Gonzalez sharp early despite long layoff (Nats win 2-1)

Gonzalez sharp early despite long layoff (Nats win 2-1)
Making his first appearance of the regular season and his first appearance of any kind in 16 days, Gio Gonzalez took the mound tonight at Nationals Park not entirely knowing for sure what to expect. Three innings later, the left-hander has to be pleased with the results so far: nothing but zeros. Gonzalez's season debut got off to a strong start, with only one hit surrendered to the Braves through three scoreless innings. There was a two-out walk issued to Freddie Freeman in the top of the...

Balanced lineup delivers for Nats in latest win over Braves

Balanced lineup delivers for Nats in latest win over Braves
There are going to be nights when the Nationals need to rely on Bryce Harper to carry the load, but they want those to be few and far between. They'd much rather be able to count on the depth of their lineup to produce on a consistent basis, leaving the reigning National League MVP to do his thing without having to do everything. In that regard, tonight's 6-4 victory over the Braves was a prime example of what this lineup can do, from top to bottom. Harper didn't have a bad night; he got on...

Slugfest breaks out in D.C. (Nats win 6-4)

Slugfest breaks out in D.C. (Nats win 6-4)
When Max Scherzer retired the Braves' first two batters of the evening, you couldn't help but wonder if the right-hander might be setting the tone for a dominant night on the mound. Those thoughts very quickly disappeared amid a flurry of hits by Atlanta off the veteran ace. Scherzer was roughed up early by the Braves, surrendering two runs in the top of the first and then two more in the top of the second. His only saving grace: His Nationals teammates wore their hitting shoes tonight as...

Game 2 lineups: Nats at Braves

Game 2 lineups: Nats at Braves
ATLANTA - Hello again from Turner Field, where tonight the Nationals and Braves wrap up their abbreviated, two-game series to open the season. Odd scheduling for this one, with the 4:10 p.m. start on Monday, then an off-day, then a 7:10 p.m. start tonight. The Nats aren't real happy this is a night game, what with their own home opener scheduled for 4:05 p.m. Thursday. All of this, of course, is weather permitting. Tomorrow's forecast in D.C. looks awful (90 percent chance of rain), so the...

Game 1 lineups: Nats at Braves

Game 1 lineups: Nats at Braves
ATLANTA - And so it begins. And it could not begin under more perfect conditions. It is an absolutely spectacular day for baseball here at Turner Field, not a cloud in the sky, a nice northerly breeze blowing, temperatures in the low 70s. The Nationals and Braves officially get underway at 4:10 p.m., with Max Scherzer taking the mound for the first time since his no-hitter at Citi Field. Scherzer will be facing an Atlanta lineup featuring noted Nats killer Freddie Freeman and ... well, these...

Thoughts and observations on Nats' 7-2 win over Braves

Thoughts and observations on Nats' 7-2 win over Braves
VIERA, Fla. - Some thoughts, observations and quotes from today's 7-2 Nationals split-squad victory over the Braves in the penultimate spring training game ever at Space Coast Stadium ... * Gio Gonzalez probably put together his best start of the spring. Yes, he gave up a couple of runs and seven hits over six innings. But most importantly, he didn't walk anybody after issuing four free passes in each of his last three starts. "I felt great knowing there were no walks," he said. "I know I...

Longtime nemesis Freeman terrorizes Strasburg, Nats (Heisey walks off Braves)

Longtime nemesis Freeman terrorizes Strasburg, Nats (Heisey walks off Braves)
NATIONALS QUICK WRAP Score: Nationals 9, Braves (ss) 7 Recap: Chris Heisey hit a walk-off three-run home run in the ninth to give the Naitonals the victory in a game that featured six total homers. Freddie Freeman, making the road trip as part of the Braves' split-squad team, did his usual damage against Nationals pitching, homering twice with three RBI and a walk before departing after five innings. The first homer came against Stephen Strasburg, who was dominant at times but had to battle...

Zimmermann fought fastball command, but still found way to eat up innings in comeback win

Zimmermann fought fastball command, but still found way to eat up innings in comeback win
The Nationals found a way in the end to come back and beat the Braves 5-4 on Sunday and sweep their three-game series. Right-hander Jordan Zimmermann was staked to an early 3-0 lead. Normally, he is able to take full advantage of such a cushion. But the Braves chipped away quickly, scoring two in the second inning and one in the third to tie the game at 3-3. Atlanta scored one more in the seventh and led 4-3. Zimmermann knew it wasn't his most even outing with control issues - he had only two...

Gonzalez finally got fastball to click and then offense cranked it up for 9-2 win

Gonzalez finally got fastball to click and then offense cranked it up for 9-2 win
Nationals starter Gio Gonzalez has had a lot of success with the team since his arrival in 2012. Amazingly, though, he had never defeated the Braves at Nats Park until Friday night. Gonzalez (3-2) went seven strong innings in a 9-2 shellacking of Atlanta. The left-hander gave up only two earned runs on five hits with one walk. He struck out eight hitters. Gonzalez has now struck out 25 batters in his last three starts. The Braves managed a couple of runs in the first three innings against...

Nationals' "Beast Mode" in full effect

Nationals' "Beast Mode" in full effect
The Nationals have started to play some good baseball again, and this time, with an edge. Maybe they call it "Beast Mode." You have seen the Nationals' first baseman Michael Morse and his now-famous t-shirt during MASN's Nats Xtra postgame show interviews, haven't you? If not, here it is. It gained popularity thanks to the outstanding play of Morse, who has continued to mash the ball, hitting his 18th homer of the season, as part of a three-dinger barrage against Braves pitching in...