Washington Nationals

Chad Tracy’s pinch hit 10th inning home run negated three Washington errors and a rare blown save from Rafael Soriano as the Nationals went on to defeat the Padres in San Diego to salvage a 6-5 win. The Tracy blast came off of Padres’ reliever Huston Street, negating a San Diego 9th inning rally. This [...]

If Adam LaRoche can keep up his production at Petco Park, Jordan Zimmermann might have an easier time taking over the major league lead in wins. View full post on Yahoo! Sports – MLB – Washington Nationals News

"(I was) fired up. As a collective group we (on the bench) haven’t really come in and won a ballgame for us yet… But that’s something that can kind of get us going." (Chad Tracy, via Washington Times, 5/18/2013) Nationals 6, Padres 5: Chad Tracy pinch-hit HR in the 10th inning bails out Nats after Soriano blows save in the 9th. Drew Storen survives 10th for first save since 2012. LaRoche, Zimmerman, LaRoche, and Tracy go deep (video of all four homers here) Death, taxes, and a boatload of stikeouts for Danny Espinosa (0-4, 3K). Death, taxes, and another throwing error for Ryan Zimmerman. Here's Zim on the tough scoring decision for his 9th inning "error": "I would never complain about a play, but that’s not an error. I don’t know if they have Brooks Robinson as a scorekeeper here or what. .?.?. I’m almost near second base and throwing across against not a slow guy. If that’s on the base, it’s bang-bang. We’re not supposed to complain about that stuff, but that one’s a little ridiculous. I guess if anyone deserves to get errors put on them right now, it’s me. But that’s over the top." (Ryan Zimmerman, via Washington Post, 5/18/2013) (Screencap via MLB.com/MASN video) Befriend Nats Enquirer on Facebook. Follow on Twitter.

Via Fangraphs (click to embiggen) Shaky at the start: Gio Gonzalez (-0.4%) walks 3 and strikes out 5 in 6.2 IP, giving up 2 R (1 ER) in the first and a solo shot later. Stay hot: Adam LaRoche (+33.1%) is 2-4 with a go-ahead, three-run blast in the 4th (+27.1%) that goes about 10 feet farther than last night's mighty bomb, and a 6th-inning solo shot to tack on (+8.7%). Also warm: Ryan Zimmerman (+17.7%) is 2-4 with a new-style Petco cheapie dinger in the 6th (+13.2%). Vintage: Tyler Clippard (+14.7%) gets the last out with two on in the 7th then throws a scoreless aeyth for the shutdown. Not all his fault: Rafael Soriano (-42.4%) gets two outs in the 9th before giving up the tying runs, one of whom reached on error... followed by 3 consecutive singles. Chaditude? Ignited! Chad Tracy pinch-hits a two-out solo shot into the RF corner in the top of the 10th to put the Nats ahead (+42.4%), neatly mirrorring Sori's -WPA with his +WPA. He has a changeup now? Drew Storen (+17.7%) dances around trouble, putting runners on the corners in the 10th before getting the save.

Photo by USA TodayA baseball season can’t be broken into perfect fourths due to a total of 162 games, but the Nats basically entered the second quarter of their season on Thursday in playing their 41st game. Here is a look at the team through roughly one-fourth of the year and how they compare to last season, plus some predictions for the next 41 games.LineupAside from Bryce Harper, Ian Desmond, and Denard Span, everyone else in the Nats’ lineup hasn’t been playing up to their capabilities. Injuries have been a significant factor, but that excuse doesn’t apply to everybody. Danny Espinosa has simply struggled, and Adam LaRoche is still recovering from his forgettable April. As a whole they don’t get on base, strike out too much, and don’t make the most of opportunities.After ranking among the top ten teams in the majors in team batting average, runs scored, and home runs in 2012, the Nats are among the ten worst teams in each of those categories this season. Their team OPS is second worst only to the Marlins and their batting average is third worst. Espinosa is the posterboy for these struggles, but he’s not the only one at fault. Harper and Desmond are the only members of the Opening Day lineup that aren’t hitting below their career batting averages. That applies to Kurt Suzuki as well.Read more »

Team Yesterday Today Probable Pitchers Syracuse Lost, 6-3 @ Toledo, 7:00 p.m. Rosenbaum (3-2, 3.35) vs. R. Garcia (1-3, 4.30) Harrisburg Won, 7-4 @ Reading, 6:35 p.m. Jordan (0-0, 0.00) vs. Buchanan (1-4, 5.87) Potomac Lost, 5-4 @ Winston-Salem, 7:05 p.m. Ray (3-2, 2.36) vs. Blough (2-4, 5.82) Hagerstown Won, 9-7 @ Kannapolis, 7:05 p.m. Encarnacion (3-2, 1.62) vs. Cose (2-3, 1.77) Columbus 6 Syracuse 3 • Perry (L, 1-4) 2⅓ IP, 2H, 6R, 4ER, 5BB, 3K, 0HR • Mandel 4⅔ IP, 3H, 0R, 2BB, 4K, 2-2 IR-S • Rahl 2-4, R • Marrero 3-4, RBI • Walters 0-4, 3E (10,11,12) The Clippers piled on six runs early and, um, sailed to a 6-3 victory over the Chiefs for a three-game sweep. Ryan Perry walked five (a season high) in just two and a 1/3rd innings (a season low) to lose for the fourth time in eight starts. He was charged with all six runs on two hits. Jeff Mandel and Tanner Roark combined for six and 2/3rds innings of scoreless relief, but Syracuse rallied just once after the first — two runs in the 8th — as they outhit Columbus 9-6. Chris Marrero led the hit column with a 3-for-4 night, driving in the first Chiefs run. Roster moves: C Brian Jeroloman traded from Washington to Pittsburgh, assigned to Syracuse Chiefs; C Sam Palace shuffled back onto the 7-Day DL. Harrisburg 7 Reading 4 • Karns (W, 4-2) 6IP, 7H, 3R, 3ER, 0BB, 6K • Krol (H, 3) 1⅓ IP, 0H, 0R, 0BB, 1K • Van Ostrand 2-4, R • Hague 2-3, 2R • Head 1-1, R, HR, 2RBI (PH) A five-run 4th took the fight out of the Phils as the Senators took the series opener, 7-4. Nathan Karns rebounded from his worst outing of the year with a quality start, allowing three runs on seven hits, no walks, and striking out six. Brian Goodwin’s three-run double highlighted Harrisburg’s big inning while Jerad Head’s pinch-hit two-run home run in the 9th doubled the lead from two runs to four. Jimmy Van Ostrand and Ricky Hague both singled twice to pace the 11-hit attack. Roster move: RHP Tyler Herron promoted from Potomac; RHP Pat Lehman shelved on the 7-Day DL. Winston-Salem 5 Potomac 4 • Schwartz 6IP, 4H, 2R, 1ER, BB, 4K • Self (BS, 3; L, 2-2) ⅓ IP, 2H, R, ER, 0BB, 0K, HBP, 1-1 IR-S • Ramsey 3-4, 2R, SB • Sanchez 2-4, R, SB • 2-for-17 with RISP, 9 LOB Winston-Salem struck for three runs in the bottom of the 8th to turn a 4-2 deficit into a 5-4 lead and stranded Michael Taylor’s one-out double in the 9th for the win. Blake Schwartz allowed just two runs (one earned) on four hits and a walk while setting down four on strikes for his third quality start. Derek Self took the loss and was charged with his third blown save as put on the the first three batters he faced (double, single, HBP). Caleb Ramsey paced the offense with a 3-for-4 night. Roster move: OF Billy Burns placed on the 7-Day DL. Hagerstown 9 Kannapolis 7 • Pineyro (W, 3-2) 6⅔ IP, 8H, 4R, 4ER, BB, 2K • Benincasa (SV, 8) 1IP, 1H, 0R, 0BB, K, 2-1 IR-S • Renda 3-5, 2R, 2-2B • B. Miller 3-5, 2R, HR, 3RBI Hagerstown racked up nine runs in the first five innings lead and held off a late Kannapolis charge over the last four frames for a 9-7 win. Brandon Miller and Khayyan Norfork both went deep and drove in three runs while Tony Renda singled and doubled twice as the Suns filled the scorebook with 13 hits. Ivan Pineyro got the win with four runs given up over six and 2/3rds on eight hits and a walk with two strikeouts. Robert Benincasa came on with two on and no outs and let in one but got the three outs for his eighth save, tied for second-best in the Sally League.

In his actions, Adam LaRoche traffics in stillness. He stands in the batter’s box with the intensity of a shopper browsing tabloids in the checkout line. He possesses an abiding passion for hunting, a main requirement of which is not … Continue reading →

San Diego starter Burch Smith popped Denard Span up, then threw an 0-2 fastball by Steve Lombardozzi for the first two outs of the Washington Nationals' first. Game on. Bryce Harper took a 3-2 fastball low and away for ball four and a two-out walk, bringing Ryan Zimmerman up with a man on, but a pop to shortstop Everth Cabrera behind third base ended a 14-pitch frame by the Padres' 23-year-old 2011 14th Round pick in the second game of four for the Nats in Petco Park. Nats' lefty Gio Gonzalez gave up a one-out walk to Everth Cabrera in the bottom of the inning. One out later, with Jesus Guzman up, Cabrera stole second. Gonzalez walked Guzman to bring Kyle Blanks up with two on and two down, and a line drive to right scored the Padres' first run and the second was gifted to San Diego by Bryce Harper, whose throw to third got by Ryan Zimmerman and bounced into the stands. Cabrera scored on the hit, Guzman on the E. Two walks, a two-base error and two runs, 2-0 Padres after one. Adam LaRoche K'd swinging over an ankle-high heater for out no.1 of the Nationals' second. A 95 mph 0-2 fastball up high outside got Ian Desmond swinging for out and K no.2 for the Padres' starter. A 1-2 fastball inside tied Danny Espinosa up and his defensive check swing was called strike three. 14-pitch second for Burch Smith, 2-0 San Diego. Gio Gonzalez was up to 42 pitches overall, after a 25-pitch first, when he walked the opposing pitcher with two down in the Padres' second. Chris Denorfia, who entered tonight's game with .310/.370/.548 line in 46 plate appearances against left-handed pitchers, singled to center for a two-out hit, but a fly to right by Everth Cabrera ended a 21-pitch frame with Gio Gonzalez at 46 overall after two. Kurt Suzuki singled to start the third with the Nationals' first hit off Burch Smith, but the rookie right-hander retired the next three batters in order in a 12-pitch inning that had him at 40 pitches overall after three. Gio Gonzalez's 58th pitch went all the way to the warning track in center field off Padres' slugger Kyle Blanks' bat, but Denard Span caught the third out of the home-half of the third inning with his back against the center field wall to end a 12-pitch 1-2-3 inning by the Nationals' starter. 20-year-old Nats' outfielder Bryce Harper lined to right for a leadoff single off Burch Smith in the top of the fourth. Ryan Zimmerman lined to left for the second straight single on an 0-2 fastball that got far too much plate. Adam LaRoche stepped in looking to extend his 13-game hit streak, and the 0-1 heater he got a hold of did just that. LaRoche sent a towering blast out to right-center and over the sand/litter box in Petco Park for a three-run home run and hits in 14-straight. Three straight games with home runs for LaRoche. 3-2 Nationals. Watch Adam LaRoche punish this baseball to put the #Nats ahead in the 4th: atmlb.com/Z2qSC0 — Washington Nationals (@Nationals) May 18, 2013 Given a lead to work with, Gio Gonzalez responded with a 10-pitch, 1-2-3 bottom of the fourth, after which he'd retired seven-straight Padres. 3-2 D.C. 68 pitches on the night for Gonzalez. Burch Smith threw a 10-pitch fifth, after which he was at 75 overall. The two Ks he added gave him eight in five innings of work. The Padres' pitcher K'd swinging on Gio Gonzalez's 73rd pitch. Chris Denorfia's fly to right made it nine-in-a-row retired by the Nats' starter. Everth Cabrera broke that streak up with a two-out bunt, however, and Gonzalez's attempt to glove-flip the ball to first resulted in an error that put Cabrera on second. E:1. The Nationals' second, but a swinging K from Chase Headley ended the fifth with the Nationals' starter at 83 overall. 15-pitch frame. 4 Ks. Bryce Harper grounded sharply to second to start the sixth. Ryan Zimmerma-- THE KIDS CALL HIM ZIM!! THE KIDS CALL HIM ZIM!!! Opposite field blast. 4-2 Nationals. Zimmerman's second home run of 2013 was followed by Adam LaRoche's seventh as the Nats

Gio Gonzalez takes the mound tonight at San Diego looking to build on one of his best starts of the season. Gonzalez held the Cubs to two hits over seven scoreless innings Sunday, and was removed after just 86 pitches while holding a 1-0 lead. The Nationals went on to lose 2-1, but the left-hander seems to be on an upswing, having pitched consecutive quality starts for the first time in 2013. The Nats take aim at their second straight win to begin the Padres series with a pretty standard lineup. Steve Lombardozzi makes his fifth start of the year in left with Roger Bernadina taking a seat. For the Nats CF Denard Span LF Steve Lombardozzi RF Bryce Harper 3B Ryan Zimmerman 1B Adam LaRoche SS Ian Desmond 2B Danny Espinosa C Kurt Suzuki LHP Gio Gonzalez For the Padres CF Chris Denorfia SS Everth Cabrera 3B Chase Headley LF Jesus Guzman 1B Kyle Blanks 2B Jedd Gyorko RF Will Venable C Nick Hundley RHP Burch Smith

A night after the offense exploded and Stephen Strasburg shut down the Padres, Gio Gonalez will take the ball and look for that success to continue. View full post on Yahoo! Sports – MLB – Washington Nationals News