Nady shines as Nationals strong bench again shows its new-found strength

Nady shines as Nationals strong bench again shows its new-found strength
Nationals outfielder Xavier Nady was hoping for the call Friday. Just like he was hoping for a call few months back when the Nationals called him to spring training. With the team struggling to get anything off of Reds starter Bronson Arroyo, the door opened slightly when lefty and former Nationals' property Bill Bray was called on to pitch with one out in the bottom of the eighth and Cincinnati leading, 1-0. Manager Davey Johnson had selected left-handed batter Chad Tracy to face Arroyo....

And we keep on playing (Werth wins it in the 13th)

And we keep on playing (Werth wins it in the 13th)
We're going to the 12th here at Nationals Park, as the Nats and Reds are still locked in a 1-1 tie. The two teams have combined for just the two runs and nine hits through 11. The Reds have failed to score since the fifth, and haven't recorded a hit the last six innings, either. The Nats, on the other hand, are now 0-for-7 with runners in scoring position, and have wasted an opportunity to bring in the game-winning run off typically-wild Reds righty Alfredo Simon for the second straight...

Johnson reflects on Nats' 6-2 win

Johnson reflects on Nats' 6-2 win
FLUSHING, N.Y. - It all went right for Davey Johnson's bunch today. The Nationals led 1-0 after the first batter of the game, thanks to Ian Desmond's leadoff home run. They got an outstanding pitching performance from Ross Detwiler, making his first start of 2012. And they got five tack-on runs in the middle innings, allowing them to roll to a 6-2 win over the Mets. Detwiler's outing was the main topic of discussion with Johnson after the game, and the Nats' skipper was clearly thrilled...

Nats lead Mets late (Final score: 6-2)

Nats lead Mets late (Final score: 6-2)
FLUSHING, N.Y. - The Nationals have opened up a four-run lead on the Mets after pushing across three runs in the top of the sixth. The damage started when Ryan Zimmerman led off the inning with a double and was driven in by Jayson Werth's RBI single to right. That was Werth's first RBI base hit of the season. (He had an RBI walk on opening day.) Rejoice. Xavier Nady followed by singling to left, and Roger Bernadina subsequently reached on an error by second baseman Daniel Murphy allowing...

Battle of the bullpens (Mets walk off with 4-3 win)

Battle of the bullpens (Mets walk off with 4-3 win)
FLUSHING, N.Y. - Both Edwin Jackson and Mike Pelfrey are out of this game, and with the score tied 3-3 in the middle of the seventh, the Nationals and Mets will leave the outcome of tonight's game up to their bullpens. Jackson went five innings in his Nationals debut, allowing three earned runs on four hits with two walks and six strikeouts. The outing was along the lines of what we saw all spring - Jackson showed he can overpower guys at times and rack up the strikeouts, but he allows a...

Nats brought their bats to New York (updated)

Nats brought their bats to New York (updated)
FLUSHING, N.Y. - Apparently all it took was a change of scenery for the Nationals to start hitting early in ballgames. The Nats have gotten out to a 3-1 lead over the Mets after three innings here at Citi Field, and they already have seven hits off New York starter Mike Pelfrey. Hey, even Jayson Werth has his first base hit of the 2012 season - a triple to the right-center field gap, which followed an 0-for-11 start. Washington jumped on top in the first after three straight base hits by...

Werth not concerned with slow start

Werth not concerned with slow start
CHICAGO - All spring, we heard Jayson Werth talk about how confident he was feeling at the plate. We heard manager Davey Johnson say he was seeing a major difference in Werth this year, not only during Grapefruit League games, but even during batting practice. Through the season's first three regular season games, the results just haven't been there for the Nationals right fielder. And his stat line doesn't look too pretty. In the three contests at Wrigley Field, Werth went 0-for-10 with...

Another deficit entering the eighth (and another comeback)

Another deficit entering the eighth (and another comeback)
CHICAGO - For the second straight game, the Nationals have done very little at the plate through seven innings. And for the second straight game, the Nats will need to get the job done against the Cubs' bullpen in the late frames in order to come away with a win. Adam LaRoche's two-run homer in the fourth is all the Nats have been able to muster against Cubs pitchers Matt Garza and Rafael Dolis, and they trail 4-2 with just six outs left to work with. Jayson Werth has struck out swinging...

Marty Niland: Little things mean a lot in Nationals' win in opener

Marty Niland: Little things mean a lot in Nationals' win in opener
It wasn't just big hits and the clutch pitches that gave the Nationals a 2-1 opening day win over the Chicago Cubs. For the past six weeks, the team has focused on fundamentals - little things that translate to success or failure over the long haul. They came to fruition Thursday in Chicago, contributing to the Nats' first win and setting the stage for future success. Here are three little things that not only keyed the win, but should give Nats fans confidence that the team will come out on...

Notes and quotes on Desmond, Werth and Zimmerman

Notes and quotes on Desmond, Werth and Zimmerman
CHICAGO - Today's "Coolest Quote of the Day" goes to Stephen Strasburg, who was asked what was going through his mind in the final innings of today's game, when the Nationals were mounting their rally against the Cubs and then subsequently took the lead. "Watching from the dugout, you almost feel like you're in the box there with them," Strasburg said. "That says a lot about the chemistry we have on this team that everybody in there was pulling for the next guy to get the job done. I...

Not a bad way to start

Not a bad way to start
CHICAGO - Was this really opening day? Are we sure, given the weather and the intensity in the late innings, that we didn't hop in a time machine and end up in October? (Insert your jokes about the Cubs having no shot at October.) (Cubs fans, insert your jokes about the Nationals not being able to joke about postseason appearances just yet.) This sure had the feel of a game with a lot more riding on it than just who would get opening day bragging rights. The quality of the pitching on both...

Nats getting them on, but not driving them in (Cubs strike first)

Nats getting them on, but not driving them in (Cubs strike first)
CHICAGO - Twice today, Adam LaRoche and Jayson Werth have come to the plate with two runners in scoring position. Twice today, LaRoche struck out swinging and Werth flew out to right to end the threat. The Nationals have left five runners on base through three innings this afternoon, and left 'em loaded in the third. Today, at least, the Nats haven't had issues with Ian Desmond and Danny Espinosa getting on base; instead, they're having issues getting their No. 1 and No. 2 hitters...

Livan Hernandez is back in the NL East

Livan Hernandez is back in the NL East
VIERA, Fla. - We might be seeing a lot of Livan Hernandez this year. The 37-year-old righty, who appeared certain to make the Astros' rotation entering spring, was released by Houston today, and then within a couple hours, Hernandez had signed with the Braves. CBSsports.com first reported Hernandez's signing with the Nationals' division rival. Hernandez allowed 10 earned runs in 16 Grapefruit League innings for Houston, although the bulk of that damage was allowed in one recent start. As...

Final notes and quotes after the Nats' 3-2 win

Final notes and quotes after the Nats' 3-2 win
PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. - Henry Rodriguez is making opposing hitters look silly this spring. The hard-throwing righty was absolutely filthy during his 1-2-3 ninth inning against the Mets this afternoon, giving him his second save of spring training and keeping his scoreless Grapefruit League campaign alive. How ridiculous was Rodriguez's stuff today? He caused a couple Nationals players watching his performance on a clubhouse TV to give a quiet chuckle when he hit triple digits on the stadium...

Nats' bats do some damage - literally

Nats' bats do some damage - literally
VIERA, Fla. - Jayson Werth hadn't yet checked his truck, so he couldn't confirm the rumor. Regardless, he didn't seem to care one way or the other. According to members of the Space Coast Stadium grounds crew, Werth's first inning home run - an absolute laser to left - didn't just do damage to Mets starter Matt Harvey's spring ERA, it also did some damage to Werth's pickup truck. Werth crushed a Harvey pitch so far over the left-field wall that it came down over a patio area and near...

Here come the runs (and they keep coming)

Here come the runs (and they keep coming)
VIERA, Fla. - The sun has fought its way through the clouds here in Viera, and the Nationals' bats have fought their way out of a lengthy slump. The Nationals batted around in the first inning today, scoring five runs on seven hits. Three of those hits left Space Coast Stadium, with Ian Desmond, Jayson Werth and Roger Bernadina providing the big flies. Werth's homer was absolutely crushed - crushed - out to left, clearing an entire section of bleachers beyond the left field fence and nearly...

Harper sliding over to center field at Triple-A

Harper sliding over to center field at Triple-A
VIERA, Fla. - In Bryce Harper's mind, there was one upside to finding out late this afternoon that he was being optioned to Triple-A Syracuse: He also learned he'd be playing center field in the minors. "I love it," Harper said, a smile creeping across his face. "After (manager Davey Johnson) said that to me, I was excited to get down there and work on my center field." The Nationals have decided to play Harper "predominantly" in center at Triple-A, according to Johnson, which is an...

Morse update plus tonight's lineup

Morse update plus tonight's lineup
VIERA, Fla. - Michael Morse isn't in the Nationals' lineup tonight, but that doesn't mean the left fielder isn't getting work in today. Morse, who is still dealing with a lat strain, will head over to a side field at the Nats' complex and play in a minor league game today. He plans on getting 6-8 at-bats during that game, which he much prefers over the 2-3 that he would get if he was to travel with the Nationals to Orlando for tonight's game against the Braves. "I can actually work on...

Emptying the notebook after the Nats' 6-3 loss

Emptying the notebook after the Nats' 6-3 loss
VIERA, Fla. - Bryce Harper made it through today's workout without experiencing any issues with his ailing left calf, and the right fielder will return to the Nationals' lineup tomorrow evening against the Braves, as planned. Left fielder Michael Morse will not travel to Disney to face Atlanta after seeing action at DH the last two games. As reporters walked into the clubhouse following tonight's 6-3 Nats' loss to Detroit, the replay of the game was airing on MASN on the lone clubhouse...

Johnson talks Werth, DeRosa, Desmond's defense

Johnson talks Werth, DeRosa, Desmond's defense
LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. - Two balls left Champion Stadium off Washington Nationals' bats this afternoon. The first came in the second inning when Jayson Werth smacked the first pitch he saw over the right field wall, perhaps benefiting slightly from a heavy wind going out to right. Regardless of whether the long ball was wind-aided, it was a shot, no doubt about that. Manager Davey Johnson will certainly take the power from Werth, but Johnson couldn't help but laugh when talking about the...