SB Nation DC - Phillies Vs. Nationals: Jayson Werth Impressive In Return As Nationals Avoid Sweephttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/48897/dc-fave.png2012-08-02T21:47:58-04:00http://dc.sbnation.com/rss/stream/29714832012-08-02T21:47:58-04:002012-08-02T21:47:58-04:00Phillies Vs. Nationals Recap: Jayson Werth Returns, Washington Avoids Sweep With 3-0 Win
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<p>The Washington Nationals avoided a sweep by the Phillies on Thursday night with a 3-0 win in the series finale. Ross Detwiler worked quickly and moved through the Philadelphia lineup for seven scoreless innings. The Phillies put together a rally in the top of the second, but Bryce Harper gunned down John Mayberry, Jr. at the plate to quickly put out the rally attempt. Detwiler completely settled in after that, giving up just three hits -- none of which came after the third inning. He threw only 88 pitches before handing it over to his bullpen.</p>
<p>Sean Burnett was the first out of the pen and came on to work a 1-2-3 inning. Tyler Clippard faced the heart of the order in the bottom of the ninth and closed the door for his 21st save of the season. Clippard walked the lead-off man, Chase Utley, but rebounded to finish things off with a strike out of Ryan Howard, who represented the tying run.</p>
<p>On offense, the Nats would strike early for three runs that would be enough with the pitching staff cruising. Jayson Werth had three productive at-bats in his first game since early May. Werth singled to left in his first at-bat and then grounded out to the right side to score Michael Morse from third. A hit and an RBI in his first two at-bats were followed with a walk in his final trip to the plate in the bottom of the eighth. It was a good return against his former team.</p>
<p>Along with Werth, it was Adam LaRoche who had a big night at the dish. LaRoche broke the scoreless tie when he led off the second inning with a solo bomb to right. He then knocked in the second run of the evening on a single that scored Ryan Zimmerman. The two-run third inning would end the scoring for the night as the Nats finished off the series with a W.</p>
<p><i>For more on this and all things <a href="https://www.federalbaseball.com/" target="_blank">Washington Nationals</a> baseball, please check out <a href="http://www.federalbaseball.com/" target="_blank">Federal Baseball</a>. And as always, please check out the <a href="http://mlb.sbnation.com/" target="_blank">SB Nation MLB Baseball hub page </a>for more on this and every Major League series.</i></p>
https://dc.sbnation.com/washington-nationals/2012/8/2/3216612/nationals-vs-phillies-score-recapBrendan Porath2012-08-02T20:40:12-04:002012-08-02T20:40:12-04:00Phillies Vs. Nationals: Jayson Werth Gets A Hit & RBI In 1st 2 At-Bats
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<p>Looking to avoid a three-game sweep by the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.thegoodphight.com/">Phillies</a>, the Washington Nationals spotted their starter <span>Ross Detwiler</span> a 3-0 lead in the third inning on Thursday night. The evening marked the return of <span>Jayson Werth</span> who's hitting in the six-hole for Davey Johnson. Werth went out in the first week of May, breaking his wrist on a diving catch against these same Phillies. Werth immediately stepped into the box and got a single off <span>Cole Hamels</span> in his first at-bat. In his second trip to the plate, he picked up an RBI on a groundout to the right side that scored <span>Michael Morse</span> for the third run of the evening.</p>
<p>Aside from Werth, it was <span>Adam LaRoche</span> who did the early damage against Hamels. LaRoche led off the second inning with a solo homer to right to break the scoreless tie. One inning later, he singled back up the middle to score <span>Ryan Zimmerman</span> and put Morse on third for Werth's at-bat.</p>
<p>Detwiler has settled in with the lead. The Phillies put together a threat in the top of the second but <span>John Mayberry</span>, Jr. was thrown out at the plate by <span>Bryce Harper</span>. Since the Nats took the 3-0 lead, Detwiler has thrown two quick perfect innings.</p>
<p><i>For more on this and all things <a target="_blank" href="https://www.federalbaseball.com/">Washington Nationals</a> baseball, please check out <a target="_blank" href="http://www.federalbaseball.com/">Federal Baseball</a>. And as always, please check out the <a target="_blank" href="http://mlb.sbnation.com/">SB Nation MLB Baseball hub page </a>for more on this and every Major League series.</i></p>
https://dc.sbnation.com/washington-nationals/2012/8/2/3216478/nationals-vs-phillies-score-update-jayson-werthBrendan Porath2012-08-02T17:22:41-04:002012-08-02T17:22:41-04:00Jayson Werth Injury: Nationals Outfielder Finally Off DL
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<p><a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.federalbaseball.com/">Washington Nationals</a> outfielder <span>Jayson Werth</span> has finally returned from a long injury layoff. He hasn't appeared in a game for the Nats since mid-May, when he suffered an injury to his left wrist. The team announced on Thursday that he had been activated from the 60-day disabled list, while Henry Rodriguez has been placed on the 15-day disabled list.</p>
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<p>The <a href="https://twitter.com/search/%23Nationals"><s>#</s><b>Nationals</b></a> today activated and reinstated OF Jayson Werth from the 60-day DL (LWrist) and placed Henry Rodriguez on the 15 day DL (back)</p>
— Nationals PR (@NationalsPR) <a data-datetime="2012-08-02T21:08:26+00:00" href="https://twitter.com/NationalsPR/status/231134386064601088">August 2, 2012</a>
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<p>Werth struggled to live up to his massive new contract in his first year with the Nationals in 2011 and was off to a slightly better start in 2012 before he got injured. The Nationals are coming off two straight losses against the Philadelphia Philles, and their offense has been non-existent in those two games. Werth's return will be very welcome as the Nats attempt to hold off the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.talkingchop.com/">Atlanta Braves</a> in the race for the NL East division title.</p>
<p>Here's a look at Washington's lineup for Thursday's series finale against Philadelphia. Contrary to the tweet, Werth is actually starting in center field. </p>
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<p><a href="https://twitter.com/search/%23Nats"><s>#</s><b>Nats</b></a> 8/2 Lineup: Espinosa SS, Harper RF, Zimmerman 3B, Morse LF, LaRoche 1B, Werth RF, Leon C, Lombo 2B, Detwiler LHP</p>
— Washington Nationals (@Nationals) <a data-datetime="2012-08-02T21:23:27+00:00" href="https://twitter.com/Nationals/status/231138166017519616">August 2, 2012</a>
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<p><i>For more on the Nationals, head over to <a href="http://www.federalbaseball.com" target="_blank">Federal Baseball</a>. For more from across Major League Baseball, check out <a href="http://mlb.sbnation.com" target="_blank">Baseball Nation</a>.</i></p>
https://dc.sbnation.com/washington-nationals/2012/8/2/3216098/jayson-werth-injury-washington-nationalsKim McCauley2012-08-02T09:45:27-04:002012-08-02T09:45:27-04:00Phillies Vs. Nationals Preview: Washington Will Look To Avoid Series Sweep
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<p>Heading in to a three-game series against the last place <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.thegoodphight.com/">Phillies</a>, the Nationals had a half game lead over the hot <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.redreporter.com/">Cincinnati Reds</a> for the top spot in the National League. Yet despite winning eight of the nine games prior to the series, the Nationals have struggled against the Phillies with back to back losses.</p>
<p>Now they'll look to avoid getting swept by Philadelphia in the final game of the series on Thursday night. But to do so, they'll have to get past the best pitcher for the Phillies, <span>Cole Hamels</span>. Despite not earning a win in either of his last two start, Hamels's mark of 11 wins is tied for the eighth most in the NL.</p>
<p>Pitching for the Nationals will be <span>Ross Detwiler</span> who struggled in his last start against the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.brewcrewball.com/">Milwaukee Brewers</a> on Friday when he allowed four earned runs and seven hits before getting pulled in the fifth.</p>
<p>The first pitch of Thursday's game at Nationals Park is scheduled to be thrown at 7:05 p.m. and will be televised on MLB Network, MASN and CSN-Philadelphia.</p>
<p><i>For more on this and all things <a href="https://www.federalbaseball.com/" target="_blank">Washington Nationals</a> baseball, please check out <a href="http://www.federalbaseball.com/" target="_blank">Federal Baseball</a>. And as always, please check out the <a href="http://mlb.sbnation.com/" target="_blank">SB Nation MLB Baseball hub page </a>for more on this and every Major League series.</i></p>
https://dc.sbnation.com/washington-nationals/2012/8/2/3214949/phillies-vs-nationals-preview-tv-schedule-probable-pitchersAdam Stites2012-08-02T08:00:34-04:002012-08-02T08:00:34-04:00PHOTO: Phillies Fans With Horse Heads At Nats Park; Have We Seen Them Before?
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<p>We first saw what you're about to see below the jump during Wednesday night's <a href="https://www.federalbaseball.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Nationals</a>-<a href="https://www.thegoodphight.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Phillies</a> game. It initially filled us with shock, horror, confusion, revulsion, <i>Godfather</i> references, you name it.</p>
<p>But then we started to go back through our memory archives and we suddenly realized something: We think we've seen these guys (yes, plural, MASN got a shot of both of them in their end-of-game montage Tuesday night) before.</p>
<p>However, we could be wrong. Lord knows we have been wrong before, for one thing, and a quick Google search has turned up a disturbingly active <a href="http://www.holdoutsports.com/2012/05/giants-fan-in-horse-mask-enjoys-beer.html">horse</a> <a href="http://deadspin.com/5845816/your-brewers-fans-were-mean-to-the-guy-in-the-horse-mask-nlds-and-yankeestigers-open-thread">mask</a> <a href="http://network.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/red_sox_fan_wears_horse_mask_dances_during_sweet_caroline_animation/11049557">subculture</a> at baseball games over the last couple of years.</p>
<p>I mean, what the hell?</p>
<p>I mean, far be it from me to call for the guy to remove his mask. As District Sports Page's Dave Nichols <a href="https://twitter.com/NationalsDSP/status/230848668171915264">pointed out on Twitter</a>, considering the man got through security and considering he paid $325 for his seat, he can wear whatever he wants (within reason). Doesn't make it any less creepy, though.</p>
<p><a target="_blank" href="http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/1271811/AzQjZrhCIAAqXIp.jpg"><img src="http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/1271811/AzQjZrhCIAAqXIp_medium.jpg" class="photo" alt="Azqjzrhciaaqxip_medium"></a></p>
<p>Via <a href="https://twitter.com/_JakeRussell">@_JakeRussell</a>)</p>
https://dc.sbnation.com/washington-nationals/2012/8/2/3214329/photo-phillies-nationals-horse-mask-fansSamuel Chamberlain2012-08-01T22:22:12-04:002012-08-01T22:22:12-04:00Phillies Vs. Nationals Final Score: Washington Loses Again, 3-2
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<p>The Washington Nationals dropped their first game of the series against the <a href="https://www.thegoodphight.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Philadelphia Phillies</a> in an 8-0 blowout, but looked to even the series with first baseman <span>Adam LaRoche</span> back in the lineup on Wednesday evening. LaRoche back in seemed to help immediately as he helped the Nats jump out to an early lead with an RBI single in the first inning, sparking the Nats to a 1-0 lead which eventually turned into an early 2-0 lead.</p>
<p>The Nats bats went silent after that however, as the team struggled to plate runs the rest of the night as the Phillies wittled away at the 2-0 lead before eventually overtaking the Nats on a <span>Nate Schierholtz</span> solo home run in the fifth inning, following up <span>Jimmy Rollins</span>' second home run of the night to tie the game.</p>
<p>Jonathan Papelbon came in to close out the game for Philadelphia as the Nats drop two in a row to the Phillies, 3-2.</p>
<p><i>For more on this and all things <a target="_blank" href="https://www.federalbaseball.com/">Washington Nationals</a> baseball, please check out <a target="_blank" href="http://www.federalbaseball.com/">Federal Baseball</a>. And as always, please check out the <a target="_blank" href="http://mlb.sbnation.com/">SB Nation MLB Baseball hub page </a>for more on this and every Major League series.</i></p>
https://dc.sbnation.com/washington-nationals/2012/8/1/3214264/phillies-vs-nationals-final-scoreAlfie Crow2012-08-01T17:15:06-04:002012-08-01T17:15:06-04:00Nationals Vs. Phillies Lineup: Adam LaRoche Back At First Base
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<p>As the Washington Nationals get set to take on the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.thegoodphight.com/">Philadelphia Phillies</a> once again, there are a few changes to the Nats lineup on Wednesday evening.</p>
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<p><a href="https://twitter.com/search/%23Nationals"><s>#</s><b>Nationals</b></a> lineup vs. PHI - Lombardozzi 4, Harper 9, Tracy 5, Morse 7, LaRoche 3, Espinosa 6, Bernadina 8, Flores 2, Jackson 1</p>
— Nationals PR (@NationalsPR) <a data-datetime="2012-08-01T20:08:24+00:00" href="https://twitter.com/NationalsPR/status/230756890055942144">August 1, 2012</a>
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<p>First baseman <span>Adam LaRoche</span> is back in the lineup after getting a day off on Tuesday while third baseman <span>Ryan Zimmerman</span> is out of the lineup. In place of Zimmerman at third base will be <span>Chad Tracy</span>, who's back in the lineup for the second day after missing the past month on a rehab assignment in AAA Syracuse.</p>
<p><i>For more on this and all things <a target="_blank" href="https://www.federalbaseball.com/">Washington Nationals</a> baseball, please check out <a target="_blank" href="http://www.federalbaseball.com/">Federal Baseball</a>. And as always, please check out the <a target="_blank" href="http://mlb.sbnation.com/">SB Nation MLB Baseball hub page </a>for more on this and every Major League series.</i></p>
https://dc.sbnation.com/washington-nationals/2012/8/1/3213687/nationals-vs-phillies-lineup-adam-laroche-back-at-first-baseAlfie Crow2012-08-01T16:21:02-04:002012-08-01T16:21:02-04:00VIDEO: Is Jordan Zimmermann Washington's Best Pitcher?
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<p>Now that the non-waiver trade deadline has come and gone (one word: snoozer), the <a href="https://www.federalbaseball.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Washington Nationals</a> can finally focus themselves on getting into position for the playoffs and planning for the inevitable <span>Stephen Strasburg</span> shutdown (which is coming no matter how much you try to convince yourself otherwise and seriously let's all just move on.)</p>
<p>While much of the focus has been on dueling strikeout artists Strasburg and <span>Gio Gonzalez</span>, allow us to consider <span>Jordan Zimmermann</span> for a moment. Here's <a href="http://www.federalbaseball.com/2012/8/1/3213293/nats-lunchbox-is-jordan-zimmermann-the-washington-nationals-best">Patrick Reddington of Federal Baseball</a>. (<b>Ed. Note -- Patrick originally wrote that Zimmermann had the third-lowest ERA in the National League)</b></p>
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<p>On a staff that includes Stephen Strasburg and Gio Gonzalez it's the right-hander out of Wisconsin who's got the lowest ERA amongst Nats' starters and the second-lowest ERA in the National League. Zimmermann's 3-0 in his last five starts with a 0.87 ERA, 4 walks, 1.61 BB/9, and 24 K's (6.97 K/9) in 31.0 IP, over which he's held opposing hitters to a .189/.216/.255 line.</p>
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<p>Pretty good. So, is Jordan Zimmermann the No. 1 starter when the Strasburg shutdown comes? Patrick debated that question with Chase Hughes of CSN Washington and Dave Nichols of <a href="http://districtsportspage.com">District Sports Page</a>. <a href="http://www.csnwashington.com/pages/video?PID=neZnI_NVxdDBAT0j8Mf4zP7n7opYxUfL">Enjoy</a>.</p>
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https://dc.sbnation.com/washington-nationals/2012/8/1/3213569/video-jordan-zimmermann-washington-nationals-pitchingSamuel Chamberlain