A home run barrage the likes of which D.C. has never seen

A home run barrage the likes of which D.C. has never seen
Ryan Zimmerman isn't one to get caught up in a moment, so it's understandable he would say he felt no pressure when he stepped into the batter's box in the bottom of the third inning today, in spite of what Brian Goodwin, Wilmer Difo and Bryce Harper had just done before him. But for Zimmerman to claim he still didn't realize what happened after he rounded the bases and returned to the home dugout ... that can't be. He really didn't know? "I honestly didn't," Zimmerman insisted. "I...

Nats launch eight home runs in 15-2 drubbing of Brewers

Nats launch eight home runs in 15-2 drubbing of Brewers
When it was over, when this two-inning explosion of offensive might was complete and the crowd of 32,118 had a moment to catch its breath and consider what exactly it had just witnessed, all that was left to do was tally up the numbers and marvel at how ludicrous it all was. In the third and fourth innings this afternoon, the Nationals sent 21 batters to the plate. They wound up with 13 runs, 13 hits, seven homers, three doubles, three singles, three walks, one stolen base. And a pigeon in the...

Some shaky moments, but Gonzalez delivered when needed

Some shaky moments, but Gonzalez delivered when needed
Five batters into Wednesday night's game, Gio Gonzalez had served up the longest home run in Nationals Park history, allowed a double and then that same player to steal third without any attempt to throw him out, and allowed a run to score on a strikeout. Sounds like the recipe for a disastrous outing, right? Not exactly. Despite a shaky top of the first, Gonzalez quickly rebounded and wound up going seven strong innings. He didn't earn the win, but he kept the Nationals in position to come...

Wildly eventful bottom of the eighth leads Nationals to victory

Wildly eventful bottom of the eighth leads Nationals to victory
They had, as Ryan Zimmerman put it, "played 15 innings of terrible baseball over the last day and a half," leaving themselves in the precarious position of losing two straight to the Brewers without so much as scoring a run. But then Daniel Murphy lofted a seventh-inning pitch from Jimmy Nelson over the right field fence, and now at least the Nationals were on the board, trailing Milwaukee by only one run. And then - well, let's just say the bottom of the eighth tonight on South Capitol...

After Jackson's ragged start, Nationals face rotation dilemma

After Jackson's ragged start, Nationals face rotation dilemma
When the Nationals suddenly found themselves in need of a No. 5 starter during the All-Star break, they turned to an old friend. Edwin Jackson, who had recently returned to the organization for which he pitched five years earlier, was performing well at Triple-A Syracuse and was a logical replacement for the injured Joe Ross. And when Jackson proceeded to dominate the Angels over seven sparkling innings last week in Anaheim, the Nationals might have tempted to believe their back-of-the-rotation...

Nationals shut out by Brewers in homestand opener

Nationals shut out by Brewers in homestand opener
Dusty Baker mentioned this afternoon he wanted to see the Nationals start playing better at home, noting in particular his team's struggles when it returns from the West Coast. Tonight's performance in an 8-0 loss to the Brewers didn't do anything to allay Baker's fears. It only underscored his point. Some sloppy defense, some poor hitting with runners in scoring position and a ragged start from Edwin Jackson all contributed to a lopsided loss to open this six-game homestand against teams...

Game 98 lineups: Nats vs. Brewers

Game 98 lineups: Nats vs. Brewers
There's only one National League team the Nationals have yet to see in person this season. That will change tonight when they take the field to face the Brewers in the opener of a three-game series. It's been a surprising year for Milwaukee, which took advantage of the Cubs and Cardinals' struggles to lead the Central Division for most of the last 3 1/2 months. Things have begun to slide, though, and now the lead over the Cubs is down to a half-game, with the Pirates lurking three games back...

Nats face good test in extended stretch vs. playoff contenders

Nats face good test in extended stretch vs. playoff contenders
There's a ballgame tonight at Nationals Park, the first such ballgame there in 16 days. Such is life when you have a three-city road trip coming out of the All-Star break. The Nationals team that takes the field tonight will be markedly different than the one that was last seen here July 9, when Joe Ross departed with an injury that turned out to be a torn elbow ligament and Matt Albers closed out a 10-5 victory over the Braves. Edwin Jackson is now the No. 5 starter. Ryan Madson and Sean...

Harper delivers in cleanup spot, Roark strong (Nats win 7-4)

Harper delivers in cleanup spot, Roark strong (Nats win 7-4)
Manager Dusty Baker switched up the lineup after his club lost the first two games against the Brewers, managing two total runs. The biggest move was switching Daniel Murphy and Bryce Harper in the batting order. Placing Harper in the cleanup spot for the first time this season, Baker's move paid dividends in the first at-bat for the Nationals. Facing right-hander Matt Garza with two men on, Harper delivered his 18th homer of the season, a three-run shot over the opposite field wall to give...

Game 86 lineups: Brewers at Nats

Game 86 lineups: Brewers at Nats
The Nationals have struggled against the Brewers this season, falling in four of five games. They are also 0-2 against Milwaukee at Nats Park. The offense has been limping to the All-Star break. Take out the 12 runs scored against the Reds on Sunday and the Nats have combined for only nine runs in the other four games in July. They have struck out 36 times in those five games. Manager Dusty Baker acknowledged the offense needs to pick up the slack for the starting pitching. Right-hander Tanner...

Nationals look sluggish again in 5-2 loss to Brewers

Nationals look sluggish again in 5-2 loss to Brewers
Dusty Baker admitted, after the fact, that his Nationals didn't exactly put forth their best effort Monday during the club's annual Independence Day morning game. "Everybody was dragging yesterday with that 11:05 game," the veteran manager said. "I just didn't want to say it." Whatever it was that plagued the Nationals during that uninspired loss to the Brewers sure seemed to still be dogging them tonight during a repeat performance. A tepid offensive attack against right-hander Zach...

Game 85 lineups: Nats vs. Brewers

Game 85 lineups: Nats vs. Brewers
It's a big night in baseball, and not necessarily for what's taking place on the field. It's All-Star selection night, which means that shortly after 7 p.m. EDT, several members of the Nationals are going to find out they're heading to San Diego next week for the Midsummer Classic. At last check, Bryce Harper was still in position to be voted as a starting outfielder by fans, with Daniel Murphy and Wilson Ramos each trying to make late charges. Either way, both Murphy and Ramos are seen as...

Scherzer done in by one solo homer, elevated pitch count

Scherzer done in by one solo homer, elevated pitch count
Max Scherzer pitched quite well yesterday. Who wouldn't be satisfied with one run and four hits allowed over six innings? But when your teammates are shut out, as the Nationals were by Brewers rookie Junior Guerra and two relievers, that one run allowed by Scherzer looks much more significant. And the manner in which it scored - via Martin Maldonado's solo homer in the top of the fifth - loomed large, given Scherzer's season-long struggles keeping the ball in the park. "There was a solo...

Counsell takes blame for lineup gaffe, Baker recalls his own

Counsell takes blame for lineup gaffe, Baker recalls his own
It doesn't happen often - only 39 times in the last six decades of Major League Baseball - and so when it does, it draws plenty of attention and leaves one dugout looking for a corner to go hide and the other giddy for having caught the opposition's mistake. Really, are there many more embarrassing mistakes for a big league manager than seeing his team bat out of order? It happened today at Nationals Park, and the reactions were exactly what you would expect. Craig Counsell and the Brewers...

Brewers caught batting out of order (Nationals lose 1-0)

Brewers caught batting out of order (Nationals lose 1-0)
Ryan Braun singled up the middle with two outs in the top of the first inning off Max Scherzer in this morning's Independence Day game at Nationals Park. Except in doing so, he actually charged teammate Jonathan Lucroy with an unassisted putout to the catcher. As if 11 a.m. baseball isn't weird enough, the Brewers turned today's game even more bizarre when they batted out of order in the top of the first, costing themselves a hit, not to mention some of their dignity. When Braun, the third...

After disastrous West Coast trip, Nationals try to refocus

After disastrous West Coast trip, Nationals try to refocus
LOS ANGELES - Michael A. Taylor's game-ending error late last night would have been tough enough for the Nationals to cope with had it come during a long winning streak. That it instead extended their current losing streak to a season-long five games only added to the disconsolation that was felt throughout the visitors' clubhouse at Dodger Stadium at the end of a brutal West Coast trip. "Every loss on this road trip has been devastating," manager Dusty Baker said. "We had the lead in...

Lefty Sam Narron leaves baseball as a player to become pitching coach for Auburn

Lefty Sam Narron leaves baseball as a player to become pitching coach for Auburn
His career in the majors lasted one start. He threw 61 pitches and faced 17 hitters, giving up three home runs, five hits and four walks. It was July 30, 2004, and despite giving up four runs, the Texas Rangers rallied to win the game so he didn't get saddled with the loss. That pitcher was Sam Narron. The left-hander spent the rest of his career trying to get back to the majors. This offseason, while considering a return with a major league team at spring training, Narron decided to...

Coffey ready to make impact in Nats' pen

Coffey ready to make impact in Nats' pen
There is a new reliever in town. If you have missed him, you haven't really been paying attention. Remember the big redhead barreling in from the bullpen in Florida? That's him. He is right-hander Todd Coffey, who has been a groundout inducing machine with the Milwaukee Brewers and Cincinnati Reds since 2005. He is known for being a workhorse. Three times in that span he led those clubs in appearances. With the Nationals, the Forest City, N.C., native notched his first win in Miami on...