Martinez did research before putting Grace in to start (Nats fall 9-3)
Martinez did research before putting Grace in to start (Nats fall 9-3)
Byron Kerr
Nationals
Nationals manager Davey Martinez decided to make an unorthodox move and start left-hander Matt Grace for today's Game 2 matchup against the Los Angeles Dodgers. It will be Grace's first start this season and second of his career. He last started Aug.18, 2017, at San Diego after Max Scherzer was a late scratch with neck inflammation. Grace delivered with 4 1/3 innings without allowing a run on two hits. The Nats beat the Padres 7-1. Grace has thrown at least two innings six times this season....
Nationals recall Adrián Sanchez
Nationals recall Adrián Sanchez
Josh Land
Nationals
The Washington Nationals recalled infielder Adrián Sanchez from Double-A Harrisburg and optioned right-handed pitcher Kyle Barraclough to Double-A Harrisburg Saturday. Nationals President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcement. Sanchez, 28, joins the Nationals for his fourth Major League assignment of the season. He hit .322 with 14 doubles, one triple, six homers, 26 RBI, 12 walks, nine stolen bases and 34 runs scored in 52 games with the Senators. He...
Brandon Hyde on Orioles' recent winning stretch
Brandon Hyde on Orioles' recent winning stretch
Steve Melewski
Orioles
ANAHEIM, Calif. - If, according to some observers, the Orioles are supposed to be tanking, some players may not have gotten the memo. This is no way to get the No. 1 draft pick. The Orioles have played hard for most of the year and now we are seeing them at times play both hard and well. When they get some big offense, they can take a series from Cleveland. When they get big starts from John Means and Asher Wojciechowski, they can take a series from Boston. And now they have a winning record...
Wojciechowski in control in win over Angels (with quotes)
Wojciechowski in control in win over Angels (with quotes)
Steve Melewski
Orioles
ANAHEIM, Calif. - It was a chance for Orioles right-hander Asher Wojciechowski to follow up his strong start against Boston with another. And also get the Orioles and Angels out of here at a more reasonable hour. He got both done tonight, pitching the Orioles to a 9-3 win over the Los Angeles Angels in front of 38,852 at Angel Stadium. Baltimore improves to 34-69. The Orioles have won six of nine and are 12-11 in the past 23 games. They are 3-2 on this road trip with four games to go. Trey...
Nationals left confused by ruling on play at plate
Nationals left confused by ruling on play at plate
Mark Zuckerman
Nationals
The focus should have been on Adam Eaton, whose 11-pitch at-bat with the bases loaded in the bottom of the seventh Friday night might well have been his best of the season. After fouling off five straight pitches from Cy Young Award contender Hyun-Jin Ryu, the Nationals' scrappy No. 2 hitter lined a base hit over the shortstop's head, bringing the tying run home as a crowd of 37,491 roared with approval. But the focus instead wound up on what happened at the end of the dramatic play during...
Game 104 lineups: Nats vs. Dodgers
Game 104 lineups: Nats vs. Dodgers
Byron Kerr
Nationals
The Nationals will make the unusual step today of not using a traditional starting pitcher in Game 2 of this home series versus the Dodgers. Left-hander Matt Grace will take the mound as the opener for the Nats. Nationals manager Davey Martinez said postgame Friday night, after the club's 4-2 loss to Los Angeles, that right-hander Joe Ross will make his second start of the season for Game 2. Plans have changed, however, with Grace getting the ball to start. Dodgers three-time Cy Young winner...
Barraclough believes he needs to trust slider more in big situations
Barraclough believes he needs to trust slider more in big situations
Byron Kerr
Nationals
Of course, Nationals right-hander Kyle Barraclough is not thrilled with allowing Justin Turner to hit the game-changing, three-run homer in the eighth inning of Friday night's 4-2 loss to the Dodgers. Turner hit the homer on Barraclough's 94.7 mph four-seam fastball. Before the game, manager Davey Martinez said Barraclough had been working on his mechanics, specifically his slider, in his time in the minors rehabbing on the injured list. After giving up that homer, Barraclough said he will...
Sánchez rolls after shaky first frame, retires 20 in a row
Sánchez rolls after shaky first frame, retires 20 in a row
Byron Kerr
Nationals
Aníbal Sánchez fought through a tumultuous first inning and then shut down the Dodgers. Despite allowing four of the first five batters he faced to reach base, Sánchez bore down and got out of the inning with only one run crossing the plate. He ended up finishing seven innings, retiring the final 20 batters he faced. The Dodgers enjoyed all three of their base hits in the first frame. After Cody Bellinger's RBI single gave the Dodgers a 1-0 lead, they did not threaten again against...
Nationals' fatal flaw on display in 4-2 loss to Dodgers (updated)
Nationals' fatal flaw on display in 4-2 loss to Dodgers (updated)
Mark Zuckerman
Nationals
The pennant race tonight returned to South Capitol Street, where a crowd of 37,491 turned the ballpark as electric as it had been in at least a month, the last time the Nationals faced a fellow National League contender. The Nationals and Dodgers put on a show worthy of these kind of high stakes and gave a taste of what a potential five-game series might look and feel like should they meet again come October. Then again, during a 4-2 loss the Nats also offered up a painful look at the fatal...
Talking about Rutschman, Karns, Wilkerson and Ortiz
Talking about Rutschman, Karns, Wilkerson and Ortiz
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
The day has arrived. And so has Adley Rutschman. The first overall pick in the 2019 First-Year Player Draft has ditched the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League and is moving up one level to short-season Single-A Aberdeen. Florida couldn't hold the kid. Time to get him in Maryland. Rutschman would have reported a day earlier, but only for batting practice, if not for Thursday's rainout. The Orioles wanted him to catch in one more game, which he did yesterday. Because he was behind the plate,...