Washington Nationals

Associated PressPHILADELPHIA — On a team loaded with young star power, Jayson Werth and Ian Desmond have emerged as the most vocal leaders inside a clubhouse that this season has been far more tense than joyful. Werth, the veteran with World Series experience, and Desmond, the mature-beyond-his-years shortstop, spoke late Tuesday night about the need for this team to stop putting pressure on itself, establish its own identity and show up Wednesday ready to "eat somebody's face."It's one thing to talk about it. It's quite another to go out and actually do it, making the exploits of Werth and Desmond at Citizens Bank Park on this night particularly impressive.With their teammates completely silenced all evening by Phillies starter Kyle Kendrick, Werth and Desmond delivered three clutch hits late, with Werth driving in the Nationals' first run in the seventh, then the game-tying run in the ninth and Desmond capping it off with the 11th-inning grand slam that gave his team a captivating 6-2 victory that might well have been this club's best win of the season."We got lucky. We stole this one," Werth said. "It was one of those games that you need if you're going to go on to win the division. You need a bunch of wins like this."Read more

Nationals 6, Phillies 2: Ian Desmond's first career grand slam in the 11th was so great, we almost forgot just how fantastic Gio was (7 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 2 BB, 11 K, 108 pitches). And after Jayson Werth's "eat somebody's face" comments after Tuesday night's loss... Jayson Werth certainly hasn't lost confidence or resolve: "We gotta show up tomorrow ready to eat somebody's face." — James Wagner (@JamesWagnerWP) June 19, 2013 ...Eating Face and #EatFace has now become a "thing". MASN's Julie Alexandria asked Ian Desmond about it after the game: Alexandria: "Well Ian, you guys came in today saying you were going to eat some face, so how did that first career grand slam face taste?"Desmond: "Tasted pretty good, to be honest." (Screencap via MASN/TV) Befriend Nats Enquirer on Facebook. Follow on Twitter.

Via Fangraphs (click to embiggen) Not dominant enough early enough: Gio Gonzalez (+2.8%) has a strong outing, fanning 11 and only walking 2 over 7 IP, but his 2 ER in the 1st were almost enough for DOOOOOOM. Eating people's faces: Jayson Werth (+54.1%) singles in a run to get the Nats on the board in the 7th (+10.1%), singles in another run to tie the game in the 9th (+36.7%), then walks to load the bases in the 11th (+13.6%). Interesting: Tyler Clippard (+9.7%) throws a clean aeyth and gets 2 outs into the 9th before issuing a walk. Ian Krol (+6.1%) comes in and issues a walk, too, before getting a pop-up to end the inning and earn a shutdown. Missed chances: Jeff Kobernus (-19.0%) doesn't put the Nats ahead in the 10th in his man-on-third PH chance, nor does Denard Span (-4.6%), who pops out to end the inning (-11.7%), stranding Solid: Drew Storen (+13.0%) gives up a hit, but keeps it tied in the 10th with a pair of Ks to get a shutdown. More face eating: Ian Desmond (+4.3%) is 1-5 with 3 Ks, missing a chance to put the Nats ahead in the 9th (-13.3%), but taking full advantage of one in the 11th with a go-ahead grand slam (+26.8%). OM NOM NOM: Ryan Zimmerman (+4.0%) hits a one-out double to start the 11th-inning rally (+11.7%). Adam LaRoche (+7.8%) is 1-3 with a pair of walks. Kurt Suzuki (+14.1%) has a one-out double (+11.7%) in the 10th, taking third on a WP (+11.6%).

The 34-36 Washington Nationals entered tonight's series finale in Philadelphia on a three-game losing streak, having dropped the third of three on the road in Cleveland and the first two of three in Citizens Bank Park. The Nationals and Phillies started play tied for second in the NL East, so the Nats were trying to avoid getting swept into third place in the division they won last season. Their opening day second baseman was struggling to make contact at the plate with their top minor league affiliate. Their 20-year-old 2010 no.1. overall pick was a day or two away from resuming "baseball activities" after injuring his knee. They were near the bottom of the NL in AVG, OBP and SLG. Their GM and manager were defending their hitting coach to reporters because those in search of an explanation for the team's offensive woes don't like the Nats' hitter's approach. They had their 2012 21-game winner on the mound in Philadelphia, though, and one game left in Citizens Bank Park before a seven-game homestand back in the nation's capital. They saw a total of eight pitches in a 1-2-3 top of the first vs Phillies' right-hander Kyle Kendrick. Phillies' leadoff man Ben Revere lined to left-center on a 1-1 curve from Gio Gonzalez for a single in the first at bat of the bottom of the first, and Michael Young made it 2-0 early with a two-run home to left and just over the wall on a 2-2 fastball from the Nationals' left-hander. Gonzalez allowed nine home runs in 199.1 IP in 2012. Young's third home run of 2013 was the ninth hit off the Nats' starter in 84.2 IP this season. Gonzalez was at 24 pitches total when he struck Domonic Brown out to end the first. Adam LaRoche singled to right to start the Nationals' second, but he was stranded at first three outs later when Kyle Kendrick completed his second scoreless at 25 pitches overall. Gio Gonzalez struck out the third and fourth straight batters in a row for the first two outs of the Phillies' second, and a groundout to Ryan Zimmerman at third ended a 12-pitch inning that had the Nats' lefty at 36 overall. Kurt Suzuki, Gonzalez and Denard Span went down in order in a nine-pitch top of the third that had Kendrick at 34 overall after three with the score still 2-0 Phillies. Gio Gonzalez needed 12 pitches to set down the seventh, eighth and ninth-straight batters after Michael Young's home run and finish three innings at 48 pitches total. Kyle Kendrick threw a quick, 14-pitch, 1-2-3 4th, retiring Anthony Rendon, Ryan Zimmerman and Adam LaRoche in order for nine-straight outs of his own following LaRoche's leadoff single in the second. 48 overall after four scoreless by the Phillies' right-hander. Gio Gonzalez's streak of retired batters ended with a leadoff walk to Jimmy Rollins in the home-half of the fourth. The left-hander erased the runner, however, when Gonzalez struck Ryan Howard out with a full-count curve with Rollins running. Rollins was caught stealing, dead-to-rights at second on a strong throw to the bag by Kurt Suzuki. Gonzalez threw a 94 mph 2-2 fastball by Domonic Brown for out no.3 of the fourth and K no. 7 in 4.0 IP. An 18-pitch inning left the Nationals' left-hander at 66 overall after four. Jimmy Rollins showed off the range and made a spinning throw behind second base to get Jayson Werth at first for the first out of the fifth on a grounder up the middle. Ian Desmond grounded out to third. Steve Lombardozzi grounded out to second. Kyle Kendrick had five scoreless on 56 pitches after an eight-pitch, 1-2-3 5th. 2-0 Philadelphia. Ian Desmond made a backhand play deep in the hole and a strong throw to first. Ryan Zimmerman showed off his glove on a sharp grounder to third. Adam LaRoche caught a line drive and Gio Gonzalez was through the fifth after just seven pitches at 73 overall, but down 2-0. 14 of 15 set down. Kurt Suzuki was the thirteenth straight batter set down by Kyle Kendrick after he grounded to short to start the sixth. Gio Gonzalez was the fourteenth. Denard Spa

USA Today Sports ImagesGio Gonzalez was brilliant after allowing a first-inning homer.Game in a nutshell: Desperately in need of a win to avoid a series sweep and to at least end a rough trip on a high-note, the Nationals found themselves engaged in an all-too-familiar ballgame. They got a great pitching performance, with Gio Gonzalez allowing a first-inning homer to Michael Young but nothing else the rest of the way. And they supported their starter with practically nothing in the way of run support. Kyle Kendrick held this woebegone lineup to two hits over 7 2/3 innings, the one run finally coming in the top of the seventh on Jayson Werth's two-out, RBI single to right. Werth then delivered one of the biggest hits of the season, a two-out RBI single off Jonathan Papelbon in the top of the ninth, tying this game 2-2 and giving the Nationals new life. They had chances in both the ninth and 10th to push across the go-ahead run but stranded a man on third base each time. They got yet another chance in the 11th, and this time they pulled it off. In grand style. Ian Desmond crushed the Nats' first grand slam of the season, taking Michael Stutes deep to complete a dramatic rally and send the Nationals home happy with one of their best wins of the year.Hitting highlight: There were nothing but lowlights for most of the night, but Desmond certainly made up for it with a major highlightRead more »

Washington Nationals ask fans to get the Natitude. Its time for fans to ask the Nationals to get some Nad a Tude ( for those of you who don't know Nad= balls). That includes Zimmerman, LaRouche, Desmond, Davey (who ought to fire the pathetic hitting coach) and Rizzo (who ought to hold some people accountable for this season's ball less showing). Hey guys, Get some Nad a Tude! As a side note, asking fans to vote Ryan Zimmerman into the all-star game is absurd. Although I respect him as a class act, in no way does he deserve to be an all- star this year. He is batting 270 and chokes with runners on base. I hope the first 70 games is an anomoly as we need him to ball up, but an all-star? No way! Washington Nationals ask fans to get the Natitude. Its time for fans to ask the Nationals to get some Nad a Tude ( for those of you who don't know Nad= balls). That includes Zimmerman, LaRouche, Desmond, Davey (who ought to fire the pathetic hitting coach) and Rizzo (who ought to hold some people accountable for this season's ball less showing). Hey guys, Get some Nad a Tude! As a side note, asking fans to vote Ryan Zimmerman into the all-star game is absurd. Although I respect him as a class act, in no way does he deserve to be an all- star this year. He is batting 270 and chokes with runners on base. I hope the first 70 games is an anomoly as we need him to ball up, but an all-star? No way!

Washington Nationals (34-36) vs. Philadelphia Phillies (35-37) Gio Gonzalez (3-3, 3.40) vs. Kyle Kendrick (6-4, 3.76)TIME: 7:05, Citizens Bank ParkTV: CSNWEATHER: 72, clearMEDIA: Facebook or TwitterChase Utley is playing at Reading tonight. More good news, the Phillies can sweep the Nats with a win tonight.It’s up to Kyle Kendrick to bounce back from a terrible start in Colorado over the weekend. We’ll see if he’s trending down or if it was the Rocky Mountain air Read more Chase Utley news

Having been cleared to walk and jog without a knee brace, Bryce Harper may resume baseball activities within the next two days, General Manager Mike Rizzo said. Harper has been out since May 26 with bursitis in his left knee … Continue reading →

Gio Gonzalez’s last win came May 22, almost one full month ago, but it’s not necessarily his fault. In his last three starts, Gonzalez has allowed one, two and one earned runs. In Gonzalez’s last five starts, the Nationals have … Continue reading →

By any measure, the Nationals have so far been one of the worst offenses in the major leagues. They average 3.47 runs, better than only the lowly Marlins. They are batting .232 with a .291 on-base percentage. Among non-rookies, only … Continue reading →