalez is feeling fine (updated)
Bryce Harper is scheduled to be seen by a hand specialist today at Nationals Park, and the Nationals will wait until that examination is complete to determine if any further diagnostic measures, such as an MRI, are necessary. Harper jammed his left thumb on a headfirst slide into third base on a triple in Friday night's game against the Padres, and manager Matt Williams said early returns on the injury are promising. "The early tests, anyway, are pretty good," Williams said in his pregame...
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Nats activate Span from DL, option Souza to Triple-A

Nats activate Span from DL, option Souza to Triple-A
The Washington Nationals today recalled from rehab and reinstated outfielder Denard Span from the 7-Day Disabled List and optioned outfielder Steven Souza Jr. to Syracuse of the Triple-A International League. Nationals President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcement. Span, 30, rejoins the Nationals after going 2-for-4 with two RBI, three runs, three walks and a stolen base in two rehab contests with Hagerstown of the Single-A South Atlantic League. Before...
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Orioles unveil additional 60th anniversary interactive elements for fans

Orioles unveil additional 60th anniversary interactive elements for fans
In celebration of their 60th Anniversary season, the Orioles are offering fans several opportunities to share their memories of six decades of Orioles baseball and participate in year-long contests for a chance to win a variety of prizes. * #OsInstaMemories Project: A season-long endeavor, the #OsInstaMemories Project will compile Orioles-related photographs in a variety of categories, including this month's theme, "Ballpark Experience." Fans are encouraged to submit their best photo in each...
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Walters homers, but Nats fall 11-2

Walters homers, but Nats fall 11-2
If the Nationals are going to continue their mastery of the 2014 Marlins, they're going to have to come from behind. Three batters into tonight's game, Stephen Strasburg was down 3-0. Christian Yelich singled off Strasburg's second pitch and Marcell Ozuna followed by whackin a first-pitch fastball into left field. That brought Giancarlo Stanton to the plate and Stanton mashed a 2-1 changeup over the fence in straightaway center for a three-run homer. The Marlins are being aggressive early in...
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Span and Williams on Jackie Robinson Day

Span and Williams on Jackie Robinson Day
Today marks baseball's annual remembrance of the groundbreaking day when Jackie Robinson of the Brooklyn Dodgers broke baseball's color barrier in 1947. No matter where he's played, Nationals center fielder Denard Span has always made a special plea to his manager to make sure he's in the starting lineup for Jackie Robinson Day. "You can't sit me on Jackie Robinson Day," Span said he's told his skippers. A concussion that landed him on the seven-day disabled list, however, will keep...
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Rounding up the Nationals' injury udpates

Rounding up the Nationals' injury udpates
I wonder which part of the "How to Be a Major League Manager" handbook covers addressing your team's injuries with the assembled media before every game. Nationals skipper Matt Williams has been spending an inordinate amount of time each day recapping the various ailments that have befallen the Nats and how players are progressing, and Tuesday in Miami was no different. So without any further ado ... Outfielder Bryce Harper's quad is fine, as is outfielder Nate McLouth's sore left knee....
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Nats' bats break out against Marlins (Nats win 9-2)

Nats' bats break out against Marlins (Nats win 9-2)
Apparently, there's nothing like the Miami Marlins to bring a team out of its offensive woes. Going to the bottom of the third in Little Havana, the Nationals have a 5-1 lead, with right-hander Jordan Zimmermann on the mound. Zimmermann has given up a run on three hits and struck out three over two frames. In the first inning, it was Washington's extra-base power on display. Jayson Werth doubled off the top of the wall in left-center and then scored easily when Bryce Harper tripled. Tyler...
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Williams provides updates on Fister, Span, McLouth

Williams provides updates on Fister, Span, McLouth
Injured right-hander Doug Fister, who is on the 15-day disabled list with a right lat strain, threw a 50-pitch bullpen in Miami this afternoon. If he feels good tomorrow, the Nationals will work a simulated game into his upcoming rehabilitation schedule. "Fifty pitches, and he was a little winded, he told me afterward, but physically he was good," manager Matt Williams said. "Everything felt good. He's progressing. It's a very good sign for him to go through that today and have no...
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In utility role, Frandsen has to be ready for anything

In utility role, Frandsen has to be ready for anything
Before this season, Kevin Frandsen had trotted to the outfield only 14 times in 398 career games. Now, with the Nationals thin in the outfield because of injuries that sent Denard Span (concussion) and Scott Hairston (oblique strain) to the DL, and with Nate McLouth nursing a sore left knee, Frandsen is quickly becoming reacquainted with warning tracks, walls and tricky bounces in opposing ballparks. Tonight marks the veteran's third straight start in left field, but to hear Frandsen tell it,...
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Hearing from Harper, Desmond and McLouth

Hearing from Harper, Desmond and McLouth
Bryce Harper can't explain why the Nationals struggle against the Braves, nor is the slugging outfielder really concerned with Atlanta's early-season dominance. Going 1-5 against one club during the first two weeks of the regular season isn't any reason to panic, Harper said after the Nats were shellacked 10-2 at Turner Field on Sunday, with the Braves finishing off a weekend sweep. "It sucks coming here to lose," Harper said. "Nobody wants to lose. But like I said, it's part of the...
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