Reynaldo Lopez pitches a gem with offense from the 1-2-3

Posted on August 13, 2016 by Stephen G. "Ghost" Mears

Reynaldo Lopez pitched 7 innings of one-run baseball as the Nats hold on to win 7-6. It was Lopez’s first career win.

The Nationals’ offense was led by the 1-2-3 batters in the order. Trea Turner was a double short of the cycle while Ben Revere hit 2 triples, and Daniel Murphy was the big RBI man with a home run to go with a Sac Fly and an RBI groundout. Danny Espinosa added the Nats final run on the night with an RBI single, and that run turned out to be the game-winning RBI.

Jayson Werth extended his on-base streak to 42 games with a single.

Mark Melancon had to save the game as Yusmeiro Petit faltered with a 7-2 lead. Petit was charged with 3 runs, and Melancon was charged with a run. The lead was almost given up and the defensive play of the game was a relay throw to nab Aybar at 3rd base trying to stretch a double into a triple with no outs in the 9th inning. Ben Revere threw to Danny Espinosa who threw a dart to Anthony Rendon who possibly tagged Aybar out like it was called on the field, and the call was upheld under a challenge by the Braves.

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Game #115 Reynaldo Lopez starts, Papelbon released: Game Thread

Posted on August 13, 2016 by Stephen G. "Ghost" Mears

As Jerry Crasnick reported earlier through a sourced report that Jonathan Papelbon would be released. Subsequent rumors were reported as to who initiated the release with multiple reports that Papelbon requested the release.

The Nationals have recalled Reynaldo Lopez today as he will get his third start for the Nationals. Lopez will face the Braves rightie Rob Whalen who has also made just two starts in the Majors this season. Whalen has a 5.73 ERA and like Lopez has struggled for consistency in his two starts. Continue reading →

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Nats News & Notes| Papelbon, Lopez, Trea, Murphy, Werth, Rendon, Bryce, Stras, Zim, and more

Posted on August 13, 2016 by Stephen G. "Ghost" Mears

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You can’t win them all: Postgame

Posted on August 12, 2016 by Stephen G. "Ghost" Mears

The Nationals sputtered with their  pitching tonight as Strasburg and Belisle were bit by the home run ball. Stephen Strasburg gave up 6 runs which included one inherited runner who scored on a home run ball given up by Matt Belisle. Oliver Perez struggled in his 2/3rds of an inning of relief, and gave up 1 run. Blake Treinen and Sammy Solis threw scoreless relief.

Jayson Werth continued his on-base streak with his 41st game in a row with an RBI double in the 7th inning. Anthony Rendon had a 2-run home run, and Trea Turner had 3 hits on the night along with 2 more stolen bases. Brian Goodwin added an RBI infield single. Daniel Murphy had 2 hits, and Wilmer Difo had a single. Wilson Ramos had an off-night going 0-4 with 2 strikeouts.

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Game #114 Strasburg looks for sweet 16: Game Thread

Posted on August 12, 2016 by Stephen G. "Ghost" Mears

Today begins the ‘dog days of summer’ literally and figuratively in many ways as the Nationals start a 20 day period of 20 straight games with no scheduled days off on the schedule while traditionally being some of the hottest days on the summer calendar.

The Nationals will continue to not play Bryce Harper who still is experiencing the stiff neck. Tonight, it is Danny Espinosa’s turn for a rest day. Dusty has his speed team in for this game of Trea Turner, Wilmer Difo, Ben Revere, and Jayson Werth. Brian Goodwin had 14 steals this year for Triple-A Syracuse and can swipe a base.

Stephen Strasburg is looking to bounceback from his last start and could be encouraged not to leg out any triples today.

Atlanta starts righty Mike Foltynewicz and he is part of the Braves inconsistent group of starters and this might surprise you that his 4.37 ERA ranks second of the Braves starters only behind Julio Teheran.

In other news, it looks like Mat Latos will be assigned to Triple-A Syracuse for his next start.

Washington Nationals and Atlanta Braves
Stadium: Nats Park, Washington, DC
1st Pitch:  7:05 pm EDT
TV: MASN, WUSA9, Fox Sports South, MLB.tv

Line-ups (subject to change without notice):

  1. Trea Turner 2B
  2. Jayson Werth LF
  3. Daniel Murphy 1B
  4. Wilson Ramos C
  5. Anthony Rendon 3B
  6. Brian Goodwin RF
  7. Wilmer Difo SS
  8. Ben Revere CF
  9. Stephen Strasburg RHP

From Draz is this video of Victor Robles 1st hit as he returns to Potomac:

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Wilson Ramos is going to make some cake!

Posted on August 12, 2016 by Andrew Lang

Pay the man! Wilson Ramos is going to get paid no doubt, and we hope it will continue to be on the Nationals’ payroll for many years to come. Wilson Ramos is set to become a Free Agent after this season unless the Nationals extend his contract.

It seems both sides would like this relationship to continue as the All-Star catcher is putting up monster numbers this season, and is winning games for this team like Ramos did on Sunday with the only run scored in the 1-0 win to beat Madison Bumgarner and the Giants on his home run over the rightfield wall.

“Since we traded for [Ramos in the Matt Capps trade], we’ve always seen the upside,” said Mike Rizzo before the All-Star break. “We knew he was as good an offensive catcher as there is in the game. I don’t think it’s ever too late or too early to think about [an extension]. We’ve got a plan in place for all the guys we have. He’s a guy we see as a long-term asset for us. Those are conversations we keep internal.”

If there have been any conversations with Ramos’ agent at Octagon, it is news to Ramos as he has not heard of any as he recently told the media. Continue reading →

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Cast your vote – Questions for Dusty and his Coaches

Posted on August 11, 2016 by DonH

In our post on Monday, Question, questions, and more questions we asked our readers for questions they would like to ask Dusty and/or his coaches. And our own Laura Peebles will have the opportunity to ask some questions of Dusty and his coaches during a lunch she is having with them this Saturday.

So here are the questions that got more than 5 up-votes. They are listed here (and in the poll below) in order of how many up-votes they got (most up-votes listed first). Continue reading →

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“There is something special happening in D.C.” —- Mark DeRosa

Posted on August 11, 2016 by Stephen G. "Ghost" Mears

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#Nats win the finale and split the season series with Cleveland: Postgame

Posted on August 10, 2016 by Stephen G. "Ghost" Mears

Jayson Werth and Anthony Rendon were the big bats for the Nats to bail out Gio Gonzalez who left the game in the 6th with 2 men on and no outs in a 7-4 game. Dusty Baker went to Matt Belisle who was ready in the bullpen at the start of the inning, and Belisle got the doubleplay ball for a 6-4-3 tailor-made doubleplay for what Jayson Werth called the biggest play of the game.

Jayson Werth blasted a 3-run HR in the 2nd inning to put the Nats ahead 4-1. Gio  Gonzalez unfortunately gave back the 3 run lead in the 3rd inning and ran his pitch count up. Gio settled down in the 4th and 5th, and in the bottom of the 5th inning the Nats got a lead-off double by Trea Turner followed by a Jayson Werth walk. Daniel Murphy hit a ball to the warning track that Almonte turned his back to and the ball hit the back of Almonte’s glove for a double which scored Turner. With runner’s on 3rd and 2nd base, Anthony Rendon ripped a ball  down the 3rd base line for another double plating the final 2 runs of the game. Continue reading →

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Game #113 Gio Gonzalez and the Nats go for the split: Game Thread

Posted on August 10, 2016 by Stephen G. "Ghost" Mears

This afternoon’s game will be the final regular meeting of these two teams as part of their season 4-game series with the Cleveland Indians as Gio Gonzalez and Josh Tomlin will face each other. The Nationals need to win this one to even their season series at 2 wins each.

Gonzalez faced the Indians in July while giving up two runs in 6 1/3 innings of work that day and will face a slightly different line-up today without the designated hitter. Continue reading →

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