Marty Niland: Looking back on a classic Nats extra-inning win

Marty Niland: Looking back on a classic Nats extra-inning win
The Nationals are headed for the National League East championship with a possible division series matchup against the Los Angeles Dodgers, who are currently three games up on the San Francisco Giants in the NL West. It a little more than two years ago, as the Nats were rolling toward their most recent division title, that they clashed with the Dodgers in perhaps the two teams' most memorable regular season contest, an 8-5 Nationals victory in 14 innings. The five-hour, 31-minute marathon at...
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Previewing how the NL postseason landscape is shaping up

Previewing how the NL postseason landscape is shaping up
With less than a third of the season to go, the Nationals are putting it all together and sucking all the drama out of the race in the National League East. The Cubs, leaders in the NL Central who struggled before the All-Star break, have gotten their swagger back. The story line is different with the Giants, who lost their weekend series to the Nationals in D.C. and are having to do all they can to hold off the Dodgers in the NL West. They are 6-15 since the All-Star break, the worst record...
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Allowing two homers again, Nats fall to Padres 5-3

Allowing two homers again, Nats fall to Padres 5-3
In the last game of the series against the Dodgers on Thursday, third baseman Justin Turner cranked two homers and had five RBIs as L.A. won over the Nationals 6-3 to take the series. That scenario repeated itself Friday, when Padres and former Dodgers right-fielder Matt Kemp launched two homers and finished with four RBIs in a San Diego series-opening 5-3 win over the Nationals. Manager Dusty Baker said he wants his club to be more aggressive early in games. "We don't kick dirt on people...
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Winning streak over for Strasburg, but positives come out of loss

Winning streak over for Strasburg, but positives come out of loss
The winning streak is over for Stephen Strasburg. But what might be more impressive is how he did not give up after a rocky first two innings. Justin Turner slammed two homers and had five RBIs as the Dodgers built a 6-1 lead through three innings. Turner connected on 3-2 slider in the first and a 3-0 four-seam fastball in the third against Strasburg, who suffered his first loss since September 9, 2015, as the Dodgers dropped the Nationals 6-3. Manager Dusty Baker pointed towards the pair of...
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Turners make impact in series finale (Strasburg suffers first loss 6-3)

Turners make impact in series finale (Strasburg suffers first loss 6-3)
Justin Turner crushed a two-run shot off Stephen Strasburg to get the Dodgers on the board 2-0 in the first. The Nationals version of Turner was not to be outdone. Trea Turner and Michael A. Taylor singled to start the bottom of the first. Trea and Taylor pulled off a double steal. The Dodgers disputed the safe call at third, but the call was upheld. One batter later, Bryce Harper launched a sacrifice fly to left. The Dodgers led 2-1. Wilson Ramos' single in the second continued a nine-game...
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Game 96 lineups: Dodgers at Nationals

Game 96 lineups: Dodgers at Nationals
Right-hander Stephen Strasburg just wants to go out and pitch. But if the San Diego State phenom can pull off the win Thursday afternoon against the L.A. Dodgers, he will have given his team a series win and continued the best start in his career at 14-0. With a victory today, he would also tie Roger Clemens (1986) for the fifth-best start in Major League Baseball history. After Wednesday's 8-1 win, the Nationals now have an 18-17 edge all-time over the Dodgers in D.C. Los Angeles counters...
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Rivero back to his consistent self after two more scoreless innings

Rivero back to his consistent self after two more scoreless innings
Quietly, Felipe Rivero has put together many consistent appearances. Nine in a row to be exact. Wednesday night, he fired a 1-2-3 seventh inning, inducing three flyouts. Then in the eighth, the southpaw Rivero worked two outs before allowing a Howie Kendrick double. He then got Chris Taylor to fly out. Two scoreless innings for Rivero. His previous outing was Sunday's 18-inning marathon against the Pirates. Rivero went a season-high and career-high matching three scoreless innings. Rivero now...
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Glover needs only four pitches to finish Dodgers in big league debut

Glover needs only four pitches to finish Dodgers in big league debut
With the Nationals leading 8-1 heading to the ninth, right-hander Koda Glover was given the perfect opportunity to shine in his major league debut. It took him all of four pitches to finish off the game. The Dodgers managed two flyouts wrapped around a comebacker to Glover. He stabbed the hot shot off pinch-hitter Andrew Toles' bat and calmly threw to first base for the second out. For the second time in as many nights, manager Dusty Baker was impressed with the performance of a player called...
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Harper hits one of four Nats homers in 8-1 win over Dodgers

Harper hits one of four Nats homers in 8-1 win over Dodgers
Bryce Harper has been hoping for that big hit to ignite a good run. He slammed one of four Nationals homers tonight in an 8-1 victory over the Los Angeles, snapping a six-game losing skid to the Dodgers. Facing the Dodgers right-hander Bud Norris in his first at-bat, Harper crushed a 451-foot two-run shot high into the third deck in right field to give the Nationals a 2-0 lead. It was his 20th homer of the season and first since July 7 at New York against the Mets. According to...
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Flu bug slows Nats offense but Murphy believes they can adapt

Flu bug slows Nats offense but Murphy believes they can adapt
With the 8-4 loss to the Dodgers on Tuesday, the Nationals played a second straight game with a couple of offensive starters unavailable. And really it was three starters not available because of the left ribcage strain that has first baseman Ryan Zimmerman on the disabled list. On Sunday against the Pirates, Daniel Murphy was available only for the pinch-hit that tied the game. Anthony Rendon was a late scratch with flu-like symptoms. Then Tuesday against Los Angeles, Murphy was back but...
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Dodgers too much for Lopez in his debut

Dodgers too much for Lopez in his debut
The Dodgers rudely welcomed rookie Reynaldo Lopez to the big leagues with a 8-4 defeat of the Nationals on Tuesday in the series opener at Nats Park. The Dodgers connected off of Lopez with four hits in the first inning. Chase Utley started the scoring with a solo shot over the right-center field wall. Howie Kendrick followed with a single and Justin Turner hit a double to put men on second and third. The Dodgers were able to connect on Lopez's 96-98 mph fastball. Adrian Gonzalez lined sharply...
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Opposite dugout: First-year skipper Roberts keeping Dodgers focused

Opposite dugout: First-year skipper Roberts keeping Dodgers focused
Manager: Dave Roberts (1st season) Record: 52-42 Last 10 games: 5-5 Who to watch: SS Corey Seager (.301 with 17 HR, 43 RBIs), 1B Adrian Gonzalez (.286, 44 RBIs), 3B Justin Turner (15 HR, 50 RBIs), LHP Scott Kazmir (7-3, 4.52 ERA), RHP Kenley Jansen (27 saves, 1.36 ERA) Season series vs. Nationals: 3-0 Pitching probables: July 19: LHP Scott Kazmir vs. RHP Reynaldo Lopez, 7:05 p.m., MASN2 July 20: LHP Hyun-Jin Ryu vs. LHP Gio Gonzalez, 7:05 p.m., MASN2 July 21: RHP Bud Norris vs. RHP Stephen...
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After long day, Orioles talk about 14-inning win over the Dodgers

After long day, Orioles talk about 14-inning win over the Dodgers
LOS ANGELES - The Orioles' bullpen kept getting huge outs, but the Orioles offense kept making outs. Mark Trumbo tied the game 4-4 with a homer in the sixth inning. When the O's batted in the top of the 14th against the Los Angeles Dodgers, it was still a 4-4 game. Orioles hitters had a stretch after Trumbo's roundtripper where they went 0-for-21 with 12 strikeouts. Mercifully, that would change. At the same time, the Orioles' bullpen made sure that Dodgers batters didn't come through...
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Kim isn't cooling

Kim isn't cooling
The Hyun Soo Kim drama in spring training and the booing at Camden Yards on opening day seem almost comical as he works through his first major league season. Kim wouldn't accept a demotion to Triple-A Norfolk, his contract stipulating that he must give approval. Fans considered him selfish after he looked so overmatched at the plate and in the field. The Orioles were considered a team forced to play with a 24-man roster. Look how far we've come - the player, the crowds, the media. Kim has...
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O's game blog: Kevin Gausman on mound in L.A. series finale

O's game blog: Kevin Gausman on mound in L.A. series finale
LOS ANGELES - Back in late May, the Orioles had a three-city road trip with two series on the West Coast. They went 4-5 on that excursion to Anaheim, Houston and Cleveland. A win today at Dodger Stadium would make the Orioles 4-5 on this trip to San Diego, Seattle and Los Angeles. That would not be a winning trip, of course, but a respectable mark to finish 4-5. Of course, the trip got off to a 2-0 start at San Diego before five consecutive losses followed that. After Chris Tillman gave his...
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Opposite dugout: Ace Kershaw sidelined for now, but Dodgers still dangerous

Opposite dugout: Ace Kershaw sidelined for now, but Dodgers still dangerous
Manager: Dave Roberts (1st season) Record: 47-37 Last 10 games: 6-4 Who to watch: SS Corey Seager (.303 average, 17 HR, 40 RBIs); 1B Adrian Gonzalez (.278 average, 80 hits); SP Kenta Maeda (7-5, 2.82 ERA); RP Kenley Jansen (1.34 ERA, 24 saves). Season series vs. Orioles: 1st meeting (1-2 in 2013) Pitching probables: July 4: RHP Yovani Gallardo vs. LHP Julio Urias, 9:10 p.m., MASNJuly 5: RHP Chris Tillman vs. RHP Kenta Maeda, 10:10 p.m., MASN2July 6: RHP Kevin Gausman vs. RHP Bud Norris,...
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Opposite dugout: Strasburg vs. Kershaw highlights Nats-Dodgers in L.A.

Opposite dugout: Strasburg vs. Kershaw highlights Nats-Dodgers in L.A.
Manager: Dave Roberts (1st season) Record: 38-33 Last 10 games: 6-4 Who to watch: SS Corey Seager (.280/.342/.502 with 15 HR, 36 RBIs), 1B Adrian Gonzalez (.274 with 32 RBIs), CF Joc Pederson (12 HR, 31 RBIs), LHP Clayton Kershaw (10-1, 1.58 ERA), RHP Kenley Jansen (1.59 ERA with 19 saves) Season series vs. Nationals: First meeting (4-2 in 2015) Pitching probables: June 20: RHP Stephen Strasburg vs. LHP Clayton Kershaw, 10:10 p.m., MASN2 June 21: RHP Tanner Roark vs. LHP Scott Kazmir, 10:10...
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What does Zack Greinke signing with Arizona mean for the NL West?

What does Zack Greinke signing with Arizona mean for the NL West?
Does Zack Greinke's signing with the Arizona Diamondbacks mean that we've seen the biggest shocker move of the offseason? Does it mean that the Winter Meetings next week in Nashville are going to be without drama? Hardly. The Diamondbacks have been hinting all offseason that they were going to make a push for pitching and subsequently a push to challenge the Dodgers and Giants in the National League West. And while the general consensus is that Greinke was choosing to sign with the Dodgers or...
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Opposite dugout: Dodgers continue to ride outstanding pitching by shutting out opponents

Opposite dugout: Dodgers continue to ride outstanding pitching by shutting out opponents
Manager: Don Mattingly (5th season) Record: 62-49 Last 10 games: 6-4 Who to watch: 1B Adrian Gonzalez (.298/.373/.529 with 22 HR, 68 RBIs), C Yasmani Grandal (.289/.391/.498 with 15 HR, 44 RBIs), CF Joc Pederson (.222 with 21 HR, 43 RBIs), 2B Howie Kendrick (.296 with 49 RBIs), RHP Zack Greinke (11-2, 71 ERA, 0.85 WHIP), LHP Clayton Kershaw (9-6 with 197 strikeouts, 2.51 ERA) Season series vs. Nationals: 2-1 Pitching probables: Aug. 10: LHP Gio Gonzalez vs. LHP Brett Anderson, 10:10 p.m., MASN...
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Opposite dugout: Dodgers look to continue controlling NL West with strong pitching

Opposite dugout: Dodgers look to continue controlling NL West with strong pitching
Manager: Don Mattingly (5th season) Record: 51-39 Last 10 games: 6-4 Who to watch: 1B Adrian Gonzalez (.283/.355/.520 with 18 HR, 55 RBIs), C Yasmani Grandal (.282/.401/.526 with 14 HR, 36 RBIs), CF Joc Pederson (.230 with 20 HR, 40 RBIs), 2B Howie Kendrick (.292 with 37 RBIs), RHP Zack Greinke (8-2, 1.39 ERA, 0.84 WHIP), LHP Clayton Kershaw (6-6 with 160 strikeouts, 2.85 ERA) Season series vs. Nationals: First meeting (2-4 in 2014) Pitching probables: July 17: RHP Mike Bolsinger vs. RHP Jordan...
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