May 24, 2013

Washington Nationals Game 42 Review: #GoonSquad

May 18, 2013 by Leave a Comment

The Washington Nationals got power production from the middle of their lineup Friday night against San Diego, but when it counted… finally… the bench came through, as Chad Tracy’s pinch-hit home run in the top of the tenth inning led the Nats over the Padres 6-5 to take the first two games of the four-game set at Petco Park.

This game had a little of everything: bad starting pitching, good starting pitching, good defense, not-so-good defense. Timely hitting… well, you get the point. But homers by Adam LaRoche (two on the night), Ryan Zimmerman and, ultimately, Chad Tracy, paced the Nats offense and led them to victory.

Gio Gonzalez got the start for the Nats (23-19), and it looked to start with like we were going to get “Bad Gio”, as he allowed two runs in the bottom of the first on a couple of walks, a steal, a single, and a throwing error by Bryce Harper. What made matters worse was that the Nats were doing their best to stay off the bases completely against Padres rookie starter Burch Smith, striking out whenever they had the chance.

After Gio righted the ship, the Nats finally broke through on Smith in the top of the fourth inning. Harper singled to right and too second on Ryan Zimmerman’s single to left. Adam LaRoche stepped up and continued his hot streak, homering for the third game in a row with a massive clout to center.

The Nats tacked on two more in the sixth, with Zimmerman (2) and LaRoche (7) going back-to-back, chasing Smith from the game, making it 5-2.

Jedd Gyorko homered in the bottom of the frame to cut the Nats lead to two.

It stayed that way until the bottom of the ninth. Rafael Soriano came on to close the game out, but was victimized by some poor defense and lucky hits. With one out, Chris Denorfia grounded one toward the hole. Zimmerman ranged to his left and make a clean pickup, but threw to the inside of the bag, drawing LaRoche off first. Soriano got Everth Cabrera to fly to center for the second out, but Chase Headley singled to right to plate Denorfia to make it 5-4. Yonder Alonso pinch-hit and singled to right to make it first-and-third, then Kyle Blanks hit a soft line drive to right to score Headley to tie the game.

Huston Street entered for the Padres (18-23), but with two outs he left a changeup in the middle of the plate and Chad Tracy delivered, with the first pinch-hit RBI of the season for the Nats, driving the change into the right-center bullpen to break the tie.

Despite some nervous moments in the bottom of the frame. Drew Storen hung on for his first save of the season, despite allowing two singles in the inning.

THE GOOD: Adam LaRoche. Welcome back.

THE BAD: Danny Espinosa. 0-for-4, 3 Ks. I might have to retire “The Bad” until Danny gets his shoulder fixed.

THE UGLY: 15 strikeouts. 15! I know that these days no one has a stigma about striking out, but seriously, 15 Ks?!?

THE STATS: 7 hits, 2 BBs, 15 Ks. 1-for-3 with RISP, 3 LOB. E: Harper (3, throw), Gonzalez (1, throw), Zimmerman (9, throw). No DPs.

NEXT GAME: Saturday at 8:40 pm ET against the Padres. Jordan Zimmermann (7-1, 1.69) faces Eric Stultz (3-3. 4.57).

Filed Under: Nats/MLB Tagged With: , , , , , , , ,

Washington Nationals Game 34 Review: Nats get to Fister early, hold on to sweep Tigers

May 9, 2013 by

The Detroit Tigers are one of the top teams in the American League, and some folks tried to bill this early May matchup with the Washington Nationals as a World Series preview. It’s a little early in the season to try to sell that, but with the Nats starting to play well it was a big series nonetheless. The Nats scored their runs in the first few innings, then got great bullpen work from a trio of relievers to beat the Tigers Thursday 5-4, sweeping the two-game set from the A.L. Central powerhouse.

The win is the Nats fourth in a row and sixth in their last seven games and it leaves them 1 1/2 games behind the Atlanta Braves in the N.L. East entering play in the evening games.

The Nats (19-15) jumped on Tigers starter Doug Fister early. Denard Span led off the bottom of the first with a double over the first base bag. He went to third on Roger Bernadina’s bunt base hit and scored on Bryce Harper’s fielder’s choice that erased Bernadina at second. Ryan Zimmerman followed with a single, and Adam LaRoche did the same, plating Harper. Ian Desmond then single to center to bring home Zimmerman and give the Nats a 3-0 lead after one inning.

The Tigers got one back in the top of the second off Haren (W, 4-3, 5.17), when Fister muscled an 0-1 pitch to center for his third Major League hit of his career, scoring Jhonny Peralta from third.

The hit parade for the Nationals continued in the bottom half of the inning. With one out, Span reached when Fister clipped Span’s pant leg with an errant fastball. Bernadina fell behind 0-2 but worked the at bat for a walk. Harper struck out looking, but consecutive singles by Zimmerman and LaRoche again plated two more runs to stretch the Nats lead to 5-1 after two full.

Detroit used some small ball, then a blast to cut into the Nats lead in the sixth. With one out, Peralta drew a four-pitch walk. Haren got Alex Avila to line out to center, but on the next pitch, Omar infant reached on a perfectly placed bunt single. Matt Tuiasosopo pinch-hit for the pitcher’s spot and drilled a three-run shot over the Tigers bullpen in left center to make it 5-4.

Haren’s final line (6.0 IP, 4 ER, 9 H, 1 BB, 3 K, 1 HR) ended up kinda messy after the homer, but he threw a good game up until that point.

The rest was up to the bullpen, and they got the job done, with Ryan Mattheus, Drew Storen and Rafael Soriano all pitching scoreless innings to keep the one-run lead intact. Soriano earned his 12th save of the season in 13 tries, getting Prince Fielder to fly to the track in center for the final out of the game.

THE GOOD: Ryan Zimmerman. 3-for-4, RBI, run scored. He’s starting to heat up. Adam LaRoche went 2-for-4 with an RBI.

THE BAD: Danny Espinosa. 0-for-4, K.

THE UGLY: Tyler Moore. Pinch-hit for Bernadina against a lefty reliever and struck out on three pitches, all breaking balls.

THE STATS: 9 hits, 2 BBs, 9 Ks. 5-for-12 with RISP, 7 LOB. No errors, no DPs.

NEXT GAME: Friday starts a three-game series with the Chicago Cubs, 7:05 pm from Nats Park. Ross Detwiler (1-3, 2.50) hosts Jeff Samardzija (1-4, 3.09).

Filed Under: Nats/MLB Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

Washington Nationals Game 31 Review: Nats strand 11 but score one late to beat Bucs 5-4

May 4, 2013 by

It’s been a struggle to score runs for the Washington Nationals thus far in 2013. They entered play Saturday against the Pittsburg Pirates third to last in the Majors in runs per game. They continued to struggle to come up with the big hits, going 1-for-10 with runners in scoring position which stranded 11 runners, but found a way to push a run across late, earning a 5-4 win before 29,975 at PNC Park.

Stephen Strasburg continued his erratic 2013, giving up two two-run home runs, but otherwise limiting the damage to keep the Nats in the game until the late innings. Strasburg allowed four earned runs on five hits and one walk, striking out eight. He hardly looked in control much of the game, missing his target often and even hitting two batters, but the big righty found a way to wiggle out of most of his jams.

The Nats (16-15) got on the board first against Jeff Locke in the third inning. Roger Bernadina got on base the hard way — he was hit by a pitch. He went to third on an error by Pirates shortstop Clint Barmes, which allowed Strasburg to reach first. Danny Espinosa was called out on strikes, but Ian Desmond hit a fly ball to center that looked like it might go, but the wind knocked it down and resulted in a sacrifice fly to score the run.

The Pirates (17-13) answered in the bottom half. Clint Barmes lifted a ball to right field leading off, but Tyler Moore misplayed the ball and it fell in front of him for a single. Locke sacrificed Barmes up 90 feet, but that didn’t matter, as Starling Marte jumped all over Strasburg’s first-pitch fastball, drilling it to right center for a two-run home run that should have been a solo shot.

Barmes got to Strasburg again in the fifth. After a leadoff single by Jordy Mercer, Barmes ripped a 1-0 fastball through the breeze into the home team bullpen — which is behind the visitor’s pen in right center – to put the Pirates up 4-2.

The Nats tied the game in the sixth inning. Bryce Harper led off with a soft single to center, and Ryan Zimmerman drew a walk against Locke. Pirates manager Clint Hurdle asked for lefty reliever Justin Wilson to face Adam LaRoche. Wilson walked LaRoche on a 3-2 count to load the bases. After a Tyler Moore strikeout, Wilson Ramos laced a single up the middle — to break an 0-for-16 streak – and both Harper and Zimmerman scored to even the game. Unfortunately the rally ended as Roger Bernadina struck out on three pitches and Strasburg K’d as well.

The Nats loaded the bases again in the seventh, but Moore struck out to end the inning. Moore stranded six runners in consecutive innings without putting the ball in play.

The Nationals — and Moore — finally broke through in the ninth inning. Harper struck out leading off, but Pirates reliever Tony Watson hit Zimmerman on the front leg on a 2-2 count. LaRoche singled to move Zimmerman up, then two of the slower Nats base runners pulled off a double steal with Moore up to bat. After a foul ball, Moore lifted a fly ball to deep right, and Zimmerman raced home ahead of the throw.

Rafael Soriano earned his 10th save of the season to make the one-run lead stand up. He was helped by Roger Bernadina, who threw out Russell Martin trying to stretch a single into a double on his leadoff hit. Tyler Clippard was awarded the win with a scoreless eighth inning, where he made a nifty snare of a soft line drive to start a double play.

THE GOOD: Adam LaRoche. The first baseman is off to a rough start this season, but he was on base four times with a single and three walks. He must be seeing the ball better and that should start to lead to better contact.

THE BAD: Ian Desmond. 0-for-4, 2 Ks, 3 LOB. Desmond really expanded his strike zone for a down offensive day.

THE UGLY: Strasburg gutted out seven innings, but Clint Barmes has no business making solid contact against Strasburg, let alone clubbing a homer into the second bullpen in left center.

THE STATS: 6 hits, 6 BBs, 8 Ks. 1-for-10 with RISP, 11 LOB. E: Ramos (3, throw). 2 DPs.

NEXT GAME: Sunday at 1:35 pm against the Pirates. Gio Gonzalez (2-2, 5.34) faces Wandy Rodriguez (2-1, 3.91).

Filed Under: Nats/MLB Tagged With: , , , , , ,

Washington Nationals Game 20 Review: Wainwright shuts down Nats, 2-0

April 23, 2013 by

Ross Detwiler (L, 1-1) did his best to position the Washington Nationals (10-10) for a win Tuesday night, but it only took the St. Louis Cardinals (12-8) four consecutive hits in the fourth to edge out their East Coast rivals, 2-0.

Prior to Tuesday night’s matchup, Detwiler had not yet allowed more than one run in a single start this season. In fact, he became the first Nationals pitcher in the team’s short history to allow only one run or less in each of his first three starts of 6.0+ innings pitched.  [Read more...]

Filed Under: Nats/MLB Tagged With: , , , , ,

Photos: White Sox v. Nats, April 9

April 10, 2013 by

The Washington Nationals defeated the Chicago White Sox 8-7 on Tuesday, April 9, 2013. You can read DSP’s game re-cap here.

Here are a just few photos of last night’s game with descriptions under pictures. All photos were taken from the stands. Enjoy and feel free to leave comments! Thanks.

Photo 1 of 6: Gio Gonzalez singles to right field, but tried to get the double. He repeated Bryce Harper from earlier in game. - Chicago White Sox v. Washington Nationals, 4/9/2013 (Cheryl Nichols/District Sports Page)

Photo 1 of 6: Gio Gonzalez singles to right field, but tried to get the double. He repeated Bryce Harper from earlier in game. – Chicago White Sox v. Washington Nationals, 4/9/2013 (Cheryl Nichols/District Sports Page)

Photo 2 of 6: Gio Gonzalez singles to right field, but tried to get the double. He repeated Bryce Harper from earlier in game. - Chicago White Sox v. Washington Nationals, 4/9/2013 (Cheryl Nichols/District Sports Page)

Photo 2 of 6: Gio Gonzalez singles to right field, but tried to get the double. He repeated Bryce Harper from earlier in game. – Chicago White Sox v. Washington Nationals, 4/9/2013 (Cheryl Nichols/District Sports Page)

Photo 3 of 6: Gio Gonzalez singles to right field, but tried to get the double. He repeated Bryce Harper from earlier in game. - Chicago White Sox v. Washington Nationals, 4/9/2013 (Cheryl Nichols/District Sports Page)

Photo 3 of 6: Gio Gonzalez singles to right field, but tried to get the double. He repeated Bryce Harper from earlier in game. – Chicago White Sox v. Washington Nationals, 4/9/2013 (Cheryl Nichols/District Sports Page)

 

Photo 4 of 6: Gio Gonzalez singles to right field, but tried to get the double. He repeated Bryce Harper from earlier in game. - Chicago White Sox v. Washington Nationals, 4/9/2013 (Cheryl Nichols/District Sports Page)

Photo 4 of 6: Gio Gonzalez singles to right field, but tried to get the double. He repeated Bryce Harper from earlier in game. – Chicago White Sox v. Washington Nationals, 4/9/2013 (Cheryl Nichols/District Sports Page)

Photo 5 of 6: Gio Gonzalez singles to right field, but tried to get the double. He repeated Bryce Harper from earlier in game. - Chicago White Sox v. Washington Nationals, 4/9/2013 (Cheryl Nichols/District Sports Page)

Photo 5 of 6: Gio Gonzalez singles to right field, but tried to get the double. He repeated Bryce Harper from earlier in game. – Chicago White Sox v. Washington Nationals, 4/9/2013 (Cheryl Nichols/District Sports Page)

 

Photo 6 of 6: Gio Gonzalez singles to right field, but tried to get the double. He repeated Bryce Harper from earlier in game. - Chicago White Sox v. Washington Nationals, 4/9/2013 (Cheryl Nichols/District Sports Page)

Photo 6 of 6: Gio Gonzalez singles to right field, but tried to get the double. He repeated Bryce Harper from earlier in game. – Chicago White Sox v. Washington Nationals, 4/9/2013 (Cheryl Nichols/District Sports Page)

 

 

Former Nat Adam Dunn - Chicago White Sox v. Washington Nationals, 4/9/2013 (Cheryl Nichols/District Sports Page)

Former Nat Adam Dunn – Chicago White Sox v. Washington Nationals, 4/9/2013 (Cheryl Nichols/District Sports Page)

 

Denard Span and Jayson Werth after Werth's home run - Chicago White Sox v. Washington Nationals, 4/9/2013 (Cheryl Nichols/District Sports Page)

Denard Span and Jayson Werth after Werth’s home run – Chicago White Sox v. Washington Nationals, 4/9/2013 (Cheryl Nichols/District Sports Page)

 

Jayson Werth hit the 500 career RBI mark - Chicago White Sox v. Washington Nationals, 4/9/2013 (Cheryl Nichols/District Sports Page)

Jayson Werth hit the 500 career RBI mark -
Chicago White Sox v. Washington Nationals, 4/9/2013 (Cheryl Nichols/District Sports Page)

 

Ian Desmond hustling back to first - Chicago White Sox v. Washington Nationals, 4/9/2013 (Cheryl Nichols/District Sports Page)

Ian Desmond hustling back to first – Chicago White Sox v. Washington Nationals, 4/9/2013 (Cheryl Nichols/District Sports Page)

Ryan Zimmerman congratulating Adam LaRoche on 2-run homer - Chicago White Sox v. Washington Nationals, 4/9/2013 (Cheryl Nichols/District Sports Page)

Ryan Zimmerman congratulating Adam LaRoche on 2-run homer – Chicago White Sox v. Washington Nationals, 4/9/2013 (Cheryl Nichols/District Sports Page)

I think I would fall over if I tried to lift my leg this high - Drew Storen - Chicago White Sox v. Washington Nationals, 4/9/2013 (Cheryl Nichols/District Sports Page)

I think I would fall over if I tried to lift my leg this high – Drew Storen – Chicago White Sox v. Washington Nationals, 4/9/2013 (Cheryl Nichols/District Sports Page)

 

Filed Under: Nats/MLB Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , ,

Washington Nationals Game 7 Review: Nats survive homer-fest with 8-7 win over Sox

April 9, 2013 by
Ryan Zimmerman congratulating Adam LaRoche on 2-run homer - Chicago White Sox v. Washington Nationals, 4/9/2013 (Cheryl Nichols/District Sports Page)

Ryan Zimmerman congratulating Adam LaRoche on 2-run homer – Chicago White Sox v. Washington Nationals, 4/9/2013 (Cheryl Nichols/District Sports Page)

With 15 teams in each league now, interleague play will be a necessity almost every night of the season. The Washington Nationals started their interleague rations with a win Tuesday night, outlasting the A.L. Central Chicago White Sox 8-7 before 24,412 at Nationals Park. There were a combined six home runs in the affair, with Adam LaRoche clubbing a pair.

The scoring started in the top of the first. Gio Gonzalez toughed out a first inning where he loaded the bases on two hits and a walk while throwing 33 pitches. He almost got out of the frame unscathed but a two-strike balk while pitching to Alexei Ramirez brought in Jeff Keppinger to give the White Sox an early 1-0 lead.

The Nats tied it up in the fourth. Denard Span singled to lead off, took third on Bryce Harper’s single to right, and scored on Ryan Zimmerman’s fly out to medium deep right field.

Ian Desmond launched a no-doubt-about-it shot over the visiting bullpen to lead off the fifth and give the Nats a 2-1 lead.

Gonzalez, despite not having his best stuff, made it through five innings with a lead. He threw 99 pitches, 57 of which were strikes. He gave up just the one run on four hits and two walks, striking out seven.

That lead wouldn’t last, however. In the top of the sixth, Alex Rios lined an 0-2 pitch from reliever Craig Stammen to center to lead off the frame. He stole second and took third on Wilson Ramos’ throwing error as the ball ended up in short right center field. Paul Konerko lofted a fly to deep center that delivered Rios, leaving Gonzalez without a decision. Stammen gave up two more singles in the frame but escaped without further damage.

But the Nats had more damage left in their bats. Span led off the sixth with a double to the right field corner. Jayson Werth, who flied out to the deepest part of center field his first time up, made no mistake about it the next time, clobbering one into the left field bleachers to put the Nats back up by two.

After a Harper strikeout, Zimmerman walked to bring up Adam LaRoche, who to that point was hitless in 15 at bats this season. He crushed a 1-1 offering from Jake Peavy to straightaway center for his first hit and home run of 2013 and a 6-2 Nats lead.

 The White Sox wouldn’t go quietly though. Tyler Clippard came on for the seventh inning as was roughed up. With one out, Alejandro De Aza walked, followed by a single from Jeff Keppinger. Clippard retired Alex Rios on a foul to first base, but Paul Konerko unloaded on a 1-0 fastball, sending it half way up the stands in left field to cut the Nats lead to one at 6-5.

The Nats got an insurance run in the bottom half of the seventh. Steve Lombardozzi drew a one-out walk pinch-hitting for the pitcher’s spot and went to third on an errant pick-off throw by reliever Donnie Veal. After walk by Span, Werth coaxed a ground ball through the left side for a single, which plated Lombardozzi to stretch the Nats lead back to two at 7-5.

But the scoring wasn’t quite over, as LaRoche added his second hit of the night, his second homer of the season, in the eighth inning to deliver another important insurance run and make the score 8-5.

LaRoche’s home run loomed large, as Alex Rois treated Rafael Soriano rather rudely, mashing a two-run home in the top of the ninth to extend his personal homer streak to four games and cut the lead to 8-7. But Soriano got Korerko to fly to center to end the game and send nervous Nats fans home with a smile.

THE GOOD: Adam LaRoche. He broke out in a big way, including mashing his second homer against a lefty relief specialist.

THE BAD: Danny Espinosa. 0-for-4 with a K. Now hitting .154/.214/.269.

THE UGLY: Tyler Clippard. Three runs on two hits and a walk in one inning. Not up to his usual par.

THE STATS: 13 hits, 3 BBs, 4 LOB. 2-for-4 with RISP. E: Ramos (1). 1 DP.

NEXT GAME: Wednesday vs. White Sox at 7:05 pm. Jordan Zimmermann (1-0, 1.50) hosts Gavin Floyd (0-1, 3.00)

Filed Under: Nats/MLB Tagged With: , , , , ,

Washington Nationals 2013 Season Preview: The Infield

February 7, 2013 by

This week, District Sports Page will take a look at the players that should comprise the 2013 roster of the Washington Nationals. Following a record-setting season last year that saw the Nats finish first in the N.L. East and advance to the playoffs for the first time since the relocation, GM Mike Rizzo has tweaked the roster a bit and expectations have never been higher for the organization, which is expected to be a legitimate World Series contender this season.

On Monday we broke down Nationals’ starters, Tuesday we evaluated the bullpen and Wednesday we looked at the outfielders. Here now is a preview of the infield.

PROJECTED OPENING DAY INFIELD: 1B–Adam LaRoche, 2B–Danny Espinosa, SS–Ian Desmond, 3B–Ryan Zimmerman. Bench: 2B/SS Steve Lombardozzi, 1B/3B Chad Tracy. First callups: 3B Carlos Rivero, 1B Chris Marrero, 2B Will Rhymes. On the Farm: 3B Anthony Rendon, 1B/3B Matt Skole, SS Zach Walters [Read more...]

Filed Under: Nats/MLB Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Rizzo gets his man at his terms: LaRoche re-signs for two years

January 8, 2013 by

REPORTED $24 MILLION GUARANTEE, MUTUAL OPTION FOR 2015

Adam LaRoche taking curtain call after hitting 100th RBI - Philadelphia Phillies v. Washington Nationals, October 2, 2012 (Cheryl Nichols/District Sports Page)

Adam LaRoche taking curtain call after hitting 100th RBI – Philadelphia Phillies v. Washington Nationals, October 2, 2012 (Cheryl Nichols/District Sports Page)

The biggest question this off-season for the Washington Nationals was: Who will play first base for the club in 2013 and perhaps beyond. Tuesday morning, we found out, as news spread quickly that the team re-signed Adam LaRoche to a two-year contract with $24 million guaranteed, according to at least one report, citing a sources with knowledge of the agreement. That source also described a mutual option for 2015 with a $2 million buyout that would pay the slugger and slick fielder another $15 million.

Nats GM Mike Rizzo, speaking with reporters via conference call said, “Adam was a huge part of our success last year…who is very well respected in our clubhouse.”

“We were in a pretty enviable position negoitiation-wise, which allowed us to be patient with Adam. I wanted to do what was right by him and were willing to wait as we really wanted him to be with the ballclub.”

“We were patient with Adam. In the end, both agreed this was the best place for Adam to be.”

LaRoche,  33, hit with .271/.343/.510 with 33 home runs  with 100 RBI for in 2012. After missing most of 2011 with a torn labrum in his left  shoulder, LaRoche was essential in the middle of the Nats batting order, which at some points during the season missed Jayson Werth, Ryan Zimmerman, Ian Desmond and Michael Morse . LaRoche produced his best season to date, winning both the Silver Slugger and the Gold Glove at first base.

LaRoche and his representatives tried hard over the winter to secure a guaranteed three-year deal for a player that in all likelihood is signing his last big contract. But the new draft pick compensation rules limited the market for LaRoche, as a signing team would have surrendered their first round pick, while lesser free agents no longer required compensation. Other big-name free agents, such as Michael Bourn and Kyle Lohse are finding the same problem this winter, that teams aren’t as willing to give up that first round pick as they might have been in years past.

Bringing LaRoche back creates quite the roster logjam, leading most to speculate about how Rizzo will shake up the roster. LaRoche at first base forces Michael Morse and Tyler Moore back into a crowded outfield, already staffed with Werth, Bryce Harper and recent addition Denard Span. Many pundits already assume Rizzo has a deal in the works to move Morse, and his reasonable $7 million salary (which expires at the end of 2013), most likely to an American League team that can utilize the slugger in his most natural position: Designated Hitter.

The Nats have a couple of areas they could use some depth when looking for a trade partner for Morse. Currently, they have one left-handed reliever on the 40-man roster, Zach Duke, a player that spent much of 2012 in the minor leagues — though Duke does have plenty on MLB service and was very strong for the team in limited duty at the end of last season. They are also thin at the upper levels in the minors at starting pitching, with the system being depleted in the deals for Gio Gonzalez and Span.

This move solidifies the Nats roster heading into spring training, leaving very few position open for the taking barring injury. The everyday lineup is rock solid and the bench looks to be as well, with Moore joining Roger Bernadina as backup outfielders and Steve Lombardozzi and Chad Tracy in the infield.

Filed Under: Nats/MLB Tagged With: , , , , ,

MLB Silver Sluggers Announced

November 8, 2012 by

THREE 2012 Silver Slugger Awards for the Washington Nationals!

Adam LaRoche, Ian Desmond and Stephen Strasburg were awarded 2012 Louisville Silver Slugger Awards today.

Washington Nationals Third Baseman Ryan Zimmerman has earned the NL 3B Silver Slugger Award twice (2009 and 2010).

Ryan Zimmerman’s 2009 Silver Slugger Award (Photo by Cheryl Nichols)

LIST OF 2012 LOUISVILLE SILVER SLUGGER AWARDS:

AMERICAN LEAGUE
C: A.J. Pierzynski CHW
1B: Prince Fielder, MIL
2B: Robinson Cano, NYY
3B: Miguel Cabrera, DET
SS: Derek Jeter, NYY
OF: Mike Trout, LAA
OF: Josh Hamilton, TEX
OF: Josh Willingham, MIN
DH: Billy Buter, KC

NATIONAL LEAGUE
C: Buster Posey, SF
1B: Adam LaRoche, WAS
2B: Aaron Hill, ARI
3B: Chase Headley, SD
SS: Ian Desmond, WAS
OF: Andrew McCutchen PIT
OF: Jay Bruce, CIN
OF: Ryan Braun, MIL
P: Stephen Strasburg, WAS

Filed Under: Beyond the Game Tagged With: , , , , , ,

LaRoche, Desmond and Strasburg Win Silver Slugger Awards

November 8, 2012 by

CONGRATULATIONS ALR, DESI AND SS!

Washington Nationals First Baseman Adam LaRoche, Shortstop Ian Desmond and Pitcher Stephen Strasburg were each named as recipients of the 2012 Louisville Silver Slugger Award.

LaRoche adds the offensive award to his 2012 Gold Glove.  Silver Sluggers are a career first for the trio.

Full list of 2012 Silver Slugger Winners. Washington Nationals received most 2012 Silver Sluggers for any MLB team.

Adam LaRoche homers on a fly ball to right field and Ryan Zimmerman scores in the 6th – Chicago Cubs v Washington Nationals, 9/6/2012. (Cheryl Nichols/District Sports Page)

Ian Desmond earns first career Silver Slugger. (Cheryl Nichols/District Sports Page)

Washington Nationals RHP Stephen Strasburg takes a curtain call after hitting his 1st MLB home run in 4th inning, May 20, 2012. (Cheryl Nichols/District Sports Page)

 

Filed Under: Nats/MLB Tagged With: , , , , , , ,
«Older Posts