SB Nation DC - Nationals Vs. Reds: Nationals Fall To Fourth In NL East After 14-Inning Walk-Off Loss To Redshttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/48897/dc-fave.png2011-08-29T09:21:10-04:00http://dc.sbnation.com/rss/stream/21535792011-08-29T09:21:10-04:002011-08-29T09:21:10-04:00Rick Ankiel Shows Off His Incredible Throwing Arm
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<p>When <span>Rick Ankiel</span> came up to the majors 1999 he was a hard throwing left handed pitching prospect. He moved to the outfield soon after once he lost his ability to locate his pitches. He still has that pitcher-quality arm strength, but now he has a much bigger strike zone to work with. This year he has shown time and time again just how good that arm is.</p>
<p>Here is the latest example from the Nats game on Sunday against the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.redreporter.com/">Reds</a>. <a href="http://mlb.com/video/play.jsp?content_id=18557059">You can find the video here</a>.</p>
<p><span>Dave Sappelt</span> hit a ball to deep right-center that bounced off the wall and away from <span>Jayson Werth</span>. Ankiel chases it down, then throws the frozen rope one bouncer to third to nab a greedy Sappelt who was trying to stretch a double into a triple. Ankiel may not have the best range in the world, but it would not be a stretch to think that he has the strongest arm of any centerfielder in baseball.</p>
https://dc.sbnation.com/2011/8/29/2390830/rick-ankiel-outfield-assist-nationalsJordan Ruby2011-08-28T18:46:38-04:002011-08-28T18:46:38-04:00Nationals Vs. Reds Final: Nationals Go The Distance, But Fall 5-4 In Walk-Off In 14th
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<p>The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.federalbaseball.com/">Washington Nationals</a> battled it out with the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.redreporter.com/">Cincinnati Reds</a> on Sunday afternoon. They took a late lead, couldn't hold it, waged war for 14 innings before the Reds knocked out a walk-off home run in the bottom of the 14th to win the game and sweep the Nationals at Great American Ballpark 5-4.</p>
<p>Right fielder <span>Jayson Werth</span> hit a RBI single in the ninth to give the Nationals a 4-3 lead, but reliever <span>Drew Storen</span> could not preserve the lead as he gave up a home run to Yonder Alonso. So began a lengthy back-and-forth battle where neither team could score until the bottom of the 14th where <span>Joey Votto</span> took reliever Collin Balester yard for a walk-off home run. It was Votto's second home run of the game.</p>
<p>Nationals starter <span>Jordan Zimmermann</span> pitched his final game of the 2011 season and it wasn't his most promising performance as he reached his 160 inning limit. Zimmermann went four innings, giving up six hits, three runs, one walk and struck out six. He finishes the year 8-11 with a 3.18 ERA.</p>
<p>Three managers were ejected from the game including Nationals manager Davey Johnson and Reds manager Dusty Baker.</p>
<p>The Nationals are now on a six game losing streak, 62-70 on the year and have fallen to fourth place in the NL East.</p>
https://dc.sbnation.com/washington-nationals/2011/8/28/2390089/washington-nationals-cincinnati-reds-collin-balester-gives-up-walk-off-14thAndrew Kinback2011-08-28T14:39:30-04:002011-08-28T14:39:30-04:00Nationals Vs. Reds Score: Longballs A Problem For Nationals, Tied With Reds 2-2
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<p>It looks like through four and a half innings the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.federalbaseball.com/">Washington Nationals</a> offense still has not completely come around and <span>Jordan Zimmermann</span> is giving it his all, but is having trouble keeping balls in Great American Ballpark as they have reached a 2-2 tie with the Cincinnati Red going into the bottom of the fifth.</p>
<p>Zimmermann is having a decent outing striking out six, but he has given up two runs on four hits, two of those hits being solo home runs from Cincinnati's <span>Joey Votto</span> and <span>Jay Bruce</span>. The Nationals have been able to get two runs across the plate themselves. In the first inning second baseman <span>Danny Espinosa</span> singled in <span>Rick Ankiel</span> for the first run of the game and an early 1-0 lead. However, the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.redreporter.com/">Reds</a> struck back with their two bombs and took a 2-1 lead until the fifth inning when Rick Ankiel hit an RBI single to tie the game.</p>
<p>With two out and one man on third Espinosa struck out to end the Nationals half of the inning and the chance at the go ahead run.</p>
https://dc.sbnation.com/washington-nationals/2011/8/28/2389774/washington-nationals-cincinnati-reds-jordan-zimmermann-longballsAndrew Kinback2011-08-28T11:24:02-04:002011-08-28T11:24:02-04:00Nationals Vs. Reds: Jordan Zimmermann Steps In For Sweep Prevention In His Final Outing Of Season
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<p>Zimmermann gets the ball to help the Nationals avoid a three game sweep and a six game losing streak. </p> <p>Though it isn't as dramatic or hokie, Sunday's finale between the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.federalbaseball.com/">Washington Nationals</a> and <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.redreporter.com/">Cincinnati Reds</a> has all the makings of a Wild West plot line. The Nationals, terrorized by a marauding horde of villains played by the Cincinnati Reds, are about to be swept in a three game series. They have no offense and no fighting spirit in this barbaric land of Ohio, so they look to be crushed.</p>
<p>Then enters the stranger, the hero who single-handedly whips out the threat, bags the villain, gets the girl and then walks off into the sunset a character of mystery and legend. Nationals starter <span>Jordan Zimmermann</span> (<span class="stats">8-11, 3.10 ERA)</span> could fill that role nicely and just like our fictional cowboy hero, No. 27 too will walk off into the sunset Sunday as it will be his final outing of the season before being shutdown. Zimmermann held the Reds scoreless over 5 2/3 innings on Aug. 18th in his last outing and will look to duplicate similar results.</p>
<p>He will be without his trusty sidekick third baseman <span>Ryan Zimmerman</span> who was given the day off by manager Davey Johnson for reportedly looking worn and tired. After a shaky MLB debut, recently called up <span>Chris Marrero</span> will not be manning first base today. <span>Laynce Nix</span> will take over one-bag duties Sunday while <span>Alex Cora</span> takes over third.</p>
<p>The Nationals look to avoid the sweep at the hands of <span>Johnny Cueto</span> (<span class="stats">9-5, 2.03 ERA)</span> and the Reds at 1:10 P.M. EST.</p>
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<p><b>Nationals Line-Up</b></p>
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<p><span>Ian Desmond</span> - SS</p>
<p><span>Jayson Werth</span> - RF</p>
<p><span>Rick Ankiel</span> - CF</p>
<p><span>Michael Morse</span> - LF</p>
<p><span>Danny Espinosa</span> - 2B</p>
<p>Laynce Nix - 1B</p>
<p><span>Jesus Flores</span> - C</p>
<p>Alex Cora - 3B</p>
<p>Jordan Zimmermann - SP</p>
https://dc.sbnation.com/washington-nationals/2011/8/28/2389506/nationals-vs-reds-jordan-zimmermann-steps-in-for-sweep-prevention-inAndrew Kinback