Espinosa impresses in first start

Espinosa impresses in first start
In his first major league start, Danny Espinosa showed the organization just a glimpse of his talent and potential. The highly touted September call-up went 2-for-4 and drove in two runs. One of those was a monster home run to deep right field. Bench coach John McLaren, filling in as manager during Jim Riggleman's suspension, called it a "missile." It came on a 1-1 pitch from Pirates starter Zach Duke, a changeup middle away. "It's one of those sweet feelings; you don't even feel the...

Nats have a big sixth inning

Nats have a big sixth inning
Greetings from Pittsburgh, where the Nationals are attempting to climb out of an early seven run deficit. After putting up four runs in the sixth inning and knocking Pirates' starter Zach Duke out of the game, they've closed the gap to just three runs. September call-up Danny Espinosa put the team ahead with his first major league home run back in the third inning. Dunn, Maxwell and Espinosa drove in additional runs in the sixth putting the Nats back in striking distance. Livan Hernandez...

Road Trip Idea: Pittsburgh

Road Trip Idea: Pittsburgh
Anybody planning a trip to Pittsburgh for Labor Day to watch the Nationals take on the Pirates at beautiful PNC Park? I know the Racing Presidents are traveling north for the weekend to race those Pittsburgh Pierogies and from talking to many of you, it sounds like NatsTown will be well represented in the 'Burgh for the series. The trip to Pittsburgh is an easy 4-5 hour drive, tickets are affordable and PNC Park is one of the best venues in Major League Baseball. Need more convincing? The...

Lopez Impressed with Nats' Improvement

Lopez Impressed with Nats' Improvement
Cardinals infielder Felipe Lopez, who played for the Nationals from 2006-2008, talked briefly about his time in Washington over the weekend. Lopez was acquired from the Cincinnati Reds before the trade deadline in 2006 and after two seasons in Washington, he was released in July of 2008. He's played for the Brewers, Diamondbacks and Cardinals since leaving Washington, but Lopez said his family does miss living in the nation's capital. "My wife is from here and my kids enjoyed being at...

100th Win at Nationals Park

100th Win at Nationals Park
With a new look to the lineup, strange plays, two ejections and over 30,000 fans on hand to watch, the Nationals collected their 100th win at Nationals Park on Saturday night by defeating the St. Louis Cardinals 14-5. Moreover, the 14 runs scored tonight were the highest single-game total in DC since baseball returned in 2005. That's a lot of good news following a tough week in NatsTown. This season, the Nats are inching closer and closer to a .500 record at the new ballpark with their...

Clip and Save (a life)

Clip and Save (a life)
On Saturday, the Nationals hosted their second and final blood drive of the season in partnership with Inova Health System. Several hundred fans turned out for the drive to donate blood to 15 local hospitals in Washington D.C. and Virginia. Only 37 percent of people in the United States are eligible to donate blood and of those, fewer than 5 percent donate on a regular basis and hospitals are always in need of more blood donations. "Whenever people can do it, there is always a big need...

Lannan, Dunn Appear on Bravo's Top Chef

Lannan, Dunn Appear on Bravo's Top Chef
Spoiler Alert! On Wednesday evening, the Nationals were featured on Bravo's hit reality television cooking show, Top Chef. The Emmy award winning show filmed its seventh season in Washington D.C. this past spring and John Lannan, Adam Dunn and Matt Capps participated in the episode, "Making Concessions." "I didn't realize this at the time but it's a huge show," Lannan said. "I think I'm going to get more attention for this than the game I pitched last night." In the episode, the...

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. ...

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...

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...

Strasburg wired for Wednesday's game

Strasburg wired for Wednesday's game
He won't be on the mound, but fans can still enjoy plenty of Stephen Strasburg during tonight's game against the Braves. Strasburg will wear a wireless mic as part of MASN's regular Wired Wednesday, a feature which brings fans candid thoughts and sounds straight from the dugout each week. It will give fans an up-close look at the phenom and his interaction with teammates during the game. The usually stoic Strasburg showed some humor during his presentation of the Top 10 with David...

More suggestions for the Braves' organist

More suggestions for the Braves' organist
For Stephen Strasburg's first game in Atlanta, we asked you to provide song suggestions to Matthew Kaminski, the organist for the Atlanta Braves at Turner Field. Kaminski seeks tips from fans and tries to match up songs to visiting players and pitchers. The Nationals face the Braves this week for a three game series and you'll have another chance to show-off of your cleverness. Scott Olsen, Livan Hernandez and John Lannan are the probable starters, so that's a good place to...

Back to School Drive

Back to School Drive
My close friends know that I've been pining for fall for awhile. I'm ready for sweaters, scarves, boots, pumpkin spice lattes and a nice cool breeze at Nationals games. Tonight, I can pretend it's fall by donating notebooks, pencils and pens to the Nationals' fourth annual Back to School Drive. Fans may donate new school supplies at the Center Field Gates from the time gates open through the fourth inning. Backpacks, calculators, composition and spiral notebooks, crayons, glue sticks,...

Owen Wilson to make Nats debut this December

Owen Wilson to make Nats debut this December
The romantic comedy "How Do You Know" staring Reese Witherspoon, Paul Rudd, Owen Wilson and Jack Nicholson is set to be released this Christmas. The Washington Post's Dan Steinberg pointed out this morning that a new movie trailer for the film is available. In the film, Owen Wilson plays Manny, a Nationals reliever and the love interest of Reese Witherspoon's character. Last summer, Nationals fans had the opportunity to sit in as extras for filming at Nationals Park. The film is...

Syracuse Chiefs Visit Golisano Children's Hospital

Syracuse Chiefs Visit Golisano Children's Hospital
Check out this video of the Syracuse Chiefs visiting the Golisano Children's Hospital on August 9th. Andrew Kown, Josh Wilkie, Pete Orr, Chase Lambin, Jeff Mandel, Adam Carr and Seth Bynum were among the players who took time away from their busy schedules to lift the spirits of a few Syracuse area children coping with medical problems. Bynum even plays the piano in the clip. "This is a great opportunity for our players to make a positive impact on the community," said Chiefs General...

Zimmerman Hosts "A Night at the Park"

Zimmerman Hosts "A Night at the Park"
On an off-night after a long West Coast road trip, nine Washington Nationals skipped a night of rest and family time to support Ryan Zimmerman's inaugural ziMS Foundation event in Washington D.C. "A Night at the Park" formally launched the foundation in the nation's capital, introducing Nationals fans and Washington elite to Zimmerman's important cause. "This has been my home for the past five years. I've grown fond of this city," Zimmerman said. "We ultimately want to make the...

Last chance to purchase tickets for ziMS Foundation event

Last chance to purchase tickets for ziMS Foundation event
In case you haven't already purchased tickets to attend tonight's A Night at the Park event benefiting the ziMS Foundation, it appears that tickets will be on sale for a few more hours. A general admission ticket for $75 includes access to the Mutlu and Amos Lee live performances, as well as the silent and live auctions. This is the inaugural event for the ziMS Foundation in Washington D.C. and it begins at 7:00 p.m. with NBC's Chuck Todd as the Master of Ceremonies. Senator Dorgan,...

Best of 2010

Best of 2010
Express, the free Washington Post publication widely read by morning commuters, is asking for your submissions for their Best of 2010 issue. You can make nominations until August 13th about D.C.'s favorite people, places and things. Final voting will take place on September 7th. Some of the categories you may want to consider: Coach: Manager Jim Riggleman D.C. Team: Washington Nationals Local Athlete: Ryan Zimmerman, Stephen Strasburg, Adam Dunn, etc! Offseason Acquisition: Pudge...

With Nats in Arizona, Batista addresses immigration legislation

With Nats in Arizona, Batista addresses immigration legislation
Back in April, the state of Arizona -- home to the Diamondbacks and the 2011 Major League Baseball All-Star Game -- passed controversial new immigration legislation to help identify illegal immigrants in the state. The law was set to go into effect on July 29th, though a federal judge blocked some of the most problematic parts of the law. The Washington Nationals are the first team to visit Arizona since the law went into effect last week without its most controversial provisions. "We're...