Nats Nightly

Tanner Roark was winless in May heading into tonight's start against the Seattle Mariners, but Washington's hard-working right-hander put together a solid outing, giving up just one run on eight hits in seven innings over which he struck out eight and collected nine ground ball outs. A four-run first, which saw Anthony Rendon hit a three-run home run (his 3rd HR in the last two games) was all Roark and the Nationals needed as they took their second straight from the Mariners and won their third straight overall. Nationals now 28-17.

In four major league starts this season, Joe Ross has received 62 runs of support. That is not a typo. It is a record. 10-1 Nationals over the Mariners tonight. Ross went eight strong in his return to the majors, giving up just one run on a solo home run in the sixth. Anthony Rendon (2), Jayson Werth and Bryce Harper all homered in the fourth, as the Nationals connected for nine hits and eight runs in a big inning that blew this one wide open. Nationals now 27-17.

Stephen Strasburg threw seven scoreless before running into trouble in the eighth, but the Washington Nationals held on for a sweep-avoiding 3-2 win over the Atlanta Braves in the finale in SunTrust Park. With the win, the Nationals also brought an end to a four-game slide. Strasburg struck out 11 in 7 2/3 IP, leading the Nationals to the win and Koda Glover recorded a four-out save to lock it down as the Nats improved to 26-17 overall on the season. 

Shawn Kelley worked his way out of a tough seventh, but Enny Romero ran into trouble in the eighth as the Washington Nationals’ bullpen faltered again in a 7-4 loss to the Atlanta Braves. The Nats took each of the first three games in the Braves' new home this season, but dropped their third straight game overall tonight in the first of three with their NL East rivals this weekend, falling to 25-16 overall on the season. Max Scherzer starts tomorrow afternoon in Hotlanta.

  Gerrit Cole held the Washington Nationals to one run on three hits in seven innings and a three-run blast by Josh Bell in the sixth was all the offense the Pittsburgh Pirates needed in a 6-1 win. Jacob Turner matched Cole through five scoreless, but ran into trouble in the Bucs' sixth, giving up the blast by Bell. The Pirates' win set up a rubber match tomorrow afternoon in a 12:35 PM EDT game in PNC. Nationals 25-14 after the loss.

A late home run by Bryce Harper gave the Washington Nationals some breathing room and they held on for an 8-4 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates in the series opener in PNC Park. Stephen Strasburg went 6+ innings on the mound against the Pirates and after some shaky moments, the Nats held on for the win and improved to 25-13 on the year with the victory. Two more with the Pirates to come. If you didn't see Harper's blast, go watch it now...

Just when it looked like the Washington Nationals’ bullpen had blown another game, Michael A. Taylor hit a two-run jack in the bottom of the eighth to left the Nats to a 6-5 win over the Philadelphia Phillies, avoiding a second loss today in the bullpen. The Nats took a 4-3 lead into the eighth, but gave up the lead, after a blown save in the day half of the doubleheader, but Taylor's two-run blast saved the day. Nationals now 24-13.

It was tied at 4-4 after eight and a half in the nation’s capital, but the Washington Nationals walked off again, beating the Philadelphia Phillies, 6-4 on a Bryce Harper home run. Harper signed a $21.625M dollar deal for 2018 this afternoon, then went out and beat the Nationals' NL East rivals with his second walk-off winner against the Phillies this season. Harper's 11th of 2017 sent the fans in Nats Park home happy and the Nationals improved to 23-12 on the season. 

A ninth inning rally helped the Washington Nationals avoid their fourth straight loss as they came from behind to beat the Baltimore Orioles, 7-6. Jayson Werth battled O's closer Brad Brach for 11 pitches before launching a solo shot that got the Nats within one and they loaded the bases in front of former Orioles' catcher Matt Wieters, who stuck the dagger in with a walk-off single that won it for Washington. 7-6 final in the nation's capital. Nationals now 22-12.

The Washington Nationals took a 5-2 lead into the eighth this afternoon in Citizens Bank Park, but Matt Albers left a slider up that ended up sailing out to center for a game-tying three-run home run, and the Philadelphia Phillies won it in extras on a bases-loaded, walk-off sac fly by Freddy Galvis. With the win, the Phillies avoided getting swept in the three-game weekend set and the Nationals headed off to Baltimore 21-10 on the season. The first of two with the Orioles starts at 7:05 PM tomorrow night.

  Ryan Zimmerman and Anthony Rendon hit two and three-run home runs, respectively, as the Washington Nationals made it two-straight over the Philadelphia Phillies in Citizens Bank Park and four straight overall with a 6-2 win. A.J. Cole wasn't particularly sharp but he limited the damage and got some help from his defense in earning his first win of the season. Rafael Bautista connected for his first hit in the majors as well as the Nats improved to 21-9. One more with the Phillies tomorrow.

Stephen Strasburg, Ryan Zimmerman and Anthony Rendon all homered in the Washington Nationals’ 4-2 win over the Phillies in Citizens Bank Park. Strasburg earned the win as the  Nationals took the series opener, and the Nats improved to 73-8 overall when the ‘09 No. 1 overall pick starts and receives 3+ runs off support while he’s on the mound. He went 5 2/3 scoreless in a 119-pitch effort as the Nats improved to 20-9 overall in 2017. Two more with the Phillies in CBP this weekend.

  Washington Nationals’ third baseman Anthony Rendon went 6 for 6 with three home runs and 10 RBIs in a 23-5 win over the New York Mets today in D.C. The Nationals dropped the first two games of the three-game set in D.C., but made up for it in the series finale, collecting 23 hits, seven home runs and 23 runs total in a long, brutal affair in the nation's capital. Rendon (3), Matt Wieters (2), Adam Lind, and Bryce Harper all hit homers and the Nats cruised to a win, improving to 17-8 on the season

Washington's Nationals took 9 of 10 on their recently-completed road trip, but they've now lost two in a row to the New York Mets at home in the nation's capital. Michael Conforto powered the Mets to a 5-3 win today with two home runs. Stephen Strasburg put in a solid start, and Ryan Zimmerman kept swinging a hot bat, but it wasn't enough for the Nats, who fell to 16-7 on the year with the loss in Nationals Park. One more with the Mets tomorrow in D.C.

Over the last 24 hours in Coors Field, the Washington Nationals (now 15-6) have scored 26 runs in 15-12 and 11-4 wins over the Colorado Rockies. The Nats clubbed their way to their eighth win in nine games on the ten-game road trip tonight, with Trea Turner, Ryan Zimmerman and Daniel Murphy homering, Bryce Harper going 4 for 4 and Tanner Roark put together a solid start in Denver. One more with the Rockies tomorrow at 3:10 PM EDT with Gio Gonzalez on the mound in the series finale.

  Trea Turner joined Brad Wilkerson and Cristian Guzman on the short list of Nationals to hit for the cycle since 2005 when he hit a base-clearing triple late in the Nationals’ 15-12 win over the Rockies. Washington outlasted Colorado tonight in Coors Field in a 3:26 battle that came after a 1:06 rain delay in the Mile-High City. It was a ridiculous night in Denver which saw the Nats and Rox score 27 runs on 29 hits. Enny Romero somehow got the win... Nationals now 14-6

Washington led 4-1 after 5 1/2, but the Colorado Rockies scored two in the six inning and added two more in the seventh on a Charlie Blackmon home run that was the difference tonight in Coors Field, 8-4 Rockies final. Jacob Turner put together a solid spot start in place of Stephen Strasburg. Ryan Zimmerman homered again. It wasn't enough, however, as the Nationals' seven-game win streak was snapped in the first of four with the Rockies. Nats now 13-6.

Daniel Murphy continues to haunt his former team. Ryan Zimmerman continues to swing a hot bat. Max Scherzer continues to pile up Ks and dominate hitters. And the Washington Nationals continue to win, sweeping their second straight series and winning their seventh in a row tonight in the series finale with the New York Mets in Citi Field. Murphy hit a grand slam early. Zimmerman hit a two-run blast late for some insurance. Scherzer struck out nine in a 110-pitch effort in eight strong on the mound in what ended up a 6-3 win. Nationals now 13-5.

Washington and New York needed eleven innings to decide the series opener, but the Nationals came out on top when Mets' reliever Jeurys Familia issued a bases-loaded walk to force in the go-ahead run. 4-3 final in Citi Field. Nationals now 11-5.

Stephen Strasburg went seven innings for the fourth time in four starts. Ryan Zimmerman homered for the second time in two games and the 5th time this season. Washington's Nationals beat the Atlanta Braves for the third straight night, sweeping their first series in SunTrust Park with a 3-2 win tonight. Strasburg struck out 10 in seven innings. Zimmerman took R.A. Dickey deep and connected for two of the three hits the knuckelballing right-hander allowed and Shawn Kelley locked down his first save opportunity after a little bit of drama. Nationals 10-5.