Opposite dugout: Phillies aim to build on sweep of Brewers with Nats in town

Opposite dugout: Phillies aim to build on sweep of Brewers with Nats in town
Manager: Ryne Sandberg, second year Record: 41-51 Last 10 games: 5-5 Who to watch: 2B Chase Utley (.294/.352/.452, 24 doubles, 8 HR, 46 RBIs, 50 R); RF Marlon Byrd (.261/.313/.481, 19 doubles, 18 HR, 52 RBIs); LHP Cole Hamels (3-5, 2.87 ERA, 1.23 WHIP); RHP A.J. Burnett (5-8, 3.92 ERA, 1.34 WHIP) Season series vs. Nats: 2-4, 17 runs scored, 26 runs allowed Pitching probables July 11: A.J. Burnett vs. Jordan Zimmermann, 7 p.m., MASN2 HD July 12: Cole Hamels vs. Stephen Strasburg, 7 p.m.,...
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Utley gives Phillies first lead of series (LaRoche homers, Nats win 4-2)

Utley gives Phillies first lead of series (LaRoche homers, Nats win 4-2)
The Phillies have lost five in a row and needed to at least start off their final game of the series with the Nationals well. Veteran Chase Utley answered the bell. In the top of the first, following a leadoff double by Ben Revere and a sacrifice that moved him to third, Utley delivered a run-scoring single past starter Doug Fister into center field to give the Phillies a 1-0 lead, their first of the series. Fister got out of the inning without any further damage. He is seeking his fourth...
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Nats and Phillies lineups as Strasburg opposes Burnett

Nats and Phillies lineups as Strasburg opposes Burnett
Not a bad pitching matchup for us tonight here at Nationals Park, as Stephen Strasburg will oppose Phillies righty A.J. Burnett. Strasburg hasn't allowed an earned run in his last 21 innings against the Phillies. He went 2-0 with a 0.53 ERA in two home starts against the Phils last season. Ryan Zimmerman is making his second big league start in left field tonight and again hitting fifth. The Nationals' lineup from 1-8 looks exactly as it did yesterday. So does the Phillies', in fact. For...
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Opposite dugout: Struggling Phils look to get on track in D.C.

Opposite dugout: Struggling Phils look to get on track in D.C.
Manager: Ryne Sandberg, second year Record: 24-31 Last 10 games: 4-6 Who to watch: 2B Chase Utley (.319/.378/.517, 30 XBH, 27 RBIs); RF Marlon Byrd (.274/.330/.476, 8 HR, 17 doubles, 32 RBIs); 1B Ryan Howard (.226/.300/.428, 11 HR, 40 RBIs); RHP A.J. Burnett (3-4, 3.79 ERA) Season series vs. Nats: 2-1, 11 runs scored, 7 runs allowed Pitching probables June 3: David Buchanan vs. Jordan Zimmermann, 7 p.m., MASN HD June 4: A.J. Burnett vs. Stephen Strasburg, 7 p.m., MASN HD June 5: Kyle Kendrick...
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Span on Cliff Lee quick-pitching him up and in: "I didn't like that at all"

Span on Cliff Lee quick-pitching him up and in: "I didn't like that at all"
PHILADELPHIA - While there was minimal pushing and shoving in the top of the fifth inning when benches cleared between the Nationals and Phillies, and while the game went on without further incident, tonight's Denard Span-Cliff Lee spat might be something to keep in mind the next 18 times these teams play each other in 2014. Bad blood can build quickly between division rivals. Span came up in the fifth with runners at second and third and one out. He stepped into the batter's box and started...
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Opposite dugout: Up-and-down Phillies sending their best to hill vs. Nats

Opposite dugout: Up-and-down Phillies sending their best to hill vs. Nats
Manager: Ryne Sandberg, second year Record: 13-13 Last 10 games: 6-4 Who to watch: 2B Chase Utley (.355/.408/.570, 3 HR, 11 doubles, 14 RBIs); 1B Ryan Howard (.255/.333/.469, 5 HR, 14 RBIs); RHP A.J. Burnett (1-1, 2.15 ERA); LHP Cliff Lee (3-2, 3.29 ERA, 40 K) Season series vs. Nats (2013): 8-11, 56 runs scored, 94 runs allowed Pitching probables May 2: Cliff Lee vs. Stephen Strasburg, 7 p.m., MASN HD May 3: A.J. Burnett vs. Tanner Roark, 7 p.m., MASN HD May 4: Cole Hamels vs. Gio Gonzalez, 3...
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Phillies' actions with college players likely won't benefit other teams

Phillies' actions with college players likely won't benefit other teams
The Phillies' decision to turn in an unsigned college draft pick to the NCAA for engaging the services of an agent acting as an advisor appeared this week to at least temporarily hurt their standing in the eyes of some agents who take care of those college baseball players. It also might, in turn, have an adverse effect on their opportunities to sign some players later. One agent had said the "Phillies are out." The Phillies apparently alerted the NCAA that Oregon State left-hander Ben...
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Are the Nats the team to beat in the NL East?

Are the Nats the team to beat in the NL East?
I went into spring training this year feeling that the Nationals were the favorites in the National League East by a pretty wide margin. I wasn't alone in this line of thinking. In fact, I believe the vast majority of the baseball world was with me. The Nats, after all, were coming off a 98-win season and their first division title in team history, had seemingly improved their roster with the additions of Dan Haren, Rafael Soriano and Denard Span, and would go into the 2013 season having...
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A hodgepodge of morning notes (instant update)

A hodgepodge of morning notes (instant update)
The Manager of the Year awards were handed out last night, and they went to Pirates skipper Clint Hurdle and the Indians' Terry Francona, giving both men their first such honor. Hurdle received 25 of the 30 possible first-place votes for National League Manager of the Year after leading the Pirates to their first above-.500 record since 1992. Pittsburgh finished the regular season with 94 wins and then beat Cincinnati in the Wild Card play-in game before losing to the Cardinals in the...
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Moore starts at first vs. Hamels

Moore starts at first vs. Hamels
With the Nationals facing Phillies left-hander Cole Hamels tonight, Adam LaRoche will get the night off and Tyler Moore will start for the Nats at first base in the second game of this three-game set. LaRoche actually has pretty good numbers in his career against Hamels (.294 with four homers in 34 at-bats), but manager Davey Johnson will give the right-handed-hitting Moore the start at first in LaRoche's place tonight. Moore is 0-for-4 with three strikeouts and a walk against Hamels. Bryce...
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Harper in Nats lineup

Harper in Nats lineup
PHILADELPHIA - Bryce Harper remains in the Nationals' lineup despite being bothered by what we learned last night is a hip injury. Harper said that he's fine and wants to continue playing through the ailment, and manager Davey Johnson will allow him to do so. Gio Gonzalez (8-6, 3.56 ERA) takes the ball for the Nats tonight, with right-hander Ethan Martin (2-3, 6.39 ERA) going for the Phillies. For the Nats CF Denard Span 3B Ryan Zimmerman LF Bryce Harper RF Jayson Werth SS Ian Desmond...
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Quite a pitchers' duel here in Philly (Nats lose 3-2)

Quite a pitchers' duel here in Philly (Nats lose 3-2)
PHILADELPHIA - Stephen Strasburg and Cole Hamels are locked in a pitchers' duel through six innings. Each All-Star has allowed just one run on two hits. Strasburg has struck out 10 and allowed just three balls out of the infield. Hamels has allowed just two baserunners since the first inning. The difference in this 1-1 game is that Strasburg is going to need to exit after six innings, while Hamels should be good for a little while longer. Strasburg was mowing Phillies batters down with...
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A strong start from Strasburg (but a tie game)

A strong start from Strasburg (but a tie game)
PHILADELPHIA - Stephen Strasburg couldn't have asked for a much better start than the one he's gotten through three innings. Strasburg has held the Phillies hitless thus far, has struck out six, and has yet to allow a ball out of the infield. The lone blemish on his line so far is a two-out walk to Chase Utley in the first. Other than that, it's been smooth sailing for the Nationals' right-hander. Strasburg struck out the side in the first, with all three Ks coming on curveballs. He then...
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Nats face Bernadina in opener of three-game set with Phillies

Nats face Bernadina in opener of three-game set with Phillies
PHILADELPHIA - The Nationals will cross paths with Roger Bernadina tonight for the first time since Bernadina was released Aug. 19 by the only major league organization he'd ever known. After his release, Bernadina pulled a John Lannan and signed with the Phillies, choosing to stay in the National League East and play in a park with which he has a good bit of familiarity. Bernadina will hit eighth and play right field for the Phillies tonight, and he'll dig in against Nats righty Stephen...
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Bernadina signs with Phillies, Ohlendorf returns (plus Nats lineup)

Bernadina signs with Phillies, Ohlendorf returns (plus Nats lineup)
CHICAGO - Roger Bernadina was released by the Nationals on Monday, but he won't be going too far, either geographically or within the realm of Major League Baseball. Bernadina has signed with the Phillies, the team announced today, meaning the Nats will see the speedy outfielder in about a week and a half when they head to Philadelphia for a three-game set against their division rivals. After clearing waivers, Bernadina - who had been the longest-tenured Nats player prior to Monday - was...
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Werth and Johnson on Manuel's firing and chances he joins Nats

Werth and Johnson on Manuel's firing and chances he joins Nats
ATLANTA - The news of Charlie Manuel's firing by the Phillies this afternoon made its way through the Nationals' clubhouse prior to tonight's game against the Braves, and one guy had a lot more to offer on the topic than anyone else. Jayson Werth played under Manuel in Philadelphia for four seasons from 2007-2010, and it's evident from talking with Werth how much he cares about his former manager. Werth didn't want to discuss the circumstances of Manuel's firing in too much detail, but...
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Lombardozzi starting at second base as Nats go for sweep

Lombardozzi starting at second base as Nats go for sweep
The Nationals will shoot for the sweep in this three-game series against the Phillies this evening, with Stephen Strasburg (5-9, 3.01 ERA) taking the ball for the Nats and right-hander Kyle Kendrick (9-8, 4.29) going for the Phils. Steve Lombardozzi will play second base for the Nats today, with Anthony Rendon getting a day off. This will be Wilson Ramos' eighth time starting behind the plate in the Nats' last nine games. For the Nats CF Denard Span 3B Ryan Zimmerman LF Bryce Harper RF...
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A Ruf inning for Jordan (the deficit is trimmed further)

A Ruf inning for Jordan (the deficit is trimmed further)
After facing the minimum in his first inning of work tonight, Taylor Jordan nearly didn't get out of the second. Jordan allowed four runs on five hits in the second inning, allowing nine Phillies hitters to come to the plate and forcing the Nationals bullpen into action early. Darin Ruf delivered the big blow for the Phillies, crushing the first pitch he saw from Jordan out to left for a two-run homer. It was Ruf's sixth longball of the season, and marked just the third homer Jordan has...
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Nats, Phillies lineups

Nats, Phillies lineups
Taylor Jordan gets a tough test tonight, matching up against Phillies starter Cliff Lee and his 3.13 ERA in game two of this three-game set between the Nationals and Phils. Lee has fared well against the Nats over the course of his career, but the Nats got to him for four homers (all solo shots) the last time they faced the left-hander, in Philly back on July 10. The Nats won that game 5-1. Jordan's team-imposed innings limit is quickly approaching; he said after his last outing he thought...
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Less than textbook baseball being played in Philly (Nats lose 3-1)

Less than textbook baseball being played in Philly (Nats lose 3-1)
PHILADELPHIA - The Phillies have committed four errors through five innings of play. Somehow, they've still managed to grab a 1-0 lead. Chase Utley has committed three errors himself, two of which came on one play in the fourth that put Jayson Werth on third with two outs. Michael Young committed a two-base error in the fifth that put Kurt Suzuki in scoring position with no outs. The Nationals converted neither opportunity. As sloppily as the Phillies have played defensively, the Nats...
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