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Strasburg allows 2 hits in spring debut

Top draft pick Stephen Strasburg has made his spring training debut for the Washington Nationals, pitching two scoreless innings against the Detroit Tigers.

Starting for Washington, Strasburg threw 15 of his 27 pitches for strikes and allowed two hits, successive two-out singles by Don Kelly and Alex Avila in the second. But the right-hander finished off Brent Dlugach with a bending, 81 mph breaking ball for an inning-ending strikeout.

Strasburg’s four-seam fastball was consistently measured in the 97-98 mph range and he struck out two Tuesday. But he had some problems with location and threw first-pitch strikes to only two of the eight batters he faced.

Click here to read the full article – By Associated Press of ESPN.com


March 9, 2010 Posted by GameSetMatch | MLB, Stephen Strasburg, Washington Nationals | , , , , , , , , | No Comments Yet

Nats close on a roll, beating Braves in 15 innings

Alberto Gonzalez drove in the winning run with a two-out single in the 15th inning and the Washington Nationals closed the season with a seven-game winning streak, beating the Atlanta Braves 2-1 on Sunday.


Playing the longest game since the franchise moved to Washington from Montreal before the 2005 season, the Nationals became the first team in baseball history to close the season with seven straight wins after losing the first seven. Still, they finished 59-103 — the worst record in baseball.
Atlanta, which got within two games of the wild-card lead with six remaining, finished with a season-high six-game losing streak. Logan Kensing (1-2) earned the win with two scoreless innings, striking out Brooks Conrad on a checked swing for the final out with runners at second and third.

Elijah Dukes started the winning rally off Boone Logan (1-1) with a one-out walk. Mike Morse flied out, but Wil Nieves and Gonzalez came through with back-to-back singles to break a tie that had stood since the seventh.

Click here to read the full article – By PAUL NEWBERRY of timesunion.com


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October 5, 2009 Posted by GameSetMatch | MLB, Nationals News, Washington Nationals | , , , , , , | No Comments Yet

Nationals Beat Mets on Wild Throw in Eighth Inning

Another meltdown by the New York Mets gave the Washington Nationals a rare winning streak.

With the help of two wild throws on potential double-play grounders in the eighth inning, the 103-loss Nationals scored the tiebreaking run in a 4-3 win over the Mets on Tuesday night for their second straight win.

“It was kind of embarrassing to watch that kind of play — especially at that time of the game,” Mets manager Jerry Manuel said. “Poor, poor, poor defensive play.”

With one out and the scored tied at 3, Mike Morse walked against Nick Green (1-4) and Justin Maxwell ran for him. Cristian Guzman grounded to shortstop, but former Nationals infielder Anderson Hernandez’s toss to second was off target, allowing Maxwell to advance and Guzman reached first.

Click here to read the full article – By Associated Press of Long Island Press


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Washington Nationals Official 2007 On-Field Dedication T-Shirt

Washington Nationals Official 2007 On-Field Dedication T-Shirt
Washington Nationals Official On-Field Youth Dedication T-Shirt

Washington Nationals Official On-Field Youth Dedication T-Shirt
Washington Nationals MLB Property Of T-shirt

Washington Nationals MLB Property Of T-shirt

September 30, 2009 Posted by GameSetMatch | MLB, Nationals Apparel, Nationals News, Washington Nationals | , , , , , , , , | No Comments Yet

Nats’ Desmond making most of his call-up

Ian Desmond had plenty of time to contemplate his first week in the big leagues and everything that would entail, perhaps more than most gifted minor league prospects who dream of reaching the top level.

Unlike thousands of other young ballplayers, Desmond got his first glimpse of the majors at the age of 19. Summoned to the Washington Nationals’ big league camp during the spring of 2005 because of a lack of shortstop depth in the system, he spent weeks playing with and against top competition and even had a Hall of Famer for a manager.

Frank Robinson was immediately struck by Desmond, not only his physical skills but his advanced baseball instincts and understanding of the sport.

“I’m telling you, his instincts are better than some guys I’ve seen play the game for 20 years,” Robinson said that spring. “He doesn’t seem overwhelmed by the situation.”

Click here to read the full article – By Mark Zuckerman of The Washington Times


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September 15, 2009 Posted by GameSetMatch | MLB, Nationals News | , , , , , , , , | No Comments Yet

Nationals put Morgan on DL, call up Orr from Chiefs

Nyjer Morgan likes to slide headfirst. The dangerous habit caught up with the Washington Nationals’ leadoff hitter.

Morgan was placed on the 15-day disabled list Friday with a broken left hand, a day after he was injured stealing third base in a 5-4 victory over the Chicago Cubs. Manager Jim Riggleman said he talked with Morgan a few weeks ago about trying to do it feet-first, which is less hazardous to player’s health.

Riggleman said Morgan agreed, but hasn’t been able to break the habit. Now he’s out for the season.

“I think most guys who are stealing bases the last 10 years, that’s the only way they’ve done it,” Riggleman said. “We’ve just got to really impress on him, and others in the system, that we need to kind of mandate that you’re just going to have to learn how to go feet-first.”

Click here to read the full article – By of cnycentral.com


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September 1, 2009 Posted by GameSetMatch | MLB, Nationals News, Washington Nationals | , , , , , | No Comments Yet