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Nationals Vs. Astros: Washington Completes Sweep With 5-0 Win

2012-08-10T03:18:36Z

The Washington Nationals finished off a four-game sweep of the Houston Astros with a 5-0 win at Minute Maid Park Thursday night.

Washington starter Jordan Zimmermann (9-6) was near his best, throwing six shutout innings, allowing just three hits, and striking out 11, matching a career high previously set in a May 12, 2011 game against the Atlanta Braves. Mike Gonzalez, Sean Burnett, and Drew Storen each pitched a scoreless inning to secure the win.

On offense, the Nationals were lead by Michael Morse, who hit his 9th and 10th home runs of the season in the 6th and 8th innings, respectively. Both were solo shots that made a 2-0 lead a 4-0 lead. Washington initially jumped in front with two runs in the top of the 4th inning, as Adam LaRoche drove in Roger Bernadina with a single to right field and Morse followed with a sacrifice fly that drove in Ryan Zimmerman.

For more on the Nationals, check out Federal Baseball. For more on professionalish baseball in Houston, visit The Crawfish Boxes. Get news and commentary from around the majors with Baseball Nation.

Nationals Vs. Astros: Washington Lineup Doesn't Include Bryce Harper

2012-08-09T22:07:13Z

The first place Washington Nationals are gunning for a sweep on Thursday against the Houston Astros, who almost resemble a professional baseball team. The Nats' three-straight wins over Houston seems par for the course until one takes a look at the box scores and realizes that Washington has won each of the three games -- two of which went to extra innings -- by just one run. Even though the Nats are in first place and on a five-game win streak, that's not a good look.

Bryce Harper, who has been struggling since the All-Star break, sits out the series finale. Here's the Nationals' lineup.

#Nats 8/9 Lineup: Lombo 2B, Bernadina CF, Zimmerman 3B, LaRoche 1B, Morse LF, Werth RF, Espinosa SS, Suzuki C, Zimmermann RHP
— Washington Nationals (@Nationals) August 9, 2012

With Jayson Werth back on the active roster, the Nationals have the luxury to do things like resting Harper for a day.

Nationals Vs. Astros Preview: Washington Looking For Sixth In A Row

2012-08-09T14:28:45Z

With five straight wins the Washington Nationals have surged to the top of the MLB and own the league's best record as they continue to pile up wins. They'll look to continue to do so in their final game of the season against the MLB's worst team on Thursday.

The Astros have lost four consecutive games and are rapidly approaching becoming the first team to be eliminated from the playoffs with a dwindling elimination number. Jordan Zimmermann will look to hand the Astros another loss when he takes the mound on Thursday and will try to extend a streak of eight consecutive starts without a loss.

Lucas Harrell of the Astros has had a similar season as Zimmermann and will be the one taking the mound against Washington on Thursday as he looks for his third straight start with a win.

Thursday's game at Minute Maid Park is scheduled to start at 8:05 p.m. and will be televised on MASN2 and Fox Sports Houston.

For more on the Nationals, check out Federal Baseball. For all things Astros, visit The Crawfish Boxes. Get news and commentary from around the majors with SBN's Baseball Nation.

Nationals Vs. Astros Final Score: Gio Gonzalez Gets Complete Game 4-3 Win

2012-08-09T03:17:48Z

The Washington Nationals found themselves scratching and clawing to pick up a win against the Houston Astros on Wednesday evening. The Nats took an early lead on a Bryce Harper RBI single in the top of the first inning, but Houston tied the game right away in the bottom of the inning.

Gio Gonzalez helped his early pitching performance by hitting a two-run home run to give the Nats a 3-1 lead. Gonzalez hit some bumps in the road through the game however, as Gonzalez spattered nine hits through nine innings of work, picking up the complete game victory.

The Astros cut into the lead and even looked like they would make a late ninth inning rally to tie the Nats as Ben Francisco knocked in a late run to pull within a single run. Gonzalez was able to clamp down and hold on, however.

Michael Morse was also able to extend his hitting streak to 17 games on Wednesday night in the win.

For more on the Nationals, check out Federal Baseball. For all things Astros, visit The Crawfish Boxes. Get news and commentary from around the majors with SBN's Baseball Nation.

Nationals Vs. Astros Starting Lineup: Jayson Werth Back In Right Field

2012-08-08T21:21:35Z

As the Washington Nationals are getting set to take on the Houston Astros in the third game of a four game series. The lineup for the Nationals have been released and have a nice bat returning to the Nats lineup.

Davey's Lineup-Wed @ HOU/G111: Lombardozzi 2b, Harper cf, Zimmerman 3b, LaRoche 1b, Morse lf, Werth rf, Espinosa ss, Suzuki c, GGonzalez lhp
— Nationals PR (@NationalsPR) August 8, 2012

Jayson Werth comes back to the lineup in right field after missing Tuesday evening's game for rest. Werth was forced to leave Monday's matchup late in the game due to "tired legs".

Werth has played in just five games since returning from the disabled list on August 2, and is still getting back into the groove but will be in the starting lineup on Wednesday.

For more on the Nationals, check out Federal Baseball. For all things Astros, visit The Crawfish Boxes. Get news and commentary from around the majors with SBN's Baseball Nation.

Nationals Vs. Astros Recap: Danny Espinosa's Bat, Roger Bernadina's Glove Provide 2nd Straight Extra-Innings Win

2012-08-08T04:16:36Z

For the second time in as many nights, the Nationals and Astros went to extra innings in Houston. And for the second straight night, the Nationals eked out a one-run win in the 11th inning, holding on after Roger Bernadina made one of the best catches you'll ever see running into the wall to end the game. Bernandina got a beat on a ball that was drilled to left center by Brett Wallace, crashing into the chain-link fence of the bullpen that is wedged between the padded pillars on the left field wall. Bernadina disappeared behind the pillar before slamming to the ground and rolling back across the track to hold his glove up in victory with the bullpen erupting behind him.

Much like Monday night, the Nationals offense struck early but then went dormant for the rest of the evening. All the scoring on both sides came in the first two innings until Danny Espinosa singled up the middle in the top of the 11th to put the Nationals ahead 3-2. Espinosa did all the damage for Davey Johnson on Tuesday, driving in each of the three runs.

Michael Morse led off the 11th by hammering a double to the top of the hill in straightaway centerfield at Minute Maid Park. Morse cruised into second, where he was quickly replaced by pinch runner and new National Cesar Izturis. Bernadina pounded a bunt into the dirt to the left side and sacrificed Izturis over to third, setting up Espinosa with the chance for the game-winner. With the infield in, Espinosa perfectly placed one up the middle. The ball went over the mound and past the infielders to ricochet off second base, allowing Izturis to score easily from third.

With the tie finally broken, Tyler Clippard charged out of the pen looking to make up for his blown save on Monday night. He certainly made things interesting. Clippard gave up a lead-off single to Steve Moore that went off the top of the glove of Izturis at second. After retiring two, Clippard got a bit wild and issued a walk to Carlos Corporan setting up the Wallace at-bat and incredible Bernadina catch that handed the Nats' closer his 23rd save.

Before the madness of extra innings, Ross Detwiler gave up only three hits in seven innings of work, backing up his tremendous outing against the Phillies last week. Unfortunately for Detwiler, one of those three hits was a two-run homer to Ben Francisco in the top of the first. Those were the only runs he allowed all evening as he cruised deep into the game.

The offense couldn't pick up their starter, however, as the lineup went quiet after an Espinosa blast in the top of the second. The Nats' second baseman stepped in against Jordan Lyles and took the first pitch over the right field wall with Bernadina on first. The two-out homer tied it up at 2-2, where it remained knotted until the eventful 11th inning.

For more on the Nationals, check out Federal Baseball. For all things Astros, visit The Crawfish Boxes. Get news and commentary from around the majors with SBN's Baseball Nation.

PHOTO: Behold, The Screaming Astros Fan

2012-08-08T02:38:58Z

If you were watching Tuesday night's Nationals-Astros game, you may have heard some loud screaming, the sort of nightmarish sound that actually makes you wish that there was something wrong with your TV.

Alas, on Tuesday night, this proved not to be the case (or at least, if there was something wrong with your TV, this noise wasn't a symptom of it). No, as it turned out, the screaming was the product of an unknown Houston ... is "fan" the right word for someone this loathsome? I hope not.

And as if the screaming itself wasn't bad enough, wait until you see the prime seats this a-hole got.

Yup, that's right. First row behind the Nats dugout. My blood pressure's rising just typing this.

Luckily, one of the things that makes the internet so great is the ability to narc on complete strangers for being total phalluses in public. So it is here.

@dcsportsbog Dan, one of the MASN FB chatters just called the Security office in Minute Maid Park & complained; MMP said they'd stop the guy
— Joy Miller (@JinglesJoy1) August 8, 2012

Well done, people, especially Minute Maid Park security. Only took you guys eight innings. And then this happened.

Unbelievable, the screaming Astros fan just caught a foul ball.... #Natstwitpic.com/agr70y
— Danny (@recordsANDradio) August 8, 2012

Good God, y'all.

Top photo via @patrickboylan.

Nationals Vs. Astros: Jayson Werth Will Miss Tuesday Night's Game

2012-08-07T21:00:00Z

Washington Nationals outfielder Jayson Werth will miss Tuesday night's second game of the four-game series against the Houston Astros after he was removed from Monday night's game in the 8th inning due to tired legs.

Here's how Adam Kilgore of The Washington Post put it.

Werth said he would be fine, but Davey Johnson does not want to wear Werth out. Because he missed three months with a broken wrist, Werth is essentially still playing himself back into regular-season shape.

Werth, who has played in five games since returning from the disabled list August 2, has gone 7-for-16 (.438) in that time, with a .571 on-base percentage and a .438 slugging percentage. (1.009 OPS)

Bryce Harper will move to right field to replace Werth, with Roger Bernadina taking over in center field. Here's the rest of the Nats lineup.

Davey' Lineup Tue @ HOU/G110: Lombo 2b, Harper rf, Zimmerman 3b, LaRoche 1b, Morse lf, Bernadina cf, Espinosa ss, Flores c, Detwiler lhp
— Nationals PR (@NationalsPR) August 7, 2012

For more on the Nationals, check out Federal Baseball. For all things Astros, visit The Crawfish Boxes. Get news and commentary from around the majors with SBN's Baseball Nation.