Wing eating contest at Nats Park

Wing eating contest at Nats Park
Give Hard Times Cafe a point for creativity. The famed local eatery is trying to spice things up during these late summer baseball games by hosting a wing eating contest on Friday night. How many spicy chicken wings can you eat in 90 seconds? If you're ready for that challenge and confident in your ability, send an email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to explain why you should be chosen to compete in the contest. Think through that email carefully as only two contestants will be chosen. ...

Nats rally a hopeful signal that offense will ignite

Nats rally a hopeful signal that offense will ignite
The Cubs edged the Nationals 5-4 Tuesday at Nats Park, but not before some final inning dramatics got the home team back in the game and hopefully signaled a turn for the better for a struggling offense. Down 5-1 and with two outs, Adam Kennedy laced a three-run double off of closer Carlos Marmol and Ryan Zimmerman battled through a long at bat before flying out to deep right to end the game. Although the Nats did not win the game, it was a vast improvement from the way the team felt after...

Detwiler back in D.C. to continue rehab on hip

Detwiler back in D.C. to continue rehab on hip
Nationals left-handed pitcher Ross Detwiler has arrived back in D.C. after spending five days in Viera, Florida, at the team's training facility as he continues to rehab from his hip injury. Detwiler was on a throwing program every day while in Florida. He got into one game situation and threw against both left-handed and right-handed hitters when the team was on the road. He threw all of his pitches and had no problems. "The hip is a little sore, but that is to be expected after...

Lannan: "Everything is falling into place"

Lannan: "Everything is falling into place"
The Nationals hand the ball to Opening Day starter John Lannan tonight against the Chicago Cubs. Lannan has battled back from a strained flexor tendon himself and is enjoying the best streak of his career, having won his last three starts without allowing more than two runs in each of those games. "I am just rolling with it right now," Lannan said. "I am feeling pretty confident out there. Everything is falling into place after I started a little weak. Defense is playing well...

"Top Chef" Hits a Grand Slam at Nationals Park

"Top Chef" Hits a Grand Slam at Nationals Park
This week's episode of Bravo's Emmy and James Beard Award-winning series "Top Chef" finds its six remaining chef'testants stepping up to the plate at Nationals Park in an effort to create an array of tasty, yet sophisticated snacks for hungry Washington Nationals fans. In the "Top Chef Washington D.C." episode titled "Making Concessions," the chefs take over two concession stands and are challenged to go beyond the typical ballpark fare and focus on adding new creations to the gameday...

Nothing pretty in this loss

Nothing pretty in this loss
This was definitely a rough Monday for the Nats. Fresh off a 2-4 road trip against the best in the East, the Nats returned home to find out Stephen Strasburg will have to be placed on the disabled list again and then the Cubs crushed the Nats 9-1. Nats have scored two or less runs in eight of their last 13 games and have only one run on the board since Saturday. Manager Jim Riggleman was not pleased following Monday's loss. The Cubs pounded out 15 hits in handing Livan Hernandez his...

Zimmermann to start Thursday for Nats

Zimmermann to start Thursday for Nats
Nationals right-hander Jordan Zimmermann will be called up from Syracuse in time to start Thursday against the St. Louis Cardinals. Zimmermann will take Stephen Strasburg's place in rotation when Strasburg is placed on the disabled list. It will be Zimmermann's first start for the Nats in over a year after recovering from Tommy John surgery on his right elbow. Zimmermann made 16 starts last season for the Nats, going 3-5 with a 4.63 ERA. Zimmermann has gone 1-0 with a 0.53 ERA in four...

Lannan dealt with similar injury as Strasburg

Lannan dealt with similar injury as Strasburg
Nationals left-handed pitcher John Lannan suffered a strained flexor tendon in his pitching arm earlier this year, which completely affected his pitching and played a major role in his demotion to Harrisburg. General manager Mike Rizzo announced Monday that Stephen Strasburg will go on the disabled list due to a strained flexor tendon in his right arm, an injury that is similar to what Lannan endured. Lannan got the rest and rehab he needed for his arm and made his way back to the Nats. ...

Special screening of Ken Burns' "The Tenth Inning"

Special screening of Ken Burns' "The Tenth Inning"
If you loved Ken Burns' classic Baseball documentary, you'll probably want to pencil this event onto your calendar. On Thursday, September 23rd, Burns will join filmmaker Lynn Novick for a preview screening of his new film, the Tenth Inning, at Lisner Auditorium in Washington D.C. at 7 p.m. This preview screening is a PBS and WETA event which will feature a discussion with Burns, Novick and ESPN writer Howard Bryant. The Tenth Inning, a two-part, four-hour documentary, premiers on...

This Week at Nats Park

This Week at Nats Park
There is so much happening at Nationals Park this week and plenty of good reasons to ignore the rainy forecast. But, in case you need it, here is the Nats' hotline for inclement weather: 202-675-NATS, Option 5. Now for the good stuff... Tuesday is T-Shirt Tuesday, with a special design featuring Stephen Strasburg. The first 10,000 fans will get a t-shirt courtesy of tickets.com. On Wednesday, the Nationals celebrate Craft Beer Week with a Leinenkugel pregame beer sampling at the Miller...

Nationals Renew Affiliation with Harrisburg Senators of the Double-A Eastern League

Nationals Renew Affiliation with Harrisburg Senators of the Double-A Eastern League
Harrisburg is franchise's longest-running affiliate. The Washington Nationals today announced the signing of a two-year Player Development Contract with the Harrisburg Senators of the Double-A Eastern League. Nationals President Stan Kasten, Nationals Senior Vice President and General Manager Mike Rizzo, Nationals Assistant General Manager and Vice President/Player Development Bob Boone and Director of Player Development Doug Harris made the joint announcement. "We are delighted to once...

Moore Player of the Week honors

Moore Player of the Week honors
You can hear the cow bells from here. The pride of the Bulldogs continues to crush the ball in Woodbridge. Potomac Nationals first baseman Tyler Moore is rewriting record books at Pfitzner and the league takes notice...again. For the fourth time this season, the Mississippi State product has won the Player of the Week Award in the Carolina League. That's four times in the last six weeks he has controlled the honor. Moore has been beyond en fuego since July 15, hitting 18 homers and 55...

Lots of positives to take from Maya debut

Lots of positives to take from Maya debut
Cuban pitcher Yunesky Maya had an up and down start in his Potomac Nationals debut Sunday at Pfitzner stadium. Maya sailed through the first three innings but then got into some trouble in the fourth inning, when the first six batters reached base. Winston-Salem scored five in that frame and went on to win the game, 9-8. Maya threw a lot of off-speed pitches and they were very effective. Maya ended up going two batters into the fifth inning, allowed seven hits, six runs, three walks, four...

Hernandez looks to go above .500 vs. Cubs

Hernandez looks to go above .500 vs. Cubs
Manager Lou Piniella decided to make Sunday's game against the Braves his last in order to spend more time with his ailing mother in Tampa. It was a very emotional moment for the team and the city, especially after trading a team leader like Derrek Lee to Atlanta earlier in the week. The Cubs look vastly different from the last time these two teams tangled, as they recharge for 2011. Third-base coach Mike Quade will make his major league managerial debut tonight at Nats Park. The Nats...

Nats Extend Working Agreement with Syracuse Chiefs of the Triple-A International League

Nats Extend Working Agreement with Syracuse Chiefs of the Triple-A International League
Chiefs eye back-to-back winning seasons as part of Nationals system. The Washington Nationals today announced the signing of a two-year Player Development Contract with the Syracuse Chiefs of the Triple-A International League. Nationals President Stan Kasten, Nationals Senior Vice President and General Manager Mike Rizzo, Nationals Assistant General Manager and Vice President/Player Development Bob Boone and Director of Player Development Doug Harris made the joint announcement. "This...

P-Nats' Moore keeping it simple, posting career year

P-Nats' Moore keeping it simple, posting career year
Potomac Nationals first baseman Tyler Moore continues to have a career year with 28 homers and 102 RBI, guiding the P-Nats to challenge for the Northern Division title in the second half of the season. The franchise record for RBI is 113 by Troy Farnsworth in 2000. Moore has 16 games remaining to break that record. It is hard to believe this is the same guy that was hitting .195 almost three months into the season. Since then, he has hit 18 homers and won the Carolina Player of the Week...

Strasburg makes a statement

Strasburg makes a statement
Nationals right-hander Stephen Strasburg has made a statement with his pitching. He also made a statement about Bryce Harper before the signing deadline last week that really defines where this team is at right now, how they feel about themselves, and what they expect people outside the organization to think about the Nats: "If he wants to play here, then he is going to play here," Strasburg said. "He doesn't need any advice from anybody. You don't need to convince him otherwise. If he...

Storen Bobbleheads and Other Upcoming Events

Storen Bobbleheads and Other Upcoming Events
If you're not busy tonight, head down to Woodbridge to pick up your one of a kind Drew Storen bobblehead, courtesy of Geico. The first 1,000 fans through the gates will receive the signature collectible. Stay after the game and enjoy a classic family friendly movie on the new scoreboard. Also, reminders about two upcoming events: The final Ladies Night of the 2010 season will be on Thursday, August 26th before the Nationals face the Cardinals. The theme is Vegas, and as always, the...

Lombardozzi off to outstanding start at Double-A

Lombardozzi off to outstanding start at Double-A
Harrisburg Senators second baseman Steve Lombardozzi is off to an outstanding start following his promotion to Double-A last week. Lombardozzi is hitting .346 with two doubles in his first seven games for Harrisburg, after hitting .293 with 71 runs and 38 RBI for Potomac. His manager at Potomac, Gary Cathcart, says Lombardozzi is pretty special. "He is probably as focused a minor league player that I have seen at any level in all my years of coaching. "He is 21. The thing I would say...

Chico returns to form with six shutout innings for Syracuse

Chico returns to form with six shutout innings for Syracuse
Nationals left-hander Matt Chico had one of his best outings for Syracuse Wednesday, hurling six shutout innings. The Chiefs were unable to finish off Louisville and lost 5-3, but Chico was very pleased with how he pitched. Chico scattered six hits, allowed no runs, no walks and struck out five after allowing at least three runs in four of his last five starts. Chico said the key to his outing was getting his off speed pitch to connect, saying, "My change up felt good tonight. I was able...