Rendon sets career high with 42nd double (Nats win 7-3)

Rendon sets career high with 42nd double (Nats win 7-3)
The Marlins jumped out quickly on right-hander Stephen Strasburg with a leadoff single by JT Riddle and an RBI double courtesy of Miguel Rojas. In the bottom of the first, the Nationals didn't waste any time scoring against Marlins right-hander Sandy Alcantara. Adam Eaton led off with a walk. One batter later, Bryce Harper doubled and Eaton went to third base. Anthony Rendon doubled in two runs. Rendon's 42 doubles are a new career high. He has now reached base in 32 consecutive games, also a...

Scherzer surrenders pair of early homers (Nats fall 5-4)

Scherzer surrenders pair of early homers (Nats fall 5-4)
The Mets hit a pair of home runs against Nationals right-hander Max Scherzer in the third inning. Michael Conforto hit a two-run shot and Jay Bruce followed with a solo homer. Even with the home runs allowed, Scherzer has struck out seven in four innings. He has 284 strikeouts for the season, matching his team record and career high. Bryce Harper walked in the first inning. He has walked in six consecutive plate appearances dating to his five-walk outing at Miami on Tuesday night. He has 124...

Robles connects on first major league homer (Nats fall 8-5)

Robles connects on first major league homer (Nats fall 8-5)
MIAMI - The wait for Victor Robles' first career homer is over after the Nationals center fielder crushed a Trevor Richards offering deep over the left-center field wall in the third. The blast bounced just to let of the 427-foot walkway above the orange-painted back outfield wall. Two batters later, Anthony Rendon tucked a line drive two-run shot just inside the left field foul pole. The Nats ended up with three runs in the third. The Nats had jumped ahead of Miami on the first thanks to a...

Game 145 lineups: Nats at Phillies

Game 145 lineups: Nats at Phillies
PHILADELPHIA - We're back for the nightcap of today's doubleheader. The field has held up, and most importantly the rain has held off all day. Now the Nationals look to sweep their second doubleheader in four days and move to within 1 1/2 games of the second-place Phillies, who are in serious trouble right now. The challenge for the Nats will be tougher tonight, with Jake Arrieta getting the start. Davey Martinez is using the same top five guys in his lineup, with changes only to the bottom...

Murphy ready for emotional return to Nationals Park

Murphy ready for emotional return to Nationals Park
Daniel Murphy flew from Milwaukee to Washington late Wednesday night, rode home and slept in his own bed for the first time in 2 1/2 weeks. There was comfort in that routine, to be sure. Then Murphy rode today to Nationals Park and instead of entering the home clubhouse kept walking around the concourse to the visitors' side behind third base, where his No. 3 Cubs jersey was hanging in his locker and his name was listed in the No. 1 lineup slot for tonight's series opener. Yeah, these are...

Cards go after Roark early (Nats fall 7-6)

Cards go after Roark early (Nats fall 7-6)
The Cardinals grabbed the lead quickly with three runs in the first inning against the Nationals starter Tanner Roark. Following singles by Matt Carpenter and José Martínez, former Nats slugger Matt Adams hit a three-run homer, his 19th of the season. In the second, the Cardinals padded their lead. Carpenter connected on an RBI double and Martínez added a run-scoring single. The Cardinals' top three hitters in the lineup have five hits and all five RBIs to begin the game. The Nats got...

Strasburg strong in early going (Nats win 5-4)

Strasburg strong in early going (Nats win 5-4)
Stephen Strasburg has looked both dominant and like he was battling himself tonight. But through four innings, he's yet to allow a run. A seven-pitch first inning was followed by Strasburg striking out the side in the second in a 1-2-3 inning. He allowed a Jonathan Schoop single to lead off the third, but Manny Piña lined into a double play and Chase Anderson grounded to short. The fourth presented some issues for Strasburg, who had major control problems. He fanned Lorenzo Cain swinging,...

Scherzer against Nola is as advertised (Nats fall 2-0)

Scherzer against Nola is as advertised (Nats fall 2-0)
The Aaron Nola versus Max Scherzer matchup has lived up to its billing in the first three innings. The Nationals have two hits and the Phillies have yet to connect against Scherzer, but have drawn a pair of walks. The best chance for the Nats early on came in the third inning. Spencer Kieboom led off with a double into the left field corner. Scherzer laid down a perfect sacrifice bunt to move Kieboom to third with less one out. But Nola struck out Adam Eaton with a curveball and Trea Turner...

Harper ignites offense again (Zimmerman's walk-off homer gives Nats 8-7 win)

Harper ignites offense again (Zimmerman's walk-off homer gives Nats 8-7 win)
It looked like Stephen Strasburg was on target when he caught César Hernández and Rhys Hoskins looking to begin the game. But then he allowed four hits in a row, including back-to-back doubles by Asdrúbal Cabrera and Justin Bour. Maikel Franco then made 3-0 with a two-run shot to left field on a 3-2 pitch. It was his 21st homer of the season. The Nationals got one back in the bottom of the first. With two outs against Phillies starter Zach Elfin, Bryce Harper reached on a bunt single...

Martinez hopes Doolittle inching closer to return (Nats win 8-2)

Martinez hopes Doolittle inching closer to return (Nats win 8-2)
Nationals skipper Davey Martinez said he's awaiting results of the bullpen session injured closer Sean Doolittle was scheduled to throw this afternoon, and is hopeful that the right-hander will soon rejoin the bullpen after an extended stay on the disabled list with a stress reaction in his left foot. "We'll talk to him after, but hopefully he's getting close," Martinez said. "He's been frustrated with this whole deal. I told him, 'You need to get better, you don't want this to become...

Gonzalez gains momentum in seven innings, Nats win 6-3

Gonzalez gains momentum in seven innings, Nats win 6-3
In a game they had to win, left-hander Gio Gonzalez dug down deep to deliver a convincing seven-inning gem as the Nationals split their series with the second-place Braves, 6-3. The win for the southpaw snapped a personal seven-game losing streak dating back to May 28 at Baltimore. Gonzalez allowed only a second inning Nick Markakis solo shot and walked one over those seven frames, striking out three, and scattering five other hits. The Nats enjoyed RBIs from six different players in their...

Offense gets going early again to help Scherzer (Nats win 10-4)

Offense gets going early again to help Scherzer (Nats win 10-4)
The Nationals made the game difficult for Reds right-hander Tyler Mahle in the first two innings. With four hits, four walks (one intentional) and a hit batter, the Nats scored six runs on four hits in the second inning. Mahle lasted only 1 2/3 innings, firing 49 pitches, 30 for strikes. Trea Turner had a two-run single and Max Scherzer a run-scoring single. In the third, the Nats scored again on a RBI single by Adam Eaton. Scherzer surrendered a double to Scooter Gennett in the first. But he...

Milone and offense start quick against Mets (Nats win 5-3)

Milone and offense start quick against Mets (Nats win 5-3)
The Nationals continued their early offense by going after Mets right-hander Noah Syndergaard. Bryce Harper lined a run-scoring single into the shift in right field in the first inning to plate Trea Turner, who had reached on a fielder's choice and stolen second. Turner doubled in the third and swiped third before Anthony Rendon slugged a two-run homer, his 16th of the season. Turner has two stolen bases for the second time in the series. Nationals left-hander Tommy Milone retired the first...

Roark features fastball for quick start (Nats win 7-3)

Roark features fastball for quick start (Nats win 7-3)
MILWAUKEE - The Nationals jumped on the Brewers with a big first inning, doing most of the damage with two outs. Adam Eaton walked and Matt Adams was hit by pitch to set the table. Juan Soto was walked by Brewers starter Freddy Peralta to load the bases. Daniel Murphy followed with a two-run single to center field to score Eaton and Adams. Soto scored on a wild pitch from Peralta that catcher Manny Piña was unable to handle. Peralta was late to cover home plate and Soto scored standing...

Adams homer helps Strasburg early (Nats fall 8-5)

Adams homer helps Strasburg early (Nats fall 8-5)
The Braves moved quickly to score first against the Nats right-hander Stephen Strasburg. Ronald Acuña Jr., singled and stole second. Ozzie Albies doubled to score Acuña. Freddie Freeman's grounder to third base was enough to score Albies because first baseman Matt Adams had to stretch to the ground to catch the throw from third baseman Anthony Rendon. The Nationals were aggressive in their own right in the bottom of the first against Braves starter Aníbal Sánchez. Adam Eaton walked...

Bryce Harper headlines Home Run Derby (Harper wins 19-18)

Bryce Harper headlines Home Run Derby (Harper wins 19-18)
Nationals slugger Bryce Harper is the headliner on his home field tonight as the 2018 Home Run Derby gets underway at Nationals Park. Harper said he decided to participate in the Home Run Derby because it is in D.C. this time around. "I think just being able to do it in D.C., being able to do it in front of the fans, have fun and enjoy that," Harper said. "It's huge being able to run out there knowing you are in your own ball park," he added. "You feel right at home. Definitely weird...

Game 93 lineups: Nats at Mets

Game 93 lineups: Nats at Mets
NEW YORK - The Nationals got themselves into a hole in their division last week after a sweep at the hands of the first-place Red Sox. Many fans and reporters looked at the next three series against Marlins, Pirates and Mets as a chance for the club to get something going right before the All-Star break and cut into the Phillies and Braves' lead atop the National League East. Arriving in New York for another critical divisional series, the Nats are just 4-3 during the stretch in which they had...

Scott Boras on why it has been a tough season so far for Bryce Harper

Scott Boras on why it has been a tough season so far for Bryce Harper
A visit with Bryce Harper's agent, Scott Boras, illuminates his take on why his client has had struggles at the plate this season. Boras said it boils down to a couple of major issues: the fear factor and the effect of shifts on left-handed power hitters. Boras said pitchers get more amped up to strike out the Nationals slugger than they do other players because he is who he is. "I just believe there's an intimidation factor that comes with Bryce and it may have to do with lineup dynamics,...

Power stroke returns in rapid fire in Philly (Nats win 17-7)

Power stroke returns in rapid fire in Philly (Nats win 17-7)
PHILADELPHIA - The Nationals entered play tonight dead-last in the majors with only 12 home runs hit this month. Two innings later, they've taken over sole possession of 29th place, and they're only one away from moving into a tie for 28th. Three big blasts by Trea Turner, Juan Soto and Anthony Rendon have brought this previously moribund lineup to life and allowed the Nats to open up a commanding 7-0 lead on the Phillies after only two innings. The Nationals roughed up Nick Pivetta, with...

Gonzalez unable to find the plate, allows grand slam (Nats fall 11-0)

Gonzalez unable to find the plate, allows grand slam (Nats fall 11-0)
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Left-hander Gio Gonzalez got through the first inning allowing only a walk. In the second inning, his night fell apart. Gonzalez could not find the plate, issuing four walks, including three walks in a row to the bottom of the Rays order. A wild pitch scored C.J. Cron. A walk to Willy Adames scored Jake Bauers. Then the biggest hit of the game came off the bat of Kevin Kiermaier, who crushed a 3-2 pitch over the center field wall for a grand slam. It was his first homer...