Matt den Dekker provides the power in Nats' 5-3 win (with lineups)

Matt den Dekker provides the power in Nats' 5-3 win (with lineups)
Seldom-used Nationals outfielder Matt den Dekker smacked a two-run pinch-hit homer with two outs in the bottom of the eighth to beat the Dodgers 5-3. "I was just ready to be aggressive early," den Dekker said. "Coming off the bench, you gotta be in there and ready to go so that's what I did. I just got a pitch over the plate and got the barrel on it." After a faulty circuit breaker blew out a bank of lights at Nationals Park last night, the Dodgers and Nationals resumed play this afternoon...

den Dekker another example of utility player delivering for Nats

den Dekker another example of utility player delivering for Nats
He had played in only five games since June 17. Fifteen minutes before he was needed, he was waiting in the dugout. Then, in the third inning, an injury to a starter thrust Matt den Dekker into the game. Suddenly, after two outs in the bottom of the frame, he hit a crisp single to right field and couple of batters later, he is standing on third base. His team is down 1-0, and he has a chance to make a difference. den Dekker watched for any mistake by Reds starter Anthony DeSclafani. The...

Who are these guys? Nationals bench comes through in 5-2 win

Who are these guys? Nationals bench comes through in 5-2 win
PHILADELPHIA - When Denard Span's back spasms forced Nationals manager Matt Williams to re-release his revised lineup card about an hour before first pitch last night, the result resembled a spring training batting order. Then Yunel Escobar left the game and by the time the bottom of the first inning started, the lineup had progressed to a mix of names from a March split squad scrimmage. "Weird day. Weird day," Williams reflected after. "Denard's in there and comes in for our advanced...

Max Scherzer dominates Phillies for 100th career win

Max Scherzer dominates Phillies for 100th career win
PHILADELPHIA - As Max Scherzer took the mound in the sixth inning of tonight's 5-2 Nationals win over the Phillies, not one person was surprised that the imposing right-hander had yet to allow a single base runner. Why would they be? It was third time in as many starts that Scherzer had gone through five innings completely perfect. And it was coming on the heels of two of the most remarkable back-to-back pitching performances in the game's history - a 16-strikeout one-hit shutout in Milwaukee...

Ryan Zimmerman lands on 15-day disabled list (den Dekker recalled)

Ryan Zimmerman lands on 15-day disabled list (den Dekker recalled)
Nationals first baseman Ryan Zimmerman has been placed on the 15-day disabled list with plantar fasciitis in his left foot. Zimmerman has been dealing with the foot soreness for most of the season. Since reaching a season high .248 batting average back on May 15, Zimmerman is only 9-for-70 (.129) with one homer and seven RBIs. The move is retroactive to June 10. Nationals manager Matt Williams has turned to Tyler Moore at first base in Zimmerman's recent absence. Moore's bat has been cold as...

Span, Zimmerman sit; Nats recall den Dekker (with lineups)

Span, Zimmerman sit; Nats recall den Dekker (with lineups)
Major League Baseball rules allow teams to add a 26th man to their rosters for the second game of doubleheaders scheduled less than 48 hours in advance. The Nationals chose to recall outfielder Matt den Dekker from Triple-A Syracuse this afternoon to fill that spot for Game 2 tonight. den Dekker was on the Nationals' opening day roster, going 0-for-2 while appearing in four games at the start of the season. Once Jayson Werth returned from the disabled list after shoulder surgery, den Dekker...

Werth's return gives Williams options in the lineup

Werth's return gives Williams options in the lineup
BOSTON - Jayson Werth has been reinstated from the 15-day disabled list and is expected to be in uniform and in left field when the Nationals play in the season's first game at Fenway Park later this afternoon. Werth rejoined his team in Philadelphia last night in time for a disco ball celebration in the team clubhouse after the Nats' second win. He had been targeting today as a return date since his January surgery to repair his right shoulder, which was initially injured while making a...

Matt Williams on Danny Espinosa, Nats bench

Matt Williams on Danny Espinosa, Nats bench
PHILADELPHIA - The Nationals are just four games into the season and already there are concerns about the team's inability to score runs. They've only managed to cross the plate seven times in the first four contests after scoring just nine runs in the 45 innings played in last October's National League Division Series. Nationals manager Matt Williams has undoubtedly been forced to experiment with unfamiliar lineups as well as shifting infielders around. The question is whether those on the...

Nationals release Frandsen, reassign Gwynn to minor league camp

Nationals release Frandsen, reassign Gwynn to minor league camp
VIERA, Fla. - The Nationals made a pair of roster moves this morning, releasing veteran utility man Kevin Frandsen and reassigning outfielder Tony Gwynn Jr. to minor league camp. The 32-year-old Frandsen was signed as a free agent last March 26, a day after he was released by the Phillies, and hit .259 with a homer and 17 RBIs in his lone season with the Nats. He played four positions - first base, second base, third base and left field - and quickly became a popular member of a veteran...

New Nats den Dekker and Johnson have connections all over

New Nats den Dekker and Johnson have connections all over
VIERA, Fla. - Tuesday stood to be an awkward day for new Nationals outfielder Matt den Dekker. Less than 24 hours after the Mets traded him to the Nats, he would be suiting up in Space Coast Stadium to play against his former team. "It's a little strange," admitted den Dekker. It helped den Dekker to see some familiar faces when he showed up in the Nats clubhouse early yesterday morning. Den Dekker, 27, and Nats outfielder Michael A. Taylor both attended the Winchester Academy and in Fort...

Gonzalez ready for season after solid outing, Blevins fools Harper

Gonzalez ready for season after solid outing, Blevins fools Harper
VIERA, Fla. - The Nationals left Space Coast Stadium quietly in their final Grapefruit league home game. Mets starter Jonathon Niese and three other relievers combined to shut out the Nats 2-0 while only allowing six hits. Left-hander Gio Gonzalez turned in his third straight strong start for the Nationals, giving up two runs on seven hits with a walk and six strikeouts in 5 2/3 innings. "I felt great," Gonzalez said. "The only thing I was kind of upset about was the walk, but even on the...

New Nats outfielder Matt den Dekker suits up vs. old team (with lineups)

New Nats outfielder Matt den Dekker suits up vs. old team (with lineups)
VIERA, Fla. - Less than a day after being traded by the Mets, outfielder Matt den Dekker is in uniform against his former team. den Dekker isn't in the Nationals' starting lineup, but he does figure to get an at-bat or two and play in the field. "It's been a whirlwind of emotions and excitement to be over here," den Dekker said. "It's a great opportunity. I'm excited for it." den Dekker hit .256 with a homer, four doubles, a triple and seven RBIs in 22 Grapefruit League games with the...

Mike Rizzo on trade for Matt den Dekker and bullpen health issues

Mike Rizzo on trade for Matt den Dekker and bullpen health issues
JUPITER, Fla. - Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo had an active day as he sat a few rows from the field next to the third base dugout at Roger Dean Stadium. In the sixth inning, he watched closer Drew Storen prematurely leave the game with a blister on his right big toe after facing four batters. That was after Rizzo had already found out news that right-hander Casey Janssen's MRI showed rotator cuff inflammation in his throwing shoulder. "I don't see either one of them as serious...

Nats acquire outfielder Matt den Dekker from Mets (Reed Johnson signs)

Nats acquire outfielder Matt den Dekker from Mets (Reed Johnson signs)
JUPITER, Fla. - With the Nationals' outfield situation so uncertain and opening day just a week away, the club made a move to strengthen that area this afternoon, acquiring Matt den Dekker from the Mets for left-hander Jerry Blevins. den Dekker, 27, played all 80 of his major league games over the last two seasons with the Mets. He's a career .238/.325/.310 hitter with 12 doubles, one home run, 11 steals and 13 RBIs. In 175 plate appearances last season, den Dekker hit .250 with a .345...