SB Nation DC - Rockies Vs. Nationals: Bullpen Costs Washington In 4-3 Loss To Coloradohttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/48897/dc-fave.png2012-07-08T16:52:42-04:00http://dc.sbnation.com/rss/stream/29057672012-07-08T16:52:42-04:002012-07-08T16:52:42-04:00Rockies Vs. Nationals: Bullpen Costs Nationals In 4-3 Loss
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<p>Despite a strong start from Jordan Zimmerman, the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.federalbaseball.com/">Washington Nationals</a> ended their first half of the season on a sour note, losing 4-3 to the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.purplerow.com/">Colorado Rockies</a> on a run scored in the ninth inning.</p>
<p>Zimmerman went seven innings, allowing just three hits and one run while striking out two batters. The Nationals jumped out to a 3-1 lead on a <span>Ian Desmond</span> two-run home run in the fourth inning and a Steve Lombardozzi RBI single in the seventh after Colorado scored first on a Wil Nieves sac fly in the second.</p>
<p>Things went south for the Nats in the top of the eighth, as <span>Sean Burnett</span> allowed two runs without getting an out, as <span>Eric Young Jr.</span> hit a solo homer before a wild pitch scored <span>Marco Scutaro</span> to tie the game. Another wild pitch thrown by <span>Tyler Clippard</span> allowed the Rockies to take the lead in the top of the ninth, and gave them the win.</p>
<p><i>Read more on the Nationals at <a href="http://federalbaseball.com/">Federal Baseball</a> and head over to<a href="http://purplerow.com/"> Purple Row</a> for the Rockies fans' perspective. <a href="http://mlb.sbnation.com/">Baseball Nation</a> is your source for news and analysis around Major League Baseball.</i></p>
https://dc.sbnation.com/washington-nationals/2012/7/8/3145413/rockies-vs-nationals-bullpen-costs-nationals-in-4-3-lossSteve Uhlmann2012-07-08T11:56:53-04:002012-07-08T11:56:53-04:00Rockies Vs. Nationals: Davey Johnson Discusses Post-All Star Break Rotation
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<p>The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.federalbaseball.com/">Washington Nationals</a> wrap up the first half of the 2012 season with a Sunday afternoon game against the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.purplerow.com/">Colorado Rockies</a> at Nationals Park. A majority of the team will then have a few days off during the All-Star break to rest and recharge their batteries, before continuing a pennant push in less than a week. Washington is sending two starting pitchers to the All-Star game in <span>Stephen Strasburg</span> and <span>Gio Gonzalez</span>, and their participation in the Midsummer Classic likely will cause Nats manager Davey Johnson to shuffle his rotation in the second half of the season. <a href="https://twitter.com/chasehughes/status/221989278610231296">Via Chase Hughes of CSNwashington.com:</a></p>
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<p>Davey said probably a rotation order of Zimmermann, Gio, Strasburg, then Jackson + Detwiler after ASG. Depends on all-star use. <a href="https://twitter.com/search/%2523Nats">#Nats</a></p>
— Chase Hughes (@chasehughes) <a data-datetime="2012-07-08T15:29:03+00:00" href="https://twitter.com/chasehughes/status/221989278610231296">July 8, 2012</a>
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<p>As Hughes notes, this is dependent on how, if at all, Strasburg and Gonzalez are used by National League manager Tony LaRussa in the All Star Game. Johnson and GM Mike Rizzo would probably breathe a sigh of relief if neither took the hill, but that is highly unlikely.</p>
<p><i>Read more on the Nationals at <a href="http://federalbaseball.com/">Federal Baseball</a> and head over to<a href="http://purplerow.com/"> Purple Row</a> for the Rockies fans' perspective. <a href="http://mlb.sbnation.com/">Baseball Nation</a> is your source for news and analysis around Major League Baseball.</i></p>
https://dc.sbnation.com/washington-nationals/2012/7/8/3144899/washington-nationals-rotation-post-all-star-breakT.J. Doyle2012-07-08T11:12:24-04:002012-07-08T11:12:24-04:00Rockies Vs. Nationals Lineups: Steve Lombardozzi Leads Off, Jhonatan Solano Starts Behind The Plate
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<p>The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.federalbaseball.com/">Washington Nationals</a> take the field on Sunday looking for a series win, and their 50th victory of the season heading into the All-Star break. <span>Jordan Zimmermann</span> will be on the mound for Washington as they look to move 17 games over .500 on the season. Nationals manager Davey Johnson has <span>Steve Lombardozzi</span> in the leadoff spot on Sunday, with rookie catcher <span>Jhonatan Solano</span> getting a start and batting eight.</p>
<p>Sunday's full Washington lineup, <a href="https://twitter.com/NationalsPR/status/221980153717329924">via the @NationalsPR twitter feed:</a></p>
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<p><a href="https://twitter.com/search/%2523Nationals">#Nationals</a> lineup vs. COL - Lombardozzi 7, Harper 8, Zimmerman 5, Morse 9, LaRoche 3, Desmond 6, Espinosa 4, Solano 2, Zimmermann 1</p>
— Nationals PR (@NationalsPR) <a href="https://twitter.com/NationalsPR/status/221980153717329924" data-datetime="2012-07-08T14:52:47+00:00">July 8, 2012</a>
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<p>Here is the Colorado lineup, <a href="https://twitter.com/Rockies/status/221980260516896770">via the team's official twitter feed:</a></p>
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<p><a href="https://twitter.com/search/%2523Rockies">#Rockies</a> lineup7/8 at WAS: Fowler8, Scutaro4, Gonzalez7, Colvin9, Helton3, Pacheco5, Herrera6, Nieves2, Guthrie1.</p>
— <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.purplerow.com/">Colorado Rockies</a> (@Rockies) <a data-datetime="2012-07-08T14:53:12+00:00" href="https://twitter.com/Rockies/status/221980260516896770">July 8, 2012</a>
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<p>First pitch is scheduled for 1:35 p.m. EST at Nationals Park.</p>
<p><i>Read more on the Nationals at <a href="http://federalbaseball.com/">Federal Baseball</a> and head over to<a href="http://purplerow.com/"> Purple Row</a> for the Rockies fans' perspective. <a href="http://mlb.sbnation.com/">Baseball Nation</a> is your source for news and analysis around Major League Baseball.</i></p>
https://dc.sbnation.com/washington-nationals/2012/7/8/3144827/rockies-vs-nationals-lineups-steve-lombardozzi-jhonatan-solanoT.J. Doyle2012-07-08T09:29:19-04:002012-07-08T09:29:19-04:00Rockies Vs. Nationals: Jordan Zimmermann Looks To Maintain Recent Dominance Of Colorado
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<p>The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.federalbaseball.com/">Washington Nationals</a> (49-33) take the field Sunday against the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.purplerow.com/">Colorado Rockies</a> (32-52) looking for their 50th win of the season, and have red-hot <span>Jordan Zimmermann</span> (5-6, 2.70 ERA) on the mound to aid in that effort.</p>
<p>Zimmermann has won his last two starts, and has allowed three or fewer runs in each of his past six outings. In his last three starts against Colorado, the young right-hander is 3-0 with a 1.42 ERA including a one run, seven inning performance against the Rockies at Coors Field last month.</p>
<p><span style="line-height: 9px;">Former Oriole </span><span>Jeremy Guthrie</span> (3-8, 6.28) will take the mound for Colorado. Guthrie has dropped five straight decisions, four in a row as a starter. He has found success in his career against the Nationals, going 2-1 with a 1.96 ERA in seven career starts against Washington.</p>
<p><span style="line-height: 9px;">First pitch is scheduled for 1:35 p.m. from balmy Nationals Park. Pack some water and sunscreen, Nats fans.</span></p>
<p><i>Read more on the Nationals at <a href="http://federalbaseball.com/">Federal Baseball</a> and head over to<a href="http://purplerow.com/"> Purple Row</a> for the Rockies fans' perspective. <a href="http://mlb.sbnation.com/">Baseball Nation</a> is your source for news and analysis around Major League Baseball.</i></p>
https://dc.sbnation.com/washington-nationals/2012/7/8/3144654/rockies-vs-nationals-game-preview-jordan-zimmermannT.J. Doyle2012-07-07T19:32:21-04:002012-07-07T19:32:21-04:00Rockies Vs. Nationals Final: Washington Defeats Colorado, 4-1
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<p>Braving sweltering temperatures, the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.federalbaseball.com/">Washington Nationals</a> were able to overcome the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.purplerow.com/">Colorado Rockies</a> on Saturday afternoon at Nationals Park by a final score of 4-1.</p>
<p>The game was closely contested as the two teams were tied 1-1 through the first five innings. But in the bottom of the sixth, the Nats broke the game open with three runs and put the game out of reach for the Rockies.</p>
<p>Washington's offense was led by <span>Ian Desmond</span> who was a late scratch from the 2012 NL All-Star team. Desmond had two hits and one RBI in the game. Third baseman <span>Ryan Zimmerman</span> registered an RBI as well.</p>
<p><span>Gio Gonzalez</span> got the start and the win for Washington as he went six complete innings and gave up three hits, one earned run and struck out six Colorado batters.</p>
<p><i style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'Liberation Sans', FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">Read more on the Nationals at <a style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #093369; font-weight: bold;" href="http://federalbaseball.com/">Federal Baseball</a> and head over to<a style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #093369; font-weight: bold;" href="http://purplerow.com/"> Purple Row</a> for the Rockies fans' perspective. <a style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #093369; font-weight: bold;" href="http://mlb.sbnation.com/">Baseball Nation</a> is your source for news and analysis around Major League Baseball.</i></p>
https://dc.sbnation.com/washington-nationals/2012/7/7/3143858/rockies-vs-nationals-final-washington-defeats-colorado-4-1Bryan Crawford2012-07-07T12:42:14-04:002012-07-07T12:42:14-04:00Rockies Vs. Nationals Lineups: Tyler Moore Gets The Start In Left Field On Saturday
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<p>The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.federalbaseball.com/">Washington Nationals</a> and <span>Stephen Strasburg</span> struggled on Friday night in the first game of their weekend series against the Colorado <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.purplerow.com/">Rockies</a>, and will now look to lefty <span>Gio Gonzalez</span> to right the ship on Saturday at Nationals Park. Against Colorado left-hander <span>Jeff Francis</span>, Nationals manager Davey Johnson has placed <span>Danny Espinosa</span> in the leadoff spot, and given a start to rookie <span>Tyler Moore</span> in left field.</p>
<p><span style="line-height: 9px;">Saturday's full Washington lineup, </span><a href="https://twitter.com/NationalsPR/status/221641897037410304">via the @NationalsPR twitter feed</a><span style="line-height: 9px;">:</span></p>
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<p><a href="https://twitter.com/search/%2523Nationals">#Nationals</a> lineup vs. COL - Espinosa 4, Harper 8, Zimmerman 5, Morse 9, LaRoche 3, Desmond 6, Moore 7, Flores 2, G. Gonzalez 1</p>
— Nationals PR (@NationalsPR) <a data-datetime="2012-07-07T16:28:40+00:00" href="https://twitter.com/NationalsPR/status/221641897037410304">July 7, 2012</a>
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<p><span style="line-height: 9px;">First pitch is scheduled for 4:05 p.m. EST, with gametime temperatures expected to be in the triple digits.</span></p>
<p><i>Read more on the Nationals at <a href="http://federalbaseball.com/">Federal Baseball</a> and head over to<a href="http://purplerow.com/"> Purple Row</a> for the Rockies fans' perspective. <a href="http://mlb.sbnation.com/">Baseball Nation</a> is your source for news and analysis around Major League Baseball.</i></p>
https://dc.sbnation.com/washington-nationals/2012/7/7/3143205/rockies-vs-washington-nationals-lineupsT.J. Doyle2012-07-07T09:43:29-04:002012-07-07T09:43:29-04:00Rockies Vs. Nationals: Gio Gonzalez Makes Final Start Before All-Star Break
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<p>The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.federalbaseball.com/">Washington Nationals</a> (48-33) will look to rebound from a rare poor performance at home when they host the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.purplerow.com/">Colorado Rockies</a> (32-51) on Saturday, with just two games remaining before the MLB All-Star Break.</p>
<p><span>Stephen Strasburg</span> took the loss on Friday for the Nationals, but co-ace <span>Gio Gonzalez</span> (11-3, 3.01 ERA) will look to right the ship on Saturday, and tie for the major league lead in wins with a victory. Gonzalez is coming off back-to-back tough outings against Atlanta and these very same Rockies, in Colorado.</p>
<p><span>Jeff Francis</span> (2-1, 5.16 ERA) will take the mound for Colorado. Signed June 9 by the Rockies, Francis rejoined a club where he enjoyed most of his big league success. The team has won each of his last five outings.</p>
<p>Washington has lost 11 of their last 14 games at home to the Rockies.</p>
<p><i>Read more on the Nationals at <a href="http://federalbaseball.com/">Federal Baseball</a> and head over to<a href="http://purplerow.com/"> Purple Row</a> for the Rockies fans' perspective. <a href="http://mlb.sbnation.com/">Baseball Nation</a> is your source for news and analysis around Major League Baseball.</i></p>
https://dc.sbnation.com/washington-nationals/2012/7/7/3142960/rockies-vs-nationals-game-preview-gio-gonzalezT.J. Doyle2012-07-06T22:21:46-04:002012-07-06T22:21:46-04:00Nationals Vs. Rockies Final Score: Washington Loses At Home, 5-1
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<p>The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.federalbaseball.com/">Nationals</a> couldn't quite hang with the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.purplerow.com/">Rockies</a> on Friday night, suffering a 5-1 defeat at home and going scoreless until the ninth and final inning when <span>Ryan Zimmerman</span> blasted a solo shot deep to center field. <span>Stephen Strasburg</span> was going for his 10th win in this one, but gave up eight of the Rockies 10 hits and three of their five runs (two of them earned). </p>
<p>By contrast, Drew Pomeranz only gave up one hit to the Nationals in his 6 1/3 innings, striking out six and walking only two. <span>Tyler Colvin</span> lit Strasburg up for a pair of home runs - a solo homer in the second inning and then a two-run shot in the fourth. </p>
<p>That turned out to be enough to do the Nationals in, but <span>Dexter Fowler</span> got in on the party later in the game to add to the Rockies run total.</p>
<p><i>Read more on the Nationals at <a href="http://federalbaseball.com">Federal Baseball</a> and head over to<a href="http://purplerow.com"> Purple Row</a> for the Rockies fans' perspective. <a href="http://mlb.sbnation.com">Baseball Nation</a> is your source for news and analysis around Major League Baseball. </i></p>
https://dc.sbnation.com/washington-nationals/2012/7/6/3142446/nationals-vs-rockies-final-score-washington-loses-at-home-5-1Brandon Scott