MASNsports.com

Zimmermann's in-game adjustments big reason for fast start - Byron Kerr

2013-05-19T15:49:55Z

Saturday's loss at San Diego was tough all around for the Nationals. Any time a team falls 2-1, there are several moments in the game they would love to rewind and try again. But baseball can be a cruel game, and just like any sport, the opportunity was there. Starter ... Read More

Zimmermann a hard-luck loser - Nationals Buzz

2013-05-19T02:44:49Z

Jordan Zimmermann and losses are two things that haven't been paired together too often this year. But on a night when the Nationals right-hander lowered his already-stellar ERA from 1.69 to 1.62, he absorbed just his second loss of the season, snapping a personal four-game winning streak with a 2-1 ... Read More

Zimmermann, Nats fall behind early (Nats lose 2-1) - Nationals Buzz

2013-05-19T00:46:28Z

Jordan Zimmermann has been doing an exceptional job keeping opponents in the ballpark of late, which made Yonder Alonso's blast to start the second so striking. Alonso's fifth homer gave the Padres a 1-0 lead over the Nationals, making him the first player to clear the fence against Zimmermann since ... Read More

Duke to start for Detwiler Monday (Harper out with bruised knee) - Nationals Buzz

2013-05-18T21:36:32Z

With Ross Detwiler's back a concern, the Nationals will turn to long reliever Zach Duke for Monday's start, according to multiple reports from San Diego. Detwiler was forced to leave Wednesday's start after three innings because of spasms in his lower back suffered when reaching for a throw covering first ... Read More

Friday's thrilling win in San Diego cannot be understated as Nats look to roll - Byron Kerr

2013-05-18T05:44:57Z

It is just one game in 162. That is what all the players say, right? Especially when things are not going well. But that game Friday in San Diego was one to remember and one for the record books. The Nationals beat the Padres 6-5 in 10 innings. It was ... Read More

LaRoche's big bat making indelible mark on Nats' latest run - Byron Kerr

2013-05-18T04:54:36Z

Ever since Adam LaRoche swung the bat in two former familiar homes, he has been locked in. And more recently to start the Nationals' 10-game road trip, he has hit four homers in his past three games, including in back-to-back at-bats in Friday's 6-5, 10-inning thriller at San Diego. The ... Read More

LaRoche's two homers, Tracy's pinch-hit homer highlight 6-5 extra-inning win at San Diego - Byron Kerr

2013-05-18T02:37:40Z

Nationals left-hander Gio Gonzalez got behind hitters early, and San Diego was able to get two runs in the first inning. Gonzalez allowed two walks in the first and both came around and scored on a Kyle Blanks single and a two-base throwing error by right fielder Bryce Harper. San ... Read More

Lombardozzi in left, Gonzalez on hill at Padres - Nationals Buzz

2013-05-17T23:31:43Z

Gio Gonzalez takes the mound tonight at San Diego looking to build on one of his best starts of the season. Gonzalez held the Cubs to two hits over seven scoreless innings Sunday, and was removed after just 86 pitches while holding a 1-0 lead. The Nationals went on to ... Read More

Werth has setback, Detwiler to have second MRI - Byron Kerr

2013-05-17T15:17:47Z

Outfielder Jayson Werth was expected to play in his second rehab game Thursday night in Potomac. Instead, the veteran right fielder has had a setback to his sore left hamstring. Werth will not be activated off of the 15-day disabled list Saturday, as was previously anticipated. On Wednesday night, Werth ... Read More

Patrick Reddington: Can Strasburg become Nationals' "Big Train"? - Nationals Buzz

2013-05-17T12:40:34Z

Walter Johnson was born in Humboldt, Kan., in November 1887. In 1905, the future Washington Senator and his family lived in southern California, where, as Los Angeles Times writer Chris Dufresne noted in a 2008 article, the Fullerton Union High Indians pitcher first made a name for himself. "Johnson attended ... Read More

Middle lineup offense will always be key to Nats' resurgence - Byron Kerr

2013-05-17T05:03:37Z

The Nationals' offense came alive in the first game of their series in San Diego. Adam LaRoche and Bryce Harper crushed home runs, while Steve Lombardozzi and Ryan Zimmerman offered clutch hits in a 6-2 victory over the Padres. It was just the third time in the past seven games ... Read More

Strasburg comfortable and cool in hometown win over Padres - Byron Kerr

2013-05-17T04:10:12Z

Returning to his comfort zone, right-hander Stephen Strasburg was consistent in his first start in his hometown of San Diego. He notched the win with another first - the first time he finished eight innings in a major league start - as the Nationals snapped a modest two-game skid with ... Read More

Strasburg steady early against the Padres (Nats win 6-2) - Byron Kerr

2013-05-17T01:31:45Z

Nationals right-hander Stephen Strasburg got behind a couple of hitters early on, but looks to be focused and is gradually locating his fastball very well in the series opener against the Padres. Padres right-hander Edinson Volquez walked three of the first five batters he faced, but the Nationals could not ... Read More

Men's Journal hands out kudos to Ben's Chili Bowl at Nats Park - Byron Kerr

2013-05-16T22:43:29Z

In the Men's Journal's latest weekly online newsletter, the magazine listed major league baseball's best stadium food. Nationals Park's Ben's Chili Bowl stands were cited as not to be missed while at a game in D.C. The quick capsule on Ben's chili mentions the eight-pound Strasburger, but prefers the gut-bombing ... Read More

Wilson Ramos lands on DL again, Solano returns - Byron Kerr

2013-05-16T22:35:22Z

Catcher Wilson Ramos has a left hamstring strain, so he has been placed on the 15-day disabled list for the second time this season, according to Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo in a team press release today. Ramos had just returned from the disabled list April 29 after missing most ... Read More

Harper back in Nats lineup versus Padres - Byron Kerr

2013-05-16T21:02:50Z

The Nationals begin a four-game set in San Diego against the Padres tonight with Stephen Strasburg (1-5, 3.10 ERA) making his hometown debut. The Padres counter with right-hander Edinson Volquez (3-3, 5.15). Bryce Harper returns to Nationals lineup for first time since Monday. Carlos Quentin is not in the Padres ... Read More

Strasburg's high school coach: "He just wants to win" - Byron Kerr

2013-05-16T19:15:57Z

Back in his home town of San Diego, seeking his first win since April 1, right-hander Stephen Strasburg should shine like no other time this season. Strasburg will be surrounded by family and friends, including his high school baseball coach, Scott Hopgood, who will be in attendance for the first ... Read More

Rachel Levitin: A little perspective, please - Nationals Buzz

2013-05-16T12:16:43Z

After this past weekend's series loss to one of the worst teams in baseball and a pair of losses in Los Angeles this week, the Nationals continue to battle in their pursuit of meeting the expectations imposed upon them. But here's the thing: For all the hiccups this team has ... Read More

Werth on hamstring after rehab game: "Step in the right direction" - Byron Kerr

2013-05-16T01:54:25Z

WOODBRIDGE, Va. - Right fielder Jayson Werth completed the first game of his rehab from an injured hamstring Wednesday for the high Single-A Potomac Nationals at Pfitzner Stadium. Werth made the most of the four innings he played, going 1-for-2, getting in a rundown on the base paths that enabled ... Read More

Taylor Jordan off to good start following promotion to Double-A - Byron Kerr

2013-05-15T18:42:05Z

Right-hander Taylor Jordan was promoted last week from the high Single-A Potomac Nationals to the Double-A Harrisburg and did well in his first game with the Senators. The 24-year-old Jordan made his Harrisburg debut Sunday with four innings of shutout ball, allowing four hits, no runs, one walk and three ... Read More

Some movement on the Nationals' long quest for a new spring training home? - Nationals Buzz

2013-05-15T17:53:49Z

It's been a while since we've gotten a whiff of news about the Nationals' pursuit of a new spring training home. Depending on how you view the machinations, the saga has either plot twists befitting a taut mystery or all the kind of awkward exchange you felt when asking a ... Read More

David Huzzard: Advanced metrics hint that Suzuki would flourish in two-hole - Nationals Buzz

2013-05-15T12:37:37Z

Danny Espinosa, Steve Lombardozzi and Roger Bernadina all have something in common - and they shouldn't. Each and every one of them has an under-.300 on-base percentage and all of them have batted second. Overall, Nationals No. 2 hitters are hitting .176/.216/.275. That isn't just bad production, that is horrid. ... Read More

Can something be done to improve safety of outfield walls? - Byron Kerr

2013-05-14T18:15:00Z

It was difficult to watch the replays of Nationals outfielder Bryce Harper crashing into the outfield wall and fence at Dodger Stadium on Monday night, and then to see him go down to the ground. The jammed shoulder and 11 stitches under his chin are an example of how hard ... Read More

Ted Leavengood: A glass half-full - Nationals Buzz

2013-05-14T12:55:00Z

Losing two home games against the Chicago Cubs is disheartening and, after the excellent game Friday night, it was as if a switch just flipped and the progress of the prior week vanished in the flash of a Stephen Strasburg meltdown. There wasn't much to like on Saturday and Sunday ... Read More

Report: Proposal for minor league stadium in Fredericksburg - Byron Kerr

2013-05-14T11:41:36Z

The low Single-A Hagerstown Suns, the South Atlantic League affiliate of the Nationals, have worked for years to try to get a new facility built in their city to replace the aging Municipal Stadium. But site after site has run into issues with financing or voter disinterest, and other sites ... Read More

Demny and Rendon sweep Eastern League player of week honors - Byron Kerr

2013-05-13T19:04:35Z

One player has been on fire since his return from the Washington Nationals. The other threw eight of the nine innings of a no-hitter. This week the Eastern League took notice. The Double-A Eastern League announced that right-hander Paul Demny has been named Pitcher of the Week and third baseman ... Read More

Marty Niland: Nats must learn to overcome their own failures - and success - Nationals Buzz

2013-05-13T13:00:00Z

A baseball team can't win on talent alone. It also takes discipline, maturity and courage, qualities that key members of the Nationals seemed to be lacking against the Chicago Cubs this weekend. In dropping games Saturday and Sunday to the last-place team in the National Legaue Central, the Nats' 24-year-old ... Read More

Suzuki on rough ninth-inning throwing error and subsequent ejection - Byron Kerr

2013-05-12T21:35:52Z

The last inning was not exactly how catcher Kurt Suzuki wanted it to go. A double steal attempt by the Cubs was set up Alfonso Soriano racing to third base in the top of the ninth of a 1-1 game. Suzuki's throw to third base hit Welington Castillo's bat. The ... Read More

Potomac's Cole using nice mix of pitches to get results - Byron Kerr

2013-05-12T18:04:49Z

Right-hander A.J. Cole has now allowed just one earned run in his last two starts following a no-decision Saturday with the high Single-A Potomac Nationals. Last week, Cole was named Carolina League Pitcher of the Week for his six innings of shutout baseball versus Myrtle Beach. Then on Saturday, Cole ... Read More

Another throwing error has Zimmerman facing questions about shoulder again - Byron Kerr

2013-05-12T00:17:54Z

The Nationals' 8-2 loss to the Cubs Saturday was difficult to take on a couple of levels. Right-hander Stephen Strasburg unraveled following a throwing error by Ryan Zimmerman with two outs in the fifth. It was Zimmerman's sixth error of the season. In the seventh, Zimmerman allowed a hard-hit grounder ... Read More