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Nationals Vs. Padres: Washington Stumbles 6-1, Splits Two-Game Series With San Diego

2012-05-15T20:16:06Z

More: Nationals shut down by Bass, Padres

With Stephen Strasburg taking the mound for the Washington Nationals (22-14) in the second game of a two-game set against the San Diego Padres (13-24), the hope was that the 6-foo-4 right-hander could deliver the Nats a victory and a series sweep. After surrendering four earned runs over the first four innings, that hope, in large part, was lost, as Washington fell to the last-place Padres, 6-1 on Tuesday afternoon.

Strasburg struggled most of all during the first inning, as he gave up three runs capped off by a two-run single from catcher Jeff Baker that scored Chase Headley and Yonder Alonso.

And though the bullpen allowed just four hits and two runs over the remaining four innings, Washington's hitters never got going at the plate, totaling just six hits and one run -- a solo home run from Bryce Harper in the fifth inning.

Washington, which had beat San Diego 8-5 on Monday, will now host the Pittsburgh Pirates in a two-game series on Wednesday and Thursday before a weekend set against the Baltimore Orioles at Nationals Park.

For more information on this series stay subscribed to this StoryStream. For more information on the Washington Nationals check out the SB Nation Blog Federal Baseball. For more information on the San Diego Padres check out the SB Nation Blog Gaslamp Ball. For more baseball news, check out the SB Nation MLB Hub Page.

Conference Realignment: VCU Will Join Atlantic 10 July 1

2012-05-15T18:04:59Z

The Va. Commonwealth Rams made it official today that they will join the Atlantic 10 conference effective July 1, 2012. They will be participating in the Atlantic 10 in all sports for the 2012-13 academic year. VCU president Michael Rao spoke at a press conference that lasted only about 15 minutes to address why they are accelerating their plans to join the conference.

The Atlantic 10 has premier universities across the board and that includes athletics. The ability to recruit and retain student athletes will be sufficiently enhanced because of this move.

This move does come with a price however, the cost for joining the Atlantic 10 will be a hefty $700,000 dollars. For some universities that's not much, but for VCU that's a big price to pay. Rao and those in the athletic department hope that new revenue from the Atlantic 10 will help offset that cost.

Rao also took time during the press conference to address the conference they are leaving in the Colonial Athletic Association.

We have the utmost respect of Tom Yeager and his leadership team as well as the other institutions of CAA.

The move leaves the CAA in flux. The Old Dominion Monarchs have been rumored to possibly be leaving the conference to join the Sun Belt Conference in 2013. So if those two leave the CAA the George Mason Patriots would not have as much competition and the conference would be much weaker.

Even more discouraging for Mason fans is the report from CBS Sports via the GMUHoops.com blog that the Patriots were passed over for the Rams, despite being in a larger media market and also having a close rival in the George Washington Colonials.

For more on the Rams and Patriots basketball programs, stay tuned to SB Nation DC. For all your college basketball news and notes be sure to check out SB Nation's NCAA hoops hub.

LIVE VIDEO: VCU Announces Move To Atlantic 10

2012-05-15T17:23:31Z

Virginia Commonwealth University has called a press conference for 1:30 p.m. in Richmond. The school is expected to announce that it is leaving the Colonial Athletic Association for the Atlantic 10 Conference, joining the Butler Bulldogs in that conference.

VCU has been a member of the CAA since 1995, when they joined after being shut out of the merger between the Metro and Great Midwest Conferences that formed Conference USA.

In their time as a CAA member, the VCU men's basketball team won 5 Colonial Athletic Association regular season and tournament championships and made the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament six times, making the Final Four in 2011.

Live video of the press conference is below and is courtesy of CSN Washington.

For more on the Rams basketball program, stay tuned to SB Nation DC. For all your college basketball news and notes be sure to check out SB Nation's NCAA hoops hub.

Padres Vs. Nationals: Stephen Strasburg Takes Mound Looking For Quick Two-Game Sweep

2012-05-15T15:59:17Z

The Nationals got a win in the first game of their short series against the San Diego Padres on Monday night, and they can earn a quick seep of the two game set with a win on Tuesday afternoon. The game starts at 1 pm and can be found on MASN.

Bill Ladson has tweeted out the starting lineup for the Nationals, and it is as follows.

1 - Ian Desmond - SS
2 - Roger Bernadina - LF
3 - Ryan Zimmerman - 3B
4 - Adam LaRoche - 1B
5 - Bryce Harper - RF
6 - Danny Espinosa - 2B
7 - Rick Ankiel - CF
8 - Jesus Flores - C
9 - Stephen Strasburg - SP

According to the Nationals official twitter account, the team has called Carlos Maldonaldo up to replace Sandy Leon, who has been put on the 15-day DL. Wilson Ramos has also been placed on the 60-day DL.

Alexander Semin Denies Decision Has Been Made To Leave Washington

2012-05-15T15:03:16Z

Alexander Semin has denied that he has decided to leave Washington, less than 24 hours after his agent told ESPN that the left winger would test the free agent market.

Speaking in Stockholm, Sweden, where he will join the Russian national team at the IIHF World Championships, Semin issued the following statement, according to Puck Daddy's Dmitry Chesnokov.

This is all just talk. Words can get twisted. There was no talk at all that I am not going to sign with the Capitals for sure. I have not talked to them [the Capitals] about leaving. And please don't ask me questions about the next season anymore.

Chesnokov, who has as much insight into the NHL's Russian contingent as anyone, added his own reporting, as well.

I was told the decision by Semin and his agent, made well before the playoffs, wasn't necessarily to test the free agency, but rather to take his time to see how the negotiations between the League and the union go regarding the new CBA. There's always a concern players will agree to another considerable rollback in salaries. Moreover, with the recent changes in Washington with Coach Dale Hunter's departure, it's also wise to wait and see who will be named the head coach of the underachieving team. Or maybe even a new general manager.

The key phrase there, of course, is "well before the playoffs." There's always the possibility that something changed to prompt Mark Gandler's outburst. Either way, the countdown to July 1 is on.

For more Capitals coverage, visit Japers' Rink. Follow all the news about Semin and the Capitals in free agency at SB Nation DC.

Anthony Rendon Injury Update: Conflicting Reports On Whether Rendon Will Return This Season

2012-05-15T15:01:32Z

Now that Bryce Harper is doing some damage with the big boys, Anthony Rendon is the highest rated prospect in the Nationals organization. But he fractured his ankle early in this season and while he continues to rehab the injury, we aren't sure exactly what his timeline for a return is. First, Rendon told the Houston Chronicle that he would not be returning this year.

"I’m probably not going to come back this year," Rendon said Monday while attending Rice practice at Reckling Park. "It wouldn’t make any sense to come back and play the last month and try and do something big."

Then the Nationals made a comment that seems to indicate they expect Rendon to return to the field this year, and with a significant amount of the season left to boot; according to Byron Kerr at MASN.

When told of the Houston Chronicle report, a Nationals spokesperson said that Rendon has had no setbacks and is on schedule for a late July or August return. Nothing has changed in the status of Rendon's ankle, and he is continuing his rehab from the injury. The team expects Rendon back before the end of the season.

Rendon has a history of injuries, so it isn't smart to rush him back. But I think the Nationals need to get Rendon on the same page with their plan so there aren't any more conflicting stories about this.

For more on Washington baseball, be sure to visit SB Nation's Nationals blog Federal Baseball. For more from around baseball, head over to Baseball Nation. To keep track of all rumors and happenings in the game, check out MLB Daily Dish.

2012 NHL Free Agency: Alexander Semin Denies Decision Has Been Made To Leave Washington

2012-05-15T14:54:11Z

Less than 24 hours after his agent hints at a departure, Washington's Russian left winger pumps the brakes on free agent chatter.

Washington Capitals winger Alexander Semin is headed for free agency in 2012, according to his agent. The 28-year-old is unhappy being a part-time player in Washington and wants to change that.

ESPN's Craig Custance reported the news on Monday afternoon. Mark Gandler, Semin's agent, says that his client will not sign an extension with the Capitals which would punch his ticket for unrestricted free agency. Teams can begin chasing free agents on July 1.

Semin scored 40 goals for the Capitals during the 2009-2010 season. This year he finished with 21 goals and 33 assists, averaging just under 17 minutes of ice time per game.

As far as where he will play next season, Semin wants to stay in North America, rather than return to Russia and play in the KHL. The report also mentions that he wants more ice time as part of the penalty kill unit.

For more Capitals coverage, visit Japers' Rink. Follow all the news about Semin and the Capitals in free agency at SB Nation DC.

Sandy Leon Injury: Nationals' Catcher To Disabled List, Carlos Maldonado Called Up

2012-05-15T02:53:56Z

After Monday night's win over the Padres, Washington Nationals manager Davey Johnson announced that rookie catcher Sandy Leon will make a trip to the disabled list. Leon suffered a sprained right ankle in a home plate collision with San Diego's Chase Headley. He was making his first career start after being called up to replace Wilson Ramos whose season ended on Saturday with a torn ACL. Leon was blocking the plate and tried to stab a short-hop throw from Danny Espinosa when Headley crushed him, with his right leg bending underneath his body. He limped off with the help of the trainer and Randy Knorr and was replaced by Jesus Flores. And it didn't take Johnson long to confirm that he will need a stint on the DL, via Adam Kilgore:

Davey says Leon to DL with high-ankle sprain. Maldonado up.
— Adam Kilgore (@AdamKilgoreWP) May 15, 2012

With two catchers lost in the last three days, the Nationals will now turn to veteran minor-leaguer Carlos Maldonado as a backup to Flores. Maldonado is hitting .224 in 20 games with Syracuse this season.