A familiar ending: A bullpen loss

Photo by Marlene Koenig for TalkNats

Even Cardinal fans were nervous as their home stadium was eerily quiet as they have seen their team lose too many games recently via some pitching incompetence, but the Nationals showed them that they can blow games too. This time the fateful inning was the seventh as Hunter Strickland had two outs and could not find the zone and eventually gave up a 2-run double to lose this game by a final score of 4-2. Sure, the game started off rocky as Stephen Strasburg barely survived the first inning after throwing 38-pitches with two earned runs, but then Stras locked-in and lasted five innings and exited in a 2-2 tie on 99 pitches. Continue reading

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Game #149 A much different Nats team will face the Cardinals this time!

Photo courtesy of Kelly Collis for TalkNats

As a person, you have to love Nationals’ manager Dave Martinez, and while he has his critics, the respect starts for Martinez as to who he is. Yesterday afternoon, he left the dugout and was taken to the hospital with chest pains which required a cardiac catheterization. The procedure went well according to General Manager Mike Rizzo who spoke to Martinez and said he was “upbeat.” Martinez will remain in Washington, D.C., and in St. Louis, Chip Hale will be taking over as manager, Tim Bogar as his bench coach, and Joe Dillon as the first base coach. Our sincerest thoughts and prayers to Davey on a speedy recovery. Continue reading

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The postseason snapshot updated for the Wild Card race!

With 14-games remaining on the regular season schedule, the Nationals postseason picture is focused on the first Wild Card spot which would come with the coveted home field advantage. The game is set for Tuesday, October 1st and televised on TBS. The Washington Nationals are now 82-66 record. This is what some fans forget — the Nationals control their own destiny because they are in the first spot for the Wild Card. Sure, you have to win. The Nationals have to take the approach of, “You win and you’re in” and it is just that simple. Keep winning, and everything will take care of itself. Continue reading

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The Nats finish their season series with the Braves on a high note!

Photo by Lynn G. for TalkNats

This was a game that the Washington Nationals really needed to win, and Anibal Sanchez and Howie Kendrick delivered for this team in a big way. The Nats shutout the Braves 7-0 after Sanchez went 7.0 scoreless innings. On the offense, everyone contributed, and Howie Kendrick went 3-4 with a HR and 3 RBIs. The Nats put together that balanced win as they excelled in all aspects in a great team win. Continue reading

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Game #148 The Nats are out of balance

Where have the bats gone? Photo by Andrew Lang for TalkNats

For weeks this team has been out of balance; starting pitching, the offense, and the bullpen have rarely been clicking together. Yesterday, the Nationals got 5 2/3 innings from spot starter Austin Voth, and he departed with a 1-0 lead. In the final 3 1/3 innings, the bullpen gave up 10-runs, and the Nationals never scored any more runs. In this series, the Nats scored all of one run in the first two games against the Braves in their final games of the 2019 regular season. The Braves have already punched their ticket to the postseason while the Nats are clinging to their diminished lead in the Wild Card race.  Continue reading

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Game #147 Austin Voth has a tall order for today!

Photo by Marlene Koenig for TalkNats

This is one of those games that the Washington Nationals find themselves as underdogs on the betting lines, and it is understandable as the Nats have the inexperienced Austin Voth starting today. Last night the Braves clinched the season series 10-7. There was a point where it looked like the Nats had the Braves number. The Nats took the first three games in their head-to-head matchups, and since that point, the Braves have dominated. Continue reading

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A day after scoring 12, the #Nats can’t score at all. That’s baseball!

Photo by Marlene Koenig for TalkNats

A sellout crowd welcomed the Washington Nationals home, and they were rewarded with one of the grossest displays of offensive ineptitude the Nats have put forth all year. Continue reading

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Game #146 Max Scherzer on this Friday faces a familiar foe (Freddie F. Freeman)

From @Nationals Instagram

Five days ago, Max Scherzer beat the Atlanta Braves, and he once again will face them and rookie Mike Soroka in the first of a three-game series which will be the last series they will meet in this regular season. In the last game, Scherzer played the role of the stopper, and today he plays a much better role of being the pitcher to continue the winning ways into a 3-game winning streak. Fortunately for the Nats’ Cy Young hurler, he flew ahead of the team yesterday afternoon as his teammates did not land until 5:01 AM at Dulles Airport. The Nats have shown resilience in the past like their weekend in Chicago that they can still get the job done with sleep deprivation.  Continue reading

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A big series win in Minnesota as the Nats now fly back early Friday morning to DC

Photo from Nationals Instagram

While some were ready to count the Nationals out on Tuesday, the team came back and won this series against the first place Minnesota Twins. Patrick Corbin did his job in this game and notched another win as he went 6.0 innings giving up 3-runs and exited with a 10-3 lead. That lead was in jeopardy in the 8th inning as reliever Aaron Barrett gave up 3-runs in 1/3 of an inning to make the score 10-6, but he also left a mess behind as the tying run was in the on-deck circle which prompted manager Dave Martinez to go to Fernando Rodney to put out the fire — which he did to retire Nelson Cruz with bases loaded. Continue reading

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Game #145 Patrick Corbin (weather permitting) will try to seal a series win in Minnesota!

Photo by Andrew Lang for TalkNats

Tonight’s weather could cooperate like last night or Mother Nature could throw a curveball  on a night where the Twins scheduled a late night game on a “getaway” date. In the last hour, the forecast looks better than it did earlier. If the game was postponed, neither team has an opening in their schedule until the first day after the season ends so MLB has the decision-making on this one as to the weather, and a postponed game would only be made up if needed for postseason implications. Again, the hope is that they can get the game started on-time.  If not, it will be a very long night travelling for our Washington Nationals. In fact, D.C.’s weather forecast for Friday is somewhat dicey as the Nats will face the Braves, again. After tonight, the Nats only have five remaining series against the Braves, Cardinals, Marlins, Phillies, and Indians. Tonight’s game will also determine the winner of this series. Continue reading

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