Nationals fire on all cylinders in 7-1 victory

Nationals fire on all cylinders in 7-1 victory
I hate to be the cynic, but every game I expect the Nationals' starting pitcher to falter, not due to a lack of talent or anything sinister, it just simply has to happen some time. Fortunately, Nats fans, today was not that day. As he has done all season, Gio Gonzalez was dominant, stifling a Phillies lineup that mustered just four hits and one run in seven innings against Washington's left-hander. Gonzalez's seven strikeouts and one walk, combined with three home runs by the offense,...

Nats lineup for Saturday's matinee against Phillies

Nats lineup for Saturday's matinee against Phillies
The Nationals were resilient Friday night against the Phillies, clawing out an 11-inning, 4-3 win against a key divisional foe. Their reward for such a victory? How about a 1 p.m. start time for Saturday. That's just what we have here today as the Nats and Phillies will partake in a little day baseball with Gio Gonzalez getting the start for the home team. Vance Worley will pitch for the Phillies. SS Desmond 3B Lombardozzi LF Harper RF Werth 1B Tracy 2B Espinosa CF Ankiel C Ramos P ...

Wang sharp, picks up victory in rehab start; Twins claim Komatsu

Wang sharp, picks up victory in rehab start; Twins claim Komatsu
Right-hander Chien-Ming Wang allowed two runs - one earned - on three hits in six innings tonight on an injury rehabilitation start for Single-A Hagerstown against Rome, a Braves affiliate. Wang, who is on the disabled list and rehabbing a hamstring injury sustained in spring training, was scheduled to start Thursday night for Double-A Harrisburg. But he was scratched from the assignment after a lengthy rain delay, and started tonight for Hagerstown instead. He struck out seven and walked...

Instinct led Zimmerman on decisive dash

Instinct led Zimmerman on decisive dash
Ryan Zimmerman didn't see the outstretched right palm of Roger Bernadina at home plate, the hitter's signal that he should hold at third. Zimmerman was focused on the ball skittering away from Reds rookie catcher Devin Mesoraco and knew that it had bounced far enough from home plate to allow him to score the winning run in the Nationals' 10-inning 3-2 victory in their home opener Thursday afternoon. Chalk it up to a well-honed baseball impulse, because if Zimmerman had taken to heart the...

Zimmerman says seventh home opener offers "a little more hope"

Zimmerman says seventh home opener offers "a little more hope"
Ryan Zimmerman is no stranger to home openers. Today is his seventh, yet none of them has dawned with the immense expectations for success that this afternoon's game against the Reds brings. Still, the Nationals third baseman doesn't seem to think this opener is any different than the others he's experienced. "No," Zimmerman said in the Washington clubhouse Thursday morning. No? Not even a little bit? "I mean, every year, every team thinks it can win. ... Honestly, every team I've...