Defense wins games and also loses them! Nats come out on top! Postgame

We got to witness two of the most incredible defensive plays of the season tonight to debate in Nationals history with the greatest plays ever with Roger Bernadina’s 9th inning catch in Houston and Steven Souza’s catch to save Jordan Zimmermann’s no-hitter. Ben Revere robbed a HR tonight going above the wall to take away a Freddie Freeman HR, and Trea Turner went ‘Jeter jump throw’ to rob a hit as he ranged far beyond 2nd base on the outfield grass with his momentum taking him towards leftfield. Revere also made that ‘Willie Mays’ catch earlier this month and a play against the wall in Nats Park at the Red Porch seats as part of his highlight reel.

MLB.com screengrab

MLB.com screengrab

Clint Robinson came through in the top of the 9th with the game winning RBI single, and Mark Melancon saved (number 5) the game for a 7-6 win. Continue reading

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Game #121 The battle of 2.81 ERA pitchers: Game Thread

In tonight’s game, Julio Teheran comes off of the DL to start for the Braves. Tanner Roark gets the start for the Nats. Both starting pitchers have identical 2.81 ERAs. Teheran was rumored to be available prior to the trade deadline, but was put on the DL which scared away most teams.

Dusty Baker has reconfigured his line-up that features Bryce Harper who has a history with Teheran. Continue reading

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Balls in the dirt and a clank off a glove was almost the difference!

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Celebrating the 1 year anniversary of TalkNats

senators69 asked this question on the post The game ends at 12-10 but started at 9-2 in the 2nd inning.

TalkNats Anniversary Continue reading

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Reynaldo Lopez throws a 7 inning gem to save the bullpen: Postgame

The Nationals had a 1:15 minute rain delay tonight, but that did not affect Reynaldo Lopez who struck out 11 batters in his outing tonight where he went 7 innings with only 1 earned run tonight on his way to earn his 2nd big league win.

The Nationals clung to a 3-2 lead until the top of the 8th innings where they exploded for 5 runs that began with a swinging bunt single and followed by walks, HBP, and a single.

Jayson Werth continued his on-base streak with his 46th consecutive game, and tonight it came on 2 hits.

The Nats accumulated only 6 hits tonight to go with 7 walks and a HBP.

With this win the Nationals widened their lead in the NL East to 9 1/2 games over the Marlins.

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Game #120 Nationals are in Atlanta for 4 games. Reynaldo Lopez starts: Game Thread

Jon Morosi just tweeted out that the Nationals have the easiest remaining schedule of any team with only 19 games against winning teams which leaves 24 against losing teams. We can take his word on it, but you still play the games and the losing teams as we saw with the Rockies still are playing tough baseball.

The Nationals start this part of the road trip with a four-game series against the Braves in Atlanta. Tonight the Braves pitch Robert Whalen who the Nationals just faced in this same match-up last week against Reynaldo Lopez in Nationals Park. Continue reading

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Defense wins championships! #Nats

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The game ends at 12-10 but started at 9-2 in the 2nd inning

The Nats lose 12-10 and in turn lost this series in Colorado. It was the worst start of Strasburg’s career as he could not even make it out of the 2nd inning.

The Nats offense battled back and made this into a game. Pedro Severino hit his first home run of his career which came during a pinch-hitting appearance, and Wilmer Difo had an RBI pinch-hit making it a very productive day for the young bench players. Jayson Werth extended his on-base streak to 45 consecutive games, and he did it today on a walk that he earned in a 3-2 count. Continue reading

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Game #119 Strasburg on the road. Roster move(s) expected: Game Thread

This is the road series finale in Colorado as the Nationals hope to win this series with Stephen Strasburg on the mound. The Nationals will face righty Jon Gray.

We are expecting that Koda Glover will be back with the Nationals today to strengthen the bullpen although the Nats could use a reliever who could pick up several innings as Yusmeiro Petit, Blake Treinen, and Oliver Perez are not available. Sammy Solis is dealing with some arm fatigue. Other than that the bullpen is thin as it’s Belisle, Kelley and Melancon available. There was some speculation that Rizzo would get an extra long man to help out, but that does not look like it will happen.

Ryan Zimmerman and Jose Lobaton could meet the team this weekend in Atlanta which will also trigger roster moves.


Washington Nationals and Colorado Rockies
Stadium: Coors Field, Colorado
1st Pitch:  3:10 pm EDT
TV: MASN, ROOT, MLB.tv

Line-ups  (subject to change without notice):

  1.  Trea Turner 2B
  2.  Jayson Werth LF
  3. Daniel Murphy 1B
  4. Bryce Harper RF
  5.  Wilson Ramos C
  6.  Anthony Rendon 3B
  7.  Brian Goodwin CF
  8. Danny Espinosa SS
  9. Stephen Strasburg RHP

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Nats go into a lengthy rain delay tied. Lose it in the bullpen: Postgame

The Nationals drop this game 6-2 but the game was at 3-2 until the middle of the 7th inning until Oliver Perez could not get the lefties out. The Rockies blew the game open in the bottom of the 7th inning.

The left-handed portion in the bullpen is only Sammy Solis and Oliver Perez now, and Perez has not been spectacular.

Because of the rain delay, Gio Gonzalez‘s night was shortened, and he was done at 3 innings. Yusmeiro Petit unfortunately takes the loss, and he actually pitched the best of all the Nats pitchers tonight giving up 1 run over 3 innings. Gio gave up 2 runs over 3 innings. Perez gave up 2 runs over 1/3 of an inning, and Treinen gave up 1 run over 1 2/3 innings.

Petit and Treinen should not be available tomorrow, but the other 5 relievers should be. Dusty Baker must hope the Nationals don’t need a long-man tomorrow.

Jayson Werth set a new Washington Nationals record in this game as he extended his on-base streak to 44 straight games. The old record was 43 games held by Ryan Zimmerman.

Anthony Rendon bounced back tonight to go from an 0-fer to a 3-4 night. Daniel Murphy had a 2-4 night. Bryce Harper had a single that was reversed on a review. Harper did work a walk in the game and had an RBI. Harper had some good contact.

The Nationals defense was slick most of the game, and the defense was tested early on the first batter of the game as Charlie Blackmon hit a hard grounder past Murphy and somehow Trea Turner ranged toward the rightfield line to glove the grounder and throw out Blackmon as Gio Gonzalez covered on a nifty play. The other nice defensive play was turned with bases loaded Dahl hit a double down the leftfield line that Werth threw the relay to Espinosa who threw the ball to the plate where Ramos put the tag on Carlos Gonzalez to get the out on a bang-bang play at the plate.

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