Tag Archive: Washington Nationals


Dodgers get 3 HRs in 7-3 win over Marlins

Filed Under: Uncategorized by admin — Leave a comment
July 7, 2010

LOS ANGELES (AP)—The Los Angeles Dodgers’ potent lineup chased Chris Volstad out of the game in the fourth inning and back to the minor leagues.

Matt Kemp hit his fourth homer in six games, Casey Blake also went deep against the Marlins’ 23-year-old right-hander, and the Dodgers beat Florida 7-3 victory on Tuesday night. Rafael Furcal had three RBIs, including a two-run single during a four-run second.
Volstad (4-8) gave up five runs, five hits and three walks over three-plus innings in his shortest outing of the season and was optioned to Triple-A New Orleans right after the game. He is 1-6 with a 5.22 ERA in 11 starts since his back-to-back victories over the Washington Nationals May 2-7.

“I was falling behind the hitters. I think I barely threw half of my pitches for strikes,” said Volstad, who was lifted after giving up a leadoff walk to Blake DeWitt in the fourth. “It’s tough, because I want to be up here. I think I deserve to be here. Obviously there are things I need to work on, so I’ve got to go down there with a positive attitude and try to get back here as quick as I can.”

Vicente Padilla (3-2) allowed two runs and seven hits over 6 2-3 innings and struck out nine without allowing a walk. The Dodgers’ opening day starter, who missed more than eight weeks because of an inflamed nerve in his arm, is 2-1 with a 3.12 ERA in four outings since returning from the disabled list on June 19.

“I had a lot better control before I went on the DL, but I don’t think I’m forcing anything.” Padilla said through a translator. “I don’t want to make any excuses. But with the condition that I had before, I was still able to win games. Whatever condition you’re in, you’re supposed to win. And when you get a lead like I had tonight, you’re able to pitch with a lot more confidence than in tight games.”

Padilla’s teammates staked him to a 6-0 cushion before rookie Mike Stanton chased him with a two-run homer into the first row of seats in the left field corner on the right-hander’s 112th pitch. Stanton added an RBI single in the ninth against Travis Schlichting, but Jonathan Broxton got the final two outs for his 18th save in 20 attempts.

The Dodgers’ sixth victory in eight games, coupled with San Diego’s 7-6 loss at Washington, put the two-time defending NL West leaders within three games of the division-leading Padres.

The loss was Florida’s eighth in 13 games since Edwin Rodriguez replaced Fredi Gonzalez as manager on June 23.

After Furcal’s two-run single, Kemp sent Volstad’s 3-2 pitch halfway up the left field pavilion for his 16th homer.

“Matty’s swing has been a little quieter. He’s not as jumpy as he was in swinging the bat. He’s a little more patient and it’s paying off for him,” manager Joe Torre said. “He’s not afraid to get behind in the count, and I think that’s a big part of why he’s doing a lot better. For a while he was spiraling out of control and not very selective at the plate. Last week he had a couple of days off to think about it.”

Blake hit his ninth homer into the lower seats in the left field corner in the third to increase the margin to 5-0. Andre Ethier homered in the fifth inning into the right-field seats made it 6-0. Ethier’s. 323 batting average is second-best in the league behind Martin Prado’s .332 mark for Atlanta.

Furcal completed the scoring with an RBI single in the eighth. He scored a run for the 12th consecutive game, the longest streak by a Dodgers player since a 12-game stretch by Gil Hodges in June 1953, when the franchise was based in Brooklyn.

“He looks very comfortable. It just gives a lift to everybody else,” Torre said. “When he gets on base, it’s a little tougher to go through the rest of the lineup—especially the middle of the lineup. We just did a lot of good things tonight. The home runs certainly were huge for us, and we got off on the right foot.”

NOTES: RHP Burke Badenhop was recalled from New Orleans to replace Volstad on the Marlins’ roster. … Furcal was named NL player of the week, after going 14-for-26 with 24 total bases and nine runs scored to help the Dodgers win five of six road games against division rivals San Francisco and Arizona. The only other time he won the award was in July 2004 with Atlanta, when he hit four homers in a three-game span and had a career-best six RBIs in one of those contests. … The Dodgers stole five bases against C Ronny Paulino, their highest total since June 29, 2007 against the Padres. Paulino, making his 26th consecutive start behind the plate, has thrown out 16 of 54 runners attempting to steal this season. … All-Star RHP Josh Johnson was named NL pitcher of the month on Tuesday, the fourth player in Marlins history to receive the honor along with Chris Hammond (1993), Kevin Brown (1996), Dontrelle Willis (2003, 2006) and Carl Pavano (2004). … Florida 1B Gaby Sanchez was named NL rookie of the month.

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
Permalink

White Sox’s Peavy leaves start with back strain

Filed Under: Uncategorized by admin — Leave a comment
July 7, 2010

CHICAGO (AP)—White Sox right-hander Jake Peavy left Tuesday night’s start against the Los Angeles Angels in the second inning with a strained right back muscle.

The White Sox were leading 1-0 with two outs in the inning when Peavy delivered a 2-2 pitch to the Angels’ Mike Napoli. Peavy jumped off the mound and raised his right arm, then walked straight to the dugout with team trainer Herm Schneider.

The White Sox considered skipping Peavy’s turn June 17 at Pittsburgh because of a sore right shoulder, but he insisted on pitching two days later against the Washington Nationals. Peavy responded by tossing a three-hitter for his fourth career shutout.

Peavy began the day 7-6 with a 4.70 ERA. He was 3-1 with a 1.55 ERA his past four starts.

Tags: , ,
Permalink

White Sox’s Peavy leaves start with back strain

Filed Under: Uncategorized by admin — Leave a comment
July 7, 2010

CHICAGO (AP)—White Sox right-hander Jake Peavy left Tuesday night’s start against the Los Angeles Angels in the second inning with a strained right back muscle.

The White Sox were leading 1-0 with two outs in the inning when Peavy delivered a 2-2 pitch to the Angels’ Mike Napoli. Peavy jumped off the mound and raised his right arm, then walked straight to the dugout with team trainer Herm Schneider.

The White Sox considered skipping Peavy’s turn June 17 at Pittsburgh because of a sore right shoulder, but he insisted on pitching two days later against the Washington Nationals. Peavy responded by tossing a three-hitter for his fourth career shutout.

Peavy began the day 7-6 with a 4.70 ERA. He was 3-1 with a 1.55 ERA his past four starts.

Tags: , ,
Permalink

Zimmerman’s walkoff helps Nats nip Padres 6-5

Filed Under: Uncategorized by admin — Leave a comment
July 7, 2010

WASHINGTON (AP)—Ryan Zimmerman is putting a June swoon behind him—and making a strong case to join the National League All-Star team.

Zimmerman’s second homer of the game, a shot to center field off Luke Gregerson leading off the bottom of the ninth, lifted the Washington Nationals to a 6-5 victory over the San Diego Padres on Tuesday night.
“We all know Zim’s an All-Star. He’s playing like an All-Star, he’s always played like an All-Star. We all are just hoping that he gets in,” said Michael Morse, who matched a career-high with three hits for the Nationals.

Zimmerman, trying to secure the final spot on the NL All-Star team in an Internet vote, hit an 0-1 pitch from Gregerson (2-4) over the wall in center.

Gregerson thought he could sneak a fastball away past Zimmerman, but he caught too much of the plate.

“Right pitch, bad execution,” Gregerson said.

Zimmerman had earlier homered in the fourth and has three homers in two games since All-Star rosters were announced Sunday. He has two multiple homer games this season—both against the Padres, who had a three-game winning streak snapped.

“I’ve been working hard the last week or so and I’ve been struggling the last three weeks, four weeks, however many weeks it is,” said Zimmerman, who hit .245 with two homers and eight RBIs in June. “It’s frustrating. Nobody wants to do that. … It’s finally starting to get back to where I want to be.”

Padres manager Bud Black was already a believer in the Nationals third baseman.

“He’s a very good player—no doubt. I voted for him for the All-Star Game — that’s what I think of Zimmerman,” Black said. “My write-in vote’s going to go to (San Diego closer Heath Bell), but that’s besides the point. Zimmerman’s a good player.”

Ian Desmond also connected, giving the Nationals their fourth three-homer game of the season.

But it was Desmond’s right arm that almost threw the game away for Washington, then nabbed the potential go-ahead run at the plate in the top of the ninth.

Desmond’s throwing error on pinch hitter Oscar Salazar’s eighth-inning grounder allowed the Padres to score the tying run. In the ninth, his relay of left fielder Josh Willingham’s throw cut down Jerry Hairston Jr. at the plate for the final out.

Matt Capps (3-3) worked the ninth for his third victory in six days. Washington claimed its 10th victory in its last at-bat.

The game-time temperature was 99 degrees, making it the warmest game since the Montreal Expos relocated to Washington, D.C., before the 2005 season.

Morse broke out of a 2-for-22 slump and drove in two runs for the Nationals, who have won three of five.

Scott Hairston’s sacrifice fly put the Padres ahead in the first, but Washington rallied for three runs in the bottom of the inning. With the bases loaded, Ivan Rodriguez hit a hard bouncer off Padres starter Clayton Richard’s right foot, tying the game on the infield hit, and Morse slapped a two-run single to center.

In the San Diego third, Adrian Gonzalez snapped a season-worst 0-for-17 skid with an RBI single to make it 3-2.

Zimmerman hit his 15th homer of the year to left with one down in the fourth.

“When you make a mistake, (Zimmerman) makes you pay for it,” Richard said. “That’s (been) proven to us over and over again.”

Desmond followed an inning later with his fifth homer, a solo shot into the Padres’ bullpen in left.

Nationals starter Livan Hernandez departed with a three-run lead after allowing singles to Gonzalez and Scott Hairston to lead off the eighth. Chase Headley singled off reliever Tyler Clippard and Yorvit Torrealba’s line drive to left made it 5-3. Aaron Cunningham hit a sacrifice fly to left.

Sean Burnett relieved and Salazar, batting for pinch-hitter Matt Stairs, hit a grounder to second. Cristian Guzman’s shuffle to Desmond at short got one out, but Desmond’s relay was wide of first, allowing Headley to score the tying run on his major league-high 21st error.

Hernandez allowed four runs and nine singles in seven-plus innings. Richard yielded five runs and nine hits over six innings.

NOTES: The previous warmest game-time temperature at a Nationals home game was 94 degrees on June 6, 2008. … Nationals RHP Stephen Strasburg chatted pregame with his former San Diego State coach, Hall of Famer Tony Gwynn, who was in town as part of San Diego’s TV broadcast team. … Desmond’s last home run came 31 games ago on May 28, also against Richard.

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , ,
Permalink

Strasburg says he wasn’t deserving of All-Star nod

Filed Under: Uncategorized by admin — Leave a comment
July 7, 2010

WASHINGTON (AP)—Stephen Strausburg says he’s not feeling snubbed.

The Washington Nationals rookie pitcher said Tuesday he understands why he was left off the All-Star team and that he isn’t ready for the midsummer classic yet.

“You look at the guys who are going to the All-Star Game and the years that they’ve had—and they’ve done that since opening day,” Strasburg said in his first comments since the All-Star selections were announced Sunday. “I haven’t been here since opening day. They deserve it. Hopefully, someday I’ll deserve it, too.”

Strasburg said he didn’t expect to make the NL squad and that it’s far more important for him to help build the Nationals into a contender.

“I never felt like it was really going to happen, so I didn’t put that much thought into it,” he said. “Right now, you know, I’d rather take this team to a World Series rather than making an All-Star team.”

The 21-year-old Strasburg, the first overall pick in last June’s amateur draft who signed a record $15.1 million contract, is 2-2 with a 2.45 ERA in six starts. He has struck out 53 and walked eight in 36 2-3 innings.

Philadelphia Phillies manager Charlie Manuel, who will skipper the NL stars in next Tuesday’s game in Anaheim, Calif., would have had to pick Strasburg for the team.

But such a small body of work made it tough for Manuel to make that choice.

“Obviously, only having six starts over here, it really didn’t matter what I was going to do,” Strasburg said. “I really didn’t feel like I was qualified to make the team, No. 1, based on how much experience I have. I’m sure I’ll have opportunities somewhere down the road. Right now, it was never a goal of mine.”

That’s not to say that he wouldn’t have relished the opportunity to participate in the All-Star Game.

“It’s going to be nice to have a little break. But if it were taking a break or going to the All-Star Game, it obviously would have been a lot better to go (to Anaheim) and pitch. But I’m just not ready for it this year,” Strasburg said.

Tags: ,
Permalink

Mets put Tatis on DL, recall Valdes from Buffalo

Filed Under: Uncategorized by admin — Leave a comment
July 6, 2010

NEW YORK (AP)—The New York Mets still expect star outfielder Carlos Beltran to return after the All-Star break, while shortstop Jose Reyes plans to be back in the lineup Tuesday after missing nearly a week with a sore back.

Mets manager Jerry Manuel revealed the positive injury outlook Monday, just as the club was placing versatile Fernando Tatis on the disabled list with a sprained right shoulder.

Beltran has been out all season after having right knee surgery in January. He’s been making steady progress on a rehab assignment with Class-A St. Lucie, where he went 2 for 4 and played a full nine innings Monday in center fielder.

“We anticipate him to be a part of us right after the break,” Manuel said. “I think he had a couple of setbacks with the weather, as far as getting on the field and those types of things, but if all goes well we should see him in San Francisco.”

The Mets begin a difficult 11-game trip against the Giants on July 15.

“It’s like adding a guy before the (trade) deadline. You’re talking about a real good, five-tool player,” Manuel said. “A switch hitter who sits in the middle of the lineup, I would think that would be very good for us.”

Reyes was scratched from the lineup against the Florida Marlins last Wednesday in Puerto Rico because of tightness in his lower back and hasn’t played since.

The speedy shortstop, who was picked to his third All-Star team on Sunday, took some swings before the series opener against Cincinnati and should start Tuesday night.

“He can swing from the right side right now, as we speak,” Manuel said.

Tatis, meanwhile, had been hampered by his right shoulder since early in the season, one of the primary reasons he’s been mired in a significant slump. Tatis was hitting just .185 with two homers and six RBIs.

“He’s had some problems with it since spring training,” Manuel said. “That has a lot to do with the fact that he wasn’t able to get the bat into a position of strength with that shoulder. I guess the doctor looked at him today and decided it was the best thing.”

The Mets recalled left-handed reliever Raul Valdes from Triple-A Buffalo to take his place. They needed an extra arm in the bullpen anyway after using five relievers in a 9-5 win over the Washington Nationals on Sunday.

Tags: , , , , , ,
Permalink

Nats send opening day starter Lannan to Double-A

Filed Under: Uncategorized by admin — Leave a comment
June 26, 2010

WASHINGTON (AP)—The Washington Nationals have sent left-hander John Lannan to Double-A Harrisburg, a demotion for their pitcher who started on opening day.

Lannan was 2-5 with a 5.76 ERA in 14 starts. He didn’t get out of the fifth inning in any of his last three starts, giving up at least 10 hits and five runs in each outing.

“I think he was starting to press,” Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo said. “I think his struggles were getting the best of him. Psychologically, I think he was very worried he was letting his team down, that he wasn’t giving his teammates a chance to win games.”

Lannan also started the opener for the Nationals last year and led the team that season with nine wins.

The Nationals purchased the contract of right-handed pitcher Joel Peralta from Triple-A Syracuse on Monday.

Peralta was 2-0 with a 1.08 ERA and 20 saves with Syracuse. He’s 4-11 with a 4.61 ERA in 221 major league appearances with the Los Angeles Angels, Kansas City and Colorado.

The Nationals did not say how long Lannan was expected to spend with Harrisburg. Washington manager Jim Riggleman said the most important factor would be how many ground balls the sinkerball pitcher was getting, rather than statistics.

“The best thing for John is to send him out and see if he can get straightened out down below,” Riggleman said. “It’s tough to try to work out mechanical things in the big leagues.”

Rizzo did indicate he expected Lannan to return to the Nationals.

“He’s a major league pitcher. He’s going to be part of this rotation for a long time,” Rizzo said. “The sooner he irons things out and gets comfortable, the better.”

Washington transferred right-hander Garrett Mock from the 15-day to the 60-day disabled list and reinstated lefty Ross Detwiler from the 60-day DL and optioned him to Harrisburg.

Tags: ,
Permalink

Morse, Guzman hit solo HRs in Nationals’ 2-1 win

Filed Under: Uncategorized by admin — Leave a comment
June 26, 2010

WASHINGTON (AP)—Livan Hernandez took the mound coming off his worst outing of the season and with the Washington Nationals mired in a losing streak. With a small adjustment on the mound, he gave both himself and his team a lift.Hernandez had his longest outing since May 9, giving up one run and eight hits in seven innings to help the Nationals beat the Kansas City Royals 2-1 Monday night.

Mike Morse and Cristian Guzman hit solo home runs to provide all the offense Hernandez (6-4) needed. The win ended the six-game losing skid—Washington’s longest this season.

In his last start at Detroit, Hernandez gave up eight runs on seven hits. He attributed the bad outing to dropping his glove arm during his pitching motion, so much so his forearm hurt after the start. Work in the bullpen with pitching coach Steve McCatty fixed the issue, and Hernandez kept the Royals off balance all night.

“Everything he threw was on the black,” Royals second baseman Mike Aviles said. “As a hitter, it makes it tough to get any kind of hits or anything going when the pitcher is on the corners. He went in, out, up, down—he does exactly what a veteran pitcher does.”

Before giving up eight runs to the Tigers, Hernandez hadn’t allowed more than four in an outing all year. He’s gone at least six innings in 12 of his 14 starts.

“It was a difficult ballgame. Kansas City is a good hitting ballclub,” Hernandez said. “I know a lot of people were thinking, ‘Eight runs the last game’—I know how people think. It doesn’t bother me.”

After Hernandez left, the bullpen kept the one-run lead intact. Tyler Clippard pitched the eighth, and Matt Capps struck out the side—all on called strikes—to get out of a jam in the ninth for his major league-leading 21st save in 25 chances. Capps allowed two singles in the inning and his last two strikeouts came with runners on the corners.

Scott Podsednik had four hits for the Royals, who have lost four in a row.

Hernandez’s performance overshadowed Bruce Chen (3-2), who had his best start of the year. In his fifth start for Kansas City since moving from the bullpen, the lefty allowed two runs and three hits in six innings, walking four and striking out three.

Morse gave the Nationals a 1-0 lead in the second inning with his third home run of the year. Morse sent Chen’s 1-0 pitch deep into the left field stands above the visitor’s bullpen. Guzman broke a 1-all tie in the sixth inning with his first home run of the year, a shot into the same bullpen. It was Guzman’s first homer since Aug. 23, 2009.

“It feels real good. It’s been a little grind here lately, it’s been tough to win a ball game,” Nationals manager Jim Riggleman said. “We’ve been having trouble breaking it open a little bit.”

The Royals tied the game in the top of the third, when Yuniesky Betancourt scored on a groundout by Jason Kendall.

Podsednik was left stranded on third when Nyjer Morgan caught a deep fly ball by David DeJesus to end the inning. Morgan tracked down the ball at the warning track, making a catch on the run with his back turned away from the plate.

The Royals also ran themselves out of some scoring chances. Kansas City was caught stealing twice and Alberto Callaspo was picked off at second by catcher Ivan Rodriguez.

“That doesn’t shut down your (running) game when a catcher throws well,” Royals manager Ned Yost said. “You’ve still got to try and score runs when you’re not doing much at the plate.”

NOTES: Washington optioned LHP John Lannan to Double-A Harrisburg. Lannan, the opening day starter the last two seasons, is 2-5 with a 5.76 ERA. The Nationals purchased the contract of RHP Joel Peralta from Triple-A Syracuse. … This was the Royals’ first trip to Nationals Park. Kansas City last played in Washington in 1971, against the Senators. … The Nationals haven’t given up a home run in their past five games, one game shy of the team record set from June 4-9, 2009. … Royals RF Jose Guillen extended his hitting streak to 16 games with a ninth-inning single

Tags: , ,
Permalink

Stephen Strasburg is enjoying the spread in bigs

Filed Under: Uncategorized by admin — Leave a comment
June 25, 2010

DETROIT (AP)—Stephen Strasburg says eating shrimp instead of sandwiches before games has been the best part about being in the bigs.

“There’s a lot of good perks, but the food has definitely improved,” the Washington Nationals’ hard-throwing righty said Wednesday. “When you have crab legs, shrimp and stuff for a pre-BP meal, that’s saying something.”

Strasburg isn’t eating up the attention he’s drawn as a rookie sensation, but knows talking to a bunch of reporters as he did before a game against the Tigers—two days before his next start—is part of his job.

He has already read the Top 10 list on the “The Late Show with David Letterman,” given the Hall of Fame a hat and ball from his first game, headed for the cover of Sports Illustrated and been the subject of coast-to-coast coverage.

“I’m just trying to go with the flow and experience things as they come,” the San Diego native said simply. “I think it’s more enjoyable for my family than myself. I’m not really all about that stuff.

“I don’t play this game for all the notoriety and all the hype and being noticed by fans.”

Strasburg was selected the National League player of the week on Monday. He is 2-0 with 22 strikeouts and a 2.19 ERA in two major league starts.

“It’s pretty obvious that his stuff is off the charts,” Washington manager Jim Riggleman said.

Strasburg is scheduled to start Friday night at home, for the first time since his debut June 8, against the Chicago White Sox.

“When they got that horse pitching, they’re as good as anybody in baseball that day,” Tigers manager Jim Leyland said.

Washington’s series opener against the White Sox isn’t a sellout—yet—but the team wouldn’t say how many tickets had been sold by Wednesday afternoon.

Needless to say, a lot of eyes will be on him on person and elsewhere on TV.

Strasburg, however, is trying to just blend in with the rest of the guys on a team with veterans such as Ivan “Pudge” Rodriguez, Adam Dunn and Ryan Zimmerman.

“I’m not the face of this franchise,” he said. “Guys like Pudge, Dunn and Zimmerman have earned that right. I feel like nobody in this organization expects me to be the guy to turn this franchise around. It’s going to be a collective effort.

“I’m just trying to be a good teammate in the clubhouse and try to go out there and be an impact player.”

So far, so good.

Tags: , ,
Permalink

Selig announces KC to host 2012 All-Star Game

Filed Under: Uncategorized by admin — Leave a comment
June 25, 2010

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP)—Bereft of baseball pageantry for decades, Kansas City will finally get to see the game’s best and brightest up close.

The 2012 All-Star Game is coming to Kauffman Stadium.

Commissioner Bud Selig made the formal announcement Wednesday at the newly renovated ballpark, following through on a promise he made when Jackson County voters approved a sales tax increase in 2006 to finance work at Kauffman and Arrowhead Stadium, home of the NFL’s Kansas City Chiefs, that totaled more than $500 million.
Selig was a close friend of Ewing Kauffman, the late founder of the Royals and recalled attending the All-Star game with him in 1973, the year the facility opened as Royals Stadium.

“Ewing and I became quite close,” he said. “I’ve always had a great affinity for Kansas City. “It’s a great baseball market, very much like Milwaukee, with a wonderful baseball tradition.”

Bringing the All-Star game to Kansas City will focus the baseball world on a stadium and team that hasn’t received much national attention in a generation.

The Royals haven’t made the postseason since winning the World Series in 1985, a streak of 24 seasons and counting only bested by the Washington Nationals and Montreal Expos franchise, who have gone four years longer.

Since former Wal-Mart CEO David Glass took control of the team following Kauffman’s death in 1993, the franchise has struggled on the field and at the gate. The Royals and Chiefs had to wage an expensive campaign to persuade voters to add to their tax burden. The promise of an All-Star game was held out as an enticement.

But Selig said the economic impact of an All-Star game will approach $70 million for KC.

“I’ve seen what All-Star games can do for franchises, and this is really going to help David Glass and the whole Royals organization,” he said.

There was competition, especially from Boston, where Fenway Park will celebrate its 100th anniversary in 2012.

“In the ’90s, you had to beg somebody to take the game. Now I’ve got a list of teams and every time I award one there are some people, and I know who they are, who are mad,” Selig said. “That’s all right. They’ll get over it. I don’t spend a lot of time worrying about those things any more.”

He said he agreed that the Red Sox, who hosted the 1999 game, had “very interesting reasons.”

“It was tough. But the Royals made a terrific presentation and Mr. Glass is always persuasive with me anyway. With all the renovation and everything, this is a franchise we need to be successful and hopefully this will help in the process and I know it will.”

Tags: ,
Permalink
Powered by WordPress | Theme: Motion by 85ideas.