Comprehensive coverage of Washington, D.C. sports by local writers
ROBINSON HOMERS AS STRASBURG POWERS THROUGH SIX SHUTOUT INNINGS
It’s little solace after what was supposed to be a championship-caliber season, but the Washington Nationals guaranteed a non-losing record, knocking off the Atlanta Braves 3-0 at Turner Field on Thursday.
Stephen Strasburg — completing his very strong second half — went six solid innings, Clint Robinson homered, and Felipe Rivero threw two perfect innings to record his first MLB save. [Read more…]
In a game watched by almost no one in person, Trea Turner hit his first Major League home run but the Washington Nationals lost to the Atlanta Braves 2-1 in nearly-empty Turner Field in Atlanta.
Braves catcher A.J. Pierzynski homered twice against Nats starter Tanner Roark twice to provide the difference. Pierzzynski went 3 for 3 on the evening.
Braves starter Matt Wisler gave up one earned run on five hits and two walks with four strikeouts.
In off-field news, the team announced that Ryan Zimmerman would not play again this season due to the strained oblique muscle that has kept him out of the lineup the past several weeks.
Roark (L, 4-7, 4.63) allowed just the two earned runs on five hits and one walk over 6 2/3 innings and 104 pitches — his longest appearance of the season.
Turner, who played second base and hit second in the order, went 2 for 3 with a walk. In very limited opportunities Turner is hitting .292/.393/.458.
The Nats managed just five more hits, including Reed Johnson’s pinch-hit single in Roark’s spot late in the game.
NATS SWEEP BRAVES, NARROW DIVISION GAP TO 4
The Washington Nationals went for their first four-game sweep of the season Sunday afternoon at Nationals Park, and they got it, finishing the Atlanta Braves with an 8-4 thumping. The Mets lost in the ninth inning, and the Nationals won, bringing the deficit to be overcome to four games, just in time for a three-game series against the division leader. Powered by home runs from Jayson Werth, Bryce Harper and Anthony Rendon, and with 4.2 IP of scoreless ball from the bullpen, the Nationals completed the sweep. [Read more…]
HARPER BECOMES THIRD NATIONALS PLAYER TO SCORE 100 RUNS IN A SEASON
Gio Gonzalez pitched six strong innings, Bryce Harper hit his 33rd home run of the season and the Washington Nationals beat up on the Atlanta Braves for the second night in a row, 8-2 at Nats Park.
Despite a second convincing win over the Braves, the Nats didn’t make up any ground on the Mets, who beat Miami 7-0. [Read more…]
Michael Taylor has had an impressive rookie campaign for the Washington Nationals. But his biggest hit of the season might have come Friday night, as his three-run home run in the 10th inning lifted the Nats to a 5-2 comeback win over the Atlanta Braves.
Harper led the 10th off with a single off reliever Matt Marksberry. The Braves switched to Brandon Cuniff, but the pitching change didn’t work. Ryan Zimmerman greeted him with a single to center, and Taylor smacked a 1-0 slider to center for his 14th home run of the season. [Read more…]
The Washington Nationals pounded out 15 runs on 18 hits and romped over the barely-above AAA Atlanta Braves pitching staff, 15-1, Thursday night at Nats Park.
The Nats picked up a half-game over the idle Mets to trail by six in the division with 29 games to play. [Read more…]
Jordan Zimmermann threw 7 2/3 shutout innings and the Washington Nationals beat the Atlanta Braves for the ninth straight time, 6-1, at Turner Field in Atlanta.
The winning streak extends back to April 28, when the Nats overcame a nine-run deficit to win courtesy of Dan Uggla’s ninth inning homer.
Zimmermann allowed six hits and no walks, having no trouble mowing down the Braves well into the eighth inning. He struck out six and threw 85 of his 109 pitches for strikes.
Meanwhile, the top of the order was getting things done offensively. The 1-4 hitters, Denard Span, Danny Espinosa, Yunel Escobar and Bryce Harper all had multi-hit games, with Espinosa going 3-5 with two runs scored.
Clint Robinson hit his third home run of the season, which capped a four-run rally in the first inning against Braves starter Shelby Miller, who allowed a season-high five runs total on eight hits and three walks in his five innings.
NEXT GAME: Wednesday at 7:10 pm in Atlanta. Doug Fister (3-3, 4.15) faces Rookie Matt Wisler (1-1, 3.75).
As terrible as June has seemed at times for the Nationals, they might be sorry to see it go.
After starting the month 6-11, the Nationals have found their stride this month, finishing up 8-1 to enter their last game of the month – and the first game of a 3-game set with the Braves – at 14-12 overall in June.
The Nationals (42-34) head to Atlanta 6 games ahead of the Braves (36-40), and two and a half games in front of the second-place Mets. The Mets open up a series with the Cubs in New York.
*The Last Time…
If the Nationals didn’t turn their season around on April 28th, when they came from behind to beat the Braves 13-12, they at least set a tone for their play against Atlanta this season. After losing to the Braves in the teams’ first matchup this year, the Nationals have now won 8 straight against Atlanta, including last week’s three-game sweep in Washington.
*In The Other Dugout
As hot as the Nationals have been lately, the Braves have been cold. The Braves have lost five of six to drop four games below the .500 mark and face Washington with Freddie Freeman still on the disabled list. The Braves do get to give the Nationals their best shot – Shelby Miller, Tuesday’s starter for Atlanta, went seven strong innings against the Nationals last week. Matt Wisler will pitch the second game in his third major league start, and Manny Banuelos will make his major league debut in the series finale.
*Matchup To Watch
Nick Markakis will be one to watch this week – against Jordan Zimmermann, Markakis is 7 for 21 with a homer, he’s 9 for 29 with a homer and 8 RBI against Doug Fister, and 5 for 16 (.313) against Max Scherzer. Overall against the Nationals this year Markakis is hitting .351 in 37 at-bats…but he hasn’t driven in a run.
On the Nationals side, Anthony Rendon is 4 for 11 against Shelby Miller, and when the Nationals faced Matt Wisler last week every starter had a hit against him, including an Ian Desmond home run.
*Probables
Tuesday, 7:10pm: Jordan Zimmermann (5-5, 3.42 ERA) vs. Shelby Miller (5-3, 1.94 ERA)
Wednesday, 7:10pm: Doug Fister (3-3, 4.15 ERA) vs. Matt Wisler (1-1, 3.75 ERA)
Thursday, 7:10pm: Max Scherzer (9-5, 1.79 ERA) vs. Manny Banuelos (Major League Debut)
Starting pitcher Doug Fister shut out the Atlanta Braves on Thursday afternoon leading the Washington Nationals to a 7-0 win at Nationals Park. Fister threw 111 pitches and 72 strikes in seven innings pitched. He gave up four hits, one walk, and struck out four batters while the Nats offense did their best to hit Braves starting pitcher Matt Wisler. [Read more…]
A sacrifice fly hit to left field by Nationals shortstop Ian Desmond off reliever David Ardsma in the eleventh inning with one out and the bases loaded led Washington to a 2-1 victory over the Atlanta Braves in D.C. after a solid eight-inning performance from starting pitcher Jordan Zimmermann on Wednesday night. [Read more…]