A total team effort leads to another series win

A total team effort leads to another series win
I'm back from the "Nats Xtra" set after quite a fun day of TV work. The members of the crew all were great liars and told me I did a nice job. Dating to last season, the Nationals have now won seven in a row and 11 of their last 13 against the Phillies after today's 7-1 victory. Through the first two games in this series, they out-hit Philadelphia 29-11 and already locked up their eighth series win of the young season with a chance to earn a sweep of their division rivals tomorrow. Yeah,...
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Baserunning error costs Nats in sixth (Nats walk off with 4-3 win)

Baserunning error costs Nats in sixth (Nats walk off with 4-3 win)
The Nationals have left runners on base a host of ways tonight, and trail 3-2 as we go to the seventh. Jayson Werth grounded into a 6-4-3 double play in the first inning, ending the inning and stranding two runners. Rick Ankiel was caught stealing in the second inning, ending the frame. In the third, Werth struck out with the bases loaded to blow that chance. The Nats then had runners at the corners in the fourth, but Stephen Strasburg struck out and Ian Desmond lined out to spoil an...
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Here come the Phillies

Here come the Phillies
Months from now, when we find ourselves in September and playoff races are coming down to the wire, we likely won't remember this weekend's three-game series between the Nationals and Phillies as anything too significant. There are just too many games between now and then, too many opportunities for momentum to swing and the fate of these teams' seasons to be shaped. But today, as the Nats prepare to welcome their division rivals into town for the squads' first meeting of the season, this...
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Proof is in the pitching: Nationals staff is dominating

Proof is in the pitching: Nationals staff is dominating
The Nationals have played 16 games and have won 12 of them, resting in first place in the National League East in late April. The Nationals have had big extra-inning wins, like Saturday's thrilling 3-2 win over the Miami Marlins, or the timely hit to stay in games. They haven't blown out teams, going 6-2 in one-run games. They have played error-free baseball, tallying an 8-2 mark when they don't commit a miscue. But manager Davey Johnson said pitching, with starters Stephen Strasburg,...
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McCatty: Lidge is "not afraid when he is out there"

McCatty: Lidge is "not afraid when he is out there"
The Nationals announced Thursday they have signed two-time All-Star reliever Brad Lidge to a one-year contract. Nationals pitching coach Steve McCatty said Lidge brings a lot to help make the bullpen better. Lidge comes in with 223 saves and 26 wins in 10 seasons with the Philadelphia Phillies and the Houston Astros and was a National League All-Star in 2005 and 2008. "The guy obviously has a real good track record," McCatty said. "A guy that can be in the bullpen and not only still has...
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Detwiler, Espinosa complete Nats' doubleheader sweep of Phillies, 3-0

Detwiler, Espinosa complete Nats' doubleheader sweep of Phillies, 3-0
Nice move by Nationals manager Davey Johnson. Only a few hours before Game 1 of Tuesday's doubleheader at Citizens Bank Park, Johnson decided to switch the starters for each game. Tommy Milone pitched the opener and tossed six innings of shutout ball. Ross Detwiler took the nightcap. Did he ever. The Nationals swept a doubleheader from the Philadelphia Phillies behind a career night from Detwiler in a 3-0 nightcap victory. Davey Johnson talks to Debbi Taylor after the Nationals' shutout...
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Be aggressive: Johnson has no problems sending the runner

Be aggressive: Johnson has no problems sending the runner
It is a decision made by the third base coach that comes up sometimes two or three times in a game: when to send the runner. In the first inning with two outs in a scoreless game Saturday night against the Philadelphia Phillies, Ryan Zimmerman at first, Michael Morse doubled to right field. Zimmerman raced around second and as Hunter Pence gathered the ball, Nationals third base coach Bo Porter held up Zimmerman at third. The next batter, Laynce Nix struck out looking to end the threat. After...
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LaRoche sees "challenge," not difficulty in facing Lee

LaRoche sees "challenge," not difficulty in facing Lee
The starting pitching the Nationals face this week against the Phillies has been a focal point of the series. Jayson Werth said it after game one: "It was good to get a win off Joe Blanton, because it will not get any easier facing Roy Halladay and Cliff Lee." After all, the Nationals avoided Cole Hamels and Roy Oswalt in this series. It is a difficulty the Nationals will face almost every week in the National League East. The Braves have Derek Lowe, Tommy Hanson and Tim Hudson, not to...
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Nationals devise prescription for facing "Doc" Halladay

Nationals devise prescription for facing "Doc" Halladay
Phillies right-hander Roy Halladay is the opposing starter tonight as the Nationals go for the series win against Philadelphia at Nationals Park. Halladay (1-0, 0.69 ERA) has started the season off, well, like a reigning National League Cy Young Award winner should. In his first two starts, Halladay has allowed only one run on 11 hits in 13 innings while walking one and striking out 13. Halladay was particularly good against the Nationals last season, going 3-0 with a 0.39 ERA in three...
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Scouting the Phillies: Utley injury early concern

Scouting the Phillies: Utley injury early concern
Chase Utley's injury has dominated news out of the Phillies camp in Clearwater, Fla., early in March, according to Matt Gelb, who covers the team for the Philadelphia Inquirer. Utley is nursing patellar tendinitis in his right knee, and the team is not sure when he is going to play. A few Nationals fans wonder if the Phillies miss Jayson Werth so far in spring training? Former Phillies standout Mike Schmidt thinks they are going to really miss him, but Gelb says for most of the players,...
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