Nationals get to Ian Kennedy and Padres for early lead (Padres win 4-2)

Nationals get to Ian Kennedy and Padres for early lead (Padres win 4-2)
The Nationals jumped on Padres starter Ian Kennedy in the first inning. With one out, Anthony Rendon crushed a double off the top of the right-center field wall. Jayson Werth then rocketed a double deep to left-center field and the Nationals led 1-0. Nationals starter Taylor Jordan allowed a single to Chris Denorfia but got the benefit of a 3-6-3 double play to end the top of the first. In the second inning, Danny Espinosa was hit by a pitch on his right knee and stayed down at home plate on...

Roark on the shutout: "For the first time doing it, it feels really good"

Roark on the shutout: "For the first time doing it, it feels really good"
Only once in his 99 career minor league starts had Tanner Roark ever tossed a complete game. He'd never thrown a shutout. Yet here he was today, on the field at Nationals Park in front of 31,590 fans, delivering the finest outing of his professional career in a 4-0 Nationals win over the Padres. Roark retired the first 16 hitters he faced today. He allowed just three hits. And he struck out a career-high eight, needing just 105 pitches to finish off the complete game. "For the first time...

Harper leaves game in fifth with jammed left thumb

Harper leaves game in fifth with jammed left thumb
Nationals left fielder Bryce Harper appeared to jam his left wrist while sliding into third base on a three-run triple in the third inning against the San Diego Padres on Friday night. MASN television replays showed Harper holding his left wrist and flexing his left hand after the play. He stayed in the game for the fourth inning, but was replaced by Nate McLouth in left field to begin the fifth inning. Harper left the game after going 2-for-2 with a single, a triple, one run scored and a...

Gonzalez's bat gives Nats first run against Angels (Nats rally to win 5-4)

Gonzalez's bat gives Nats first run against Angels (Nats rally to win 5-4)
Nationals starter Gio Gonzalez got himself out of a pair of jams early and then contributed with his bat to get his team the early advantage. In the first inning with one away, the Angels got a double from Mike Trout and a single from Albert Pujols. Howie Kendrick walked to load the bases. Gonzalez then got Erick Aybar to ground into an inning-ending double play. Ian Desmond caught Aybar's short blooper and then threw back to second base to double up Pujols. In the second frame, the Angels...

Rendon's solo blast gives Nationals early advantage (Span update, Nats win 3-1)

Rendon's solo blast gives Nationals early advantage (Span update, Nats win 3-1)
Third baseman Anthony Rendon gave the Nationals their first lead and first run of the series with a solo homer in the third inning. Rendon went after the first pitch, a curveball, from Cardinals right-hander Michael Wacha and launched it into the St. Louis bullpen, well over the wall in left-center. It was Rendon's third homer of the season and the Nationals lead 1-0. Nats left-hander Gio Gonzalez held St. Louis scoreless for the first three innings. The Cardinals got men on first and second...

Dietrich goes deep on Roark, Werth ties it (Walters homers, Nats win 6-3)

Dietrich goes deep on Roark, Werth ties it (Walters homers, Nats win 6-3)
Tanner Roark and Jose Fernandez were swapping zeroes... until Derek Dietrich stepped to the plate in the Marlins' half of the fourth. With two on and one out, Dietrich took Roark deep to right-center, breaking a scoreless tie with the three-run homer and putting the Nationals in a familiar position - comeback mode. This time, they're charged with erasing a 3-0 deficit against the Marlins ace, who has held the Nats scoreless on one hit while fanning five and walking none through four frames....

Walters homers, but Nats fall 11-2

Walters homers, but Nats fall 11-2
If the Nationals are going to continue their mastery of the 2014 Marlins, they're going to have to come from behind. Three batters into tonight's game, Stephen Strasburg was down 3-0. Christian Yelich singled off Strasburg's second pitch and Marcell Ozuna followed by whackin a first-pitch fastball into left field. That brought Giancarlo Stanton to the plate and Stanton mashed a 2-1 changeup over the fence in straightaway center for a three-run homer. The Marlins are being aggressive early in...

After weekend sweep in Atlanta, Williams' focus is firmly on the future

After weekend sweep in Atlanta, Williams' focus is firmly on the future
Through a quirk in the schedule, the Nationals won't play the Braves again until June 19, when Atlanta comes to D.C. for a four-game series. Washington doesn't return to Turner Field until Aug. 8. After being swept this weekend by the homestanding Braves, it's a good bet manager Matt Williams won't be critical of the schedule-maker. Maybe by the time they next face one another, the Nationals will be healthier, playing better defense and will have figured out a way to beat the Braves. By...

Braves rake Gonzalez early, lead 6-0 (Nats lose 10-2)

Braves rake Gonzalez early, lead 6-0 (Nats lose 10-2)
It didn't take long for the Braves to get to Gio Gonzalez. Atlanta took a 3-0 lead over the Nationals in the first inning. Gonzalez issued a leadoff walk to Jason Heyward, and then threw away a bunt attempt by B.J. Upton, placing runners at second and third with no outs. Freddie Freeman followed with a sac fly and Justin Upton homered to center for a 3-0 lead. Andrelton Simmons then tripled, but was stranded at third. In the second, Tyler Pastornicky tripled into the right field corner and...

Clippard discusses his early struggles, issues with Braves

Clippard discusses his early struggles, issues with Braves
ATLANTA - It could easily be argued that Tyler Clippard was one of the more dominant late-inning relievers in the league last season. Clippard posted a 2.41 ERA in 72 games, had a 3.04-to-1 strikeout-to-walk ratio and allowed just 37 hits in 71 innings. Yeah, 37 hits allowed in 71 innings. This season, things haven't started so smoothly for Clippard. The Nationals right-hander has allowed four runs in seven appearances, has already walked four batters and has surrendered two homers. Two of the...

Zimmerman returns to Nats lineup

Zimmerman returns to Nats lineup
Ryan Zimmerman is back in the Nationals lineup after sitting out the last two contests with shoulder inflammation. Zimmerman is playing third base and batting fifth as the Nats look to clinch the series win against the Marlins. Jordan Zimmermann makes the start and Bryce Harper is batting seventh. This marks the first time Harper is batting seventh since the first four games of his big league career. For the Nationals CF Denard Span 2B Anthony Rendon RF Jayson Werth 1B Adam LaRoche 3B Ryan...

Desmond and Jordan talk after 2-1 dispatch of rival Braves

Desmond and Jordan talk after 2-1 dispatch of rival Braves
Right-hander Taylor Jordan showed poise and resiliency on the mound Sunday as the Nationals got their first win of the season against the Braves, 2-1. Shortstop Ian Desmond said Jordan and catcher Sandy Leon did a nice job against a veteran and big hitting Braves lineup. "I thought Taylor and Sandy (Leon) didn't an unbelievable job," Desmond said. "That is a young battery right there going up against a very good team. They were both really composed in some tough situations. Really tough....

Zimmerman frustrated with latest shoulder setback

Zimmerman frustrated with latest shoulder setback
Third baseman Ryan Zimmerman is clearly frustrated after his latest shoulder setback. Zimmerman was forced to leave Saturday's game at the end the fifth inning after experiencing right shoulder soreness. He felt it after committing a throwing error in the fourth inning, which led to the Braves scoring two runs. "It's just more sore than it usually it is," Zimmerman said at Nats Park prior to Sunday's game. "For the last how many years, I've played when it felt good and I played when...

Nats put Hairston on DL (Zimmerman, Harper out of lineup)

Nats put Hairston on DL (Zimmerman, Harper out of lineup)
The injury bug has struck the Nationals again. The Nationals have placed outfielder Scott Hairston on the 15-day disabled list with a left oblique strain and recalled infielder/outfielder Tyler Moore. The Hairston injury comes one day after third baseman Ryan Zimmerman was removed after the fifth inning with right shoulder soreness. Zimmerman will not play today as he is awaiting an evaluation of his shoulder. In addition to Zimmerman not playing, manager Matt Williams is also giving...

A bumpy first week

A bumpy first week
Despite the fact that the Nationals picked up a sweep of the Mets on the road earlier this week, it sure hasn't been the smoothest start to the season for Matt Williams' ballclub. Doug Fister is on the disabled list with a strained right lat, and while he's slowly progressing, the right-hander is still a ways away from sliding back into the Nats rotation. Wilson Ramos played just seven innings on opening day before fracturing the hamate bone in his left hand, and the Nats will be without...

Williams: Fister set to throw Sunday, Gonzalez under the weather

Williams: Fister set to throw Sunday, Gonzalez under the weather
This afternoon, manager Matt Williams said right-hander Doug Fister is doing well in his rehabilitation from a right lat strain. Fister has been on the disabled list since March 23. Williams said Fister did "heavy exercise" today and felt no issues with the lat. The Nationals manager expects Fister to get back to baseball-related activities as early as Sunday. "We look to get him out there throwing, the plan is tomorrow, depending on how he feels, but in the next couple of days, anyway, so...

Replay review reverses Desmond's inside-the-park homer (Braves win 2-1)

Replay review reverses Desmond's inside-the-park homer (Braves win 2-1)
For a few minutes in the bottom of the fifth inning, it appeared that the Nationals had tied the game at 1-1 on an inside-the-park home run by Ian Desmond. Desmond hit David Hale's first pitch of the inning into the corner in left and the ball came to rest at the base of the padded wall. Left fielder Justin Upton immediately raised both arms to signal to the umpires that he felt the ball was unreachable, but third base umpire Marvin Hudson made no signal as Desmond scampered around the bases...

Zimmermann cruising, showing no ill effects (scoreless no more)

Zimmermann cruising, showing no ill effects (scoreless no more)
Hard to believe Jordan Zimmermann was battling the flu less than 24 hours ago. He looks pretty healthy to the Braves, I bet. Zimmermann is through three scoreless innings and doesn't look like he's being overtaxed. He's allowed one hit - a two-out single to left by Dan Uggla in the second - and is flashing both a mid-90s fastball with movement and a slider that darts out of the strike zone. He's fanned four, using heat to get two swing-and-miss third strikes and enticing a pair of Braves to...

Stammen on call in case Zimmermann can't go

Stammen on call in case Zimmermann can't go
While Jordan Zimmermann is listed as the starting pitcher for the Nationals' home opener this afternoon, manager Matt Williams has a backup plan ready to go, just in case the right-hander hasn't completely shaken the flu-like symptoms that caused him to be scratched from yesterday's assignment at the Mets. Zimmermann reported to Nationals Park around 9:35 a.m. on Friday and told manager Matt Williams and the team's training staff that his fever broke around 11 p.m. Thursday night. But...

Williams on the sweep, Roark, tomorrow's starter (plus Zimmerman)

Williams on the sweep, Roark, tomorrow's starter (plus Zimmerman)
Manager Matt Williams covered an array of topics after Thursday's 8-2 win over the Mets at Citi Field, including Jordan Zimmermann's status, Tanner Roark's quality spot start and the Nats' sweep. Perhaps the main topic is whether Zimmermann can start the Nationals' home opener Friday after being scratched Thursday because of flu-like symptoms. The first indication that Zimmermann might be on track to prevent the Nats from employing a bullpen game tomorrow is the fact that the team used...