Marlins' megadeal hurts Miami, but helps Nats

Marlins' megadeal hurts Miami, but helps Nats
The Marlins have been a bit of a problem for the Nationals in recent years. And that's putting it quite nicely. Over the last five seasons, the Marlins have absolutely dominated the Nats, going 59-30 against Washington in that time frame. Even this year, with the Marlins floundering (awful pun, I know) and the Nationals taking the division title, Miami played Davey Johnson's team tough, and ended up taking half of the 18 games between the two squads. Those days might be over for a while,...
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Experienced pitcher and leadoff hitter top Nats' wish list

Experienced pitcher and leadoff hitter top Nats' wish list
As the offseason kicks into high gear, the Nationals are a defending champion in an unusual position: They could stand pat and be picked to win the National League East for a second consecutive season in 2013. But that's not how the Nationals operate. They'll likely be looking for an experienced pitcher and a leadoff batter. The Nationals rotation will have Stephen Strasburg, Jordan Zimmermann, Gio Gonzalez and Ross Detwiler, but the fifth guy is up for debate. It could be Zack Greinke,...
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Despite Sunday loss, Nationals' homestand one for the ages

Despite Sunday loss, Nationals' homestand one for the ages
The Nationals lost 8-0 to the Miami Marlins on Sunday, but the 11-game homestand was a rousing success and will be an example of another major step in their most memorable season to date. The Nats went 8-3, sweeping Chicago Cubs, getting three of four against the Cardinals and one from the Marlins. Starting Monday, the Nationals have a 5 1/2-game lead over the Braves. The Nats match up with their final regular season series with Atlanta this weekend at Turner Field. But back to an amazing...
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Nats get nada off Nolasco

Nats get nada off Nolasco
You'd think that when a team faces a starting pitcher twice in a 13-day span that they'd have a pretty good idea what was coming the second time around, wouldn't you? "Yeah, you would think," Adam LaRoche said. That didn't help the Nationals against Ricky Nolasco. The Marlins right-hander, who came into today with a 4.64 ERA this season, shut out the Nationals back on Aug. 28, and he did the same thing this afternoon, giving up just four hits over nine strong innings. "He did the...
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It's all Marlins early on (Nats lose 8-0)

It's all Marlins early on (Nats lose 8-0)
A day after the Nationals packed an offensive punch, put together some late-inning dramatics and smacked four more home runs, their bats have been dead silent through four innings against Ricky Nolasco. Same can't be said for the Marlins' bats against Edwin Jackson. The Nats trail 5-0 after four innings, as they've yet to record a hit against Nolasco and also watched as Miami has put up seven hits and two multi-run innings. Jackson allowed three runs in the second inning on four straight...
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Nats, Marlins lineups

Nats, Marlins lineups
The Nationals get their second crack at Marlins rookie hurler Jacob Turner in a 10-day span as the right-hander will take the mound tonight against a Nats lineup which is crushing pretty much everything of late. Over their recent nine-game stretch, the Nats have won eight games, they've plated eight runs or more a whopping seven times. Taking the mound for the Nationals tonight will of course be Stephen Stasburg, who is making his final home start this season. For the Nats: RF Jayson Werth...
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Storen's stopper routine stuns Marlins

Storen's stopper routine stuns Marlins
It was his seventh hold of the season. He managed to get three straight outs. Oh, yes, and did I mention the Marlins had two men in scoring position? And it was the eighth inning? And the Nationals had watched their 5-0 lead dwindle away until they led 6-4 as they looked to snap a season-high five-game losing skid? And the heart of the Marlins order was due up, led by the big bat of Carlos Lee? I didn't? Well, I should have. I am talking about closer-turned-eighth-inning-super-saver Drew...
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A much-needed offensive outburst (Nats win a big one)

A much-needed offensive outburst (Nats win a big one)
The Nationals didn't have a hit off Jacob Turner their first time through the order. The second time through, the Nats did some damage. Finally. The Nats put up a four-spot in the fourth inning, giving Ross Detwiler a 4-0 buffer and finally giving them a lead. Bryce Harper's two-run home run to right (his 13th homer of the season) got the party started, but he wasn't the only guy to hit the ball hard in the fourth. Michael Morse destroyed a ball to center which went for a triple but...
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Wednesday's Nats, Marlins lineups

Wednesday's Nats, Marlins lineups
Davey Johnson has his regulars back and healthy, so he'll run them out there. The Nationals were held scoreless yesterday and managed just five hits, but Johnson will keep his lineup the same for tonight's game against the Marlins. The Nats will take their hacks against 21-year-old right-hander Jacob Turner, making his second start for the Marlins since coming over from the Tigers in the Anibal Sanchez trade. For the Nats: RF Jayson Werth CF Bryce Harper 3B Ryan Zimmerman 1B Adam...
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Detwiler looks to snap the skid

Detwiler looks to snap the skid
One more game, then it's home sweet home. Who knew a little five-game road trip could seem so long? The plane ride back to D.C. after tonight's game will seem a heck of a lot shorter if the Nationals can pick up a win tonight. The 25 guys in the clubhouse would like nothing more than to snap this skid and walk into Nats Park tomorrow with a clean slate, of sorts. A win tonight would give them that. The Nats have an 11-game homestand to look forward to after this road trip to forget. Four...
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A couple of streaks snapped for Strasburg (Nats drop fifth straight)

A couple of streaks snapped for Strasburg (Nats drop fifth straight)
Stephen Strasburg entered tonight's game having not allowed a run to the Marlins in 18 innings this season. He also entered tonight having not allowed a first-inning run in 16 straight starts, which was the longest active streak in the majors, according to Elias. Both of those streaks quickly were rendered moot this evening, as the Marlins jumped on Strasburg for two runs in the first, taking an early 2-0 lead. Justin Ruggiano jumped on the first pitch he saw from Strasburg, the righty's...
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Nats must play better ball, plain and simple

Nats must play better ball, plain and simple
The Nationals gained more of a buffer on the Braves without even stepping on a field yesterday, as the Padres shut out Atlanta 3-0 to make Washington's lead in the National League East a full five games and six in the loss column. Don't look now, but the Braves have dropped seven of their last 10 contests. I wonder if they're starting to get as antsy down in Atlanta as some are getting here in the DMV. The Nationals arrived in Miami yesterday after having their travel adjusted due to...
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One All-Star outpitched by another

One All-Star outpitched by another
Gio Gonzalez was good tonight. Very good. Facing the Marlins in the second game of today's doubleheader, the Nationals lefty thought he might've had the best stuff he's had all season. He worked eight innings, going deeper into a game than he had all season. He struck out ten, marking the third time this season that he's reached the double-digit K mark. Still, he ended up with a loss. Gonzalez was good tonight, Josh Johnson was just better. "It was all Josh Johnson really," manager...
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Marlins basehit Gonzalez to death in sixth (Nats lose game two, 5-2)

Marlins basehit Gonzalez to death in sixth (Nats lose game two, 5-2)
Gio Gonzalez was cruising right along through the first five innings of tonight's game against the Marlins. He'd given up just two hits, faced only one over the minimum and had registered five strikeouts. Gonzalez had a 1-0 lead going into the sixth, and seemingly in the blink of an eye, trailed 3-1. The Marlins notched five singles in a six-batter span in the sixth inning, bringing in three runs to take the lead. It all started with a single to deep right by Marlins starter Josh Johnson,...
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Nats bite the Hand that fed them (Nats win game one 7-4)

Nats bite the Hand that fed them (Nats win game one 7-4)
Poor Brad Hand. Not only did the Marlins starter allow a whopping seven runs over 3 2/3 innings before being pulled from the first game of today's doubleheader, he also teed up reporters in the press box, who fired off jokes playing on his last name. Things got out of Hand in the third inning. The Marlins Handed the Nationals a few runs today. Ozzie Guillen told his starter to Hand him the ball. I know, I know. Awful stuff. The Nationals broke things open against Hand and the Marlins by...
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Pregame notes on Espinosa, Werth

Pregame notes on Espinosa, Werth
FLUSHING, N.Y. - There's been some major movement going on in the National League East lately. First, it looked like the Braves were set to acquire Ryan Dempster from the Cubs, only to have that deal apparently fall through when Dempster seemed unwilling to go to Atlanta. Now, the Braves claim they've moved on from Dempster and are looking at other options. Then the Marlins traded Anibal Sanchez and Omar Infante to the Tigers. Miami followed that deal up by shipping Hanley Ramirez and Randy...
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Putting the Marlins in the past, looking ahead to Lannan

Putting the Marlins in the past, looking ahead to Lannan
Think the Nationals will be happy to be done with the Marlins for a while? They've averaged just 2.8 runs per game against the Marlins this season and 4.3 runs per game against everyone else. They're 4-5 against Miami and 47-30 against everyone else. They're 2-5 at Marlins Park and 25-18 at every other road ballpark. Yeah, it'll be nice not to see Ozzie Guillen and his boys for a couple of weeks. The Marlins, on the other hand, have a .555 winning percentage against the Nats, and a...
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Zimmerman, Espinosa nearly cycling in Miami (Nats lose 5-3)

Zimmerman, Espinosa nearly cycling in Miami (Nats lose 5-3)
Ryan Zimmerman is 3-for-3 with a single, a home run and a double. Danny Espinosa is 3-for-3 with a triple, a single and a double. The two guys are each a knock away from recording the cycle, and they've combined to drive in two of the Nationals' three runs so far tonight. The only problem is the Nats still trail 4-3 entering the seventh. Edwin Jackson wasn't his sharpest tonight, and a four-run Marlins third inning has then up entering the late-innings. Miami got on the board on Carlos...
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Desmond sits for second straight day

Desmond sits for second straight day
The Nationals will be without Ian Desmond for tonight's series finale against the Marlins. Desmond also sat out yesterday's game against the Marlins because of a sore left oblique which tightened up on him. He had played every inning for 71 straight games prior to missing yesterday's contest. With Desmond out of the lineup, the Nationals will again go with Danny Espinosa at shortstop and Steve Lombardozzi at second base. They'll face veteran right-hander Carlos Zambrano tonight at...
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Harper, Guillen and a sticky situation

Harper, Guillen and a sticky situation
So let me get this straight: We've got another pine tar incident on our hands? The first time around, it involved Joe Maddon and the Rays, with Joel Peralta being ejected for having pine tar on his glove. This time, it's Marlins skipper Ozzie Guillen, who always seems to find himself in the headlines, accusing Bryce Harper of having pine tar too high up on his bat. The timing of this incident is comical, considering that during the All-Star Game festivities just last week, Harper got a...
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