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Nationals Team Report (Yahoo! Sports)

Sat, 05 Jul 2008 02:47:55 PDT

The Nationals aren't winning in 2008—they'll concede as much. Which means the next four weeks could prove busy for general manager Jim Bowden as he tries to reconstruct his roster in hopes of an improved product in 2009.

Washington has any number of veteran players who could draw interest on the trade market before the July 31 deadline. Catcher Paul Lo Duca, infielders Cristian Guzman and Felipe Lopez and starters Odalis Perez and Tim Redding are all veteran players who might help a contending club.

Bowden will listen to offers for all of those players and more over the next month, but he's also not considering himself a pure seller as the deadline approaches. The Nationals are willing to acquire young players who might help this team now and in the future.

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Red Sox All-Stars set to take over Yankee Stadium (AP)

Fri, 04 Jul 2008 21:01:39 PDT

So long, Yankee Stadium. Get ready for an All-Star salute featuring the rival Boston Red Sox. That's right. Manny Ramirez, Kevin Youkilis and Co. are set to take over The House That Ruth Built. At last check, four Boston players led fan voting at their positions for the July 15 game in New York -- and that doesn't even include manager Terry Francona or any of his pitchers.

Griffey homer gives Reds 3-0 win over Washington (AP)

Fri, 04 Jul 2008 15:51:10 PDT

Ken Griffey Jr.'s first career at-bat against Jason Bergmann was a good one. Griffey hit a two-run homer off Bergmann to get Cincinnati off to a fast start and Bronson Arroyo worked six innings, sending the Reds to a 3-0 victory over the Washington Nationals on Friday. Griffey followed Jay Bruce's one-out double in the first with a 344-foot line drive that bounced off an advertising sign over the...

Phillips drives in 3 runs in Reds' 5-3 win (AP)

Thu, 03 Jul 2008 19:33:29 PDT

Two-out runs have been scarce for the Cincinnati Reds this season. They began to cut into the deficit Thursday night. The Reds scored all of their runs with two outs, three driven in by Brandon Phillips, and Cincinnati capitalized on a Washington error to rally for a 5-3 victory over the Nationals. "Two-out hitting is something we haven't done much of lately -- or earlier," Phillips said.

Can Kim Ng break the gender barrier? (Yahoo! Sports)

Thu, 03 Jul 2008 18:34:00 PDT

Longtime Dodgers assistant general manager is the only female close to becoming a GM. Will she get a shot?

Nationals activate Kearns from DL (AP)

Thu, 03 Jul 2008 14:16:12 PDT

The Washington Nationals activated right fielder Austin Kearns from the 15-day disabled list Thursday and optioned infielder-outfielder Kory Casto to Triple-A Columbus. Kearns, 28, was placed on the disabled list on May 22 with elbow problems and had arthroscopic surgery the next day to remove loose particles.

Nationals activate RF Kearns from DL (PA SportsTicker)

Thu, 03 Jul 2008 13:43:41 PDT

The Washington Nationals activated outfielder Austin Kearns from the 15-day disabled list prior to Thursday's contest against the Cincinnati Reds.

Amezaga HR gives Marlins 4-2 win over Nationals (AP)

Wed, 02 Jul 2008 15:03:43 PDT

A rain delay was worth the wait for Alfredo Amezaga and the Florida Marlins. Amezaga hit a go-ahead, two-run home run in seventh inning when play resumed after a 1 1/2 -hour delay, and the Marlins beat the Washington Nationals 4-2 Wednesday. It was just the second home run of the season for Amezaga, who has 11 in 1,106 career at-bats.

Nats' Zimmerman swings, could begin rehab games after break (Yahoo! Sports)

Wed, 02 Jul 2008 08:39:44 PDT

Ryan Zimmerman called them "dry swings" — just a few hacks with the bat, no pitcher, no tee, no...

Balester wins debut as Washington tops Florida 9-6 (AP)

Tue, 01 Jul 2008 20:27:03 PDT

Ronnie Belliard helped Collin Balester's big league debut go just about as well as it could. Belliard's grand slam helped Balester become the first Nationals starter to win his debut and Washington beat the Florida Marlins 9-6 Tuesday night. "When I first went out there warming up I was real nervous," Balester said.

Pass out the midterm report cards (Yahoo! Sports)

Tue, 01 Jul 2008 15:55:00 PDT

We don't grade on a curve, and that's why only the Rays get an A-plus while three teams are given Fs.

Nats' Cordero is done for the season (Yahoo! Sports)

Tue, 01 Jul 2008 09:46:17 PDT

For Washington Nationals relief pitcher Chad Cordero, a season held back by slow velocity and then slow rehab...

Nats' Cordero out for season with shoulder injury (AP)

Tue, 01 Jul 2008 07:38:55 PDT

Washington Nationals closer Chad Cordero is out for the season with a torn labrum in his right shoulder. Cordero will have surgery on the shoulder, which has been bothering him all season. The date for the procedure has not been set. Cordero has pitched in only six games, allowing one run in 4 1-3 innings.

Marlins rally again to top Nationals 6-5 in 10 (AP)

Mon, 30 Jun 2008 20:47:53 PDT

The Florida Marlins' dugout had cleared and players were already huddled around the plate before Josh Willingham could even watch his game-winning home run sail. Willingham's winning homer in the 10th inning came after Hanley Ramirez's tying shot in the ninth forced extra innings, and the Marlins rallied to beat the Washington Nationals 6-5 on Monday night.

A look back at June blooms, swoons (Yahoo! Sports)

Mon, 30 Jun 2008 16:58:00 PDT

Interleague action benefited the AL, Jim Edmonds benefited from Chicago, and home cooking benefited many.

Morning Juice: Oldest profession OK, just don't be a Cubs fan (Yahoo! Sports)

Mon, 30 Jun 2008 05:20:13 PDT

This and every weekday a.m., let's rise and shine together with the most recent and decent major league...

Belliard homers in 12th inning to give Nats win (AP)

Sun, 29 Jun 2008 15:30:45 PDT

The Nationals have not treated their fans to many victories at their new ballpark this season. When they win, though, it's often a spectacular show. Ronnie Belliard hit a two-run homer in the 12th inning to give Washington a 3-2 win over the Baltimore Orioles on Sunday in front of 39,824 -- the largest crowd in the three-month history of Nationals Park.

Nationals tab Balester for Tuesday debut (PA SportsTicker)

Sat, 28 Jun 2008 21:41:36 PDT

The Washington Nationals have spent the last few seasons building up organizational depth, especially in the pitching ranks.

Nationals CF Milledge goes on DL (PA SportsTicker)

Sat, 28 Jun 2008 19:55:36 PDT

Washington Nationals center fielder Lastings Milledge left Saturday's game against the Baltimore Orioles in the third inning with a groin injury. Before the game was over, Milledge was headed to the disabled list.

Nationals CF Milledge hits DL with groin injury (AP)

Sat, 28 Jun 2008 19:35:06 PDT

Nationals outfielder Lastings Milledge was placed on the 15-day disabled list Saturday night, a few hours after he injured his right groin in the third inning against the Baltimore Orioles. Milledge was chasing a liner hit in the gap by Alex Cintron when he went to one knee, hoping to stop the ball from hitting the wall.

3,494 and counting (Yahoo! Sports)

Sat, 28 Jun 2008 12:16:00 PDT

DENVER - Zack Hample can beg for a baseball in 32 languages, including Swahili, Swedish and sign.

Nationals thrill big crowd with win over Orioles (AP)

Fri, 27 Jun 2008 20:51:00 PDT

An instant after the fly ball settled into the glove of center fielder Lastings Milledge, fireworks blasted high into the sky. Playing before a huge crowd in their new $611 million ballpark, the Washington Nationals beat the Baltimore Orioles 4-2 Friday night. It was first time since May 4 that Washington won a second straight at home.

Doctors prescribe rest for Nats' Hill (AP)

Fri, 27 Jun 2008 17:12:03 PDT

Right-hander Shawn Hill returned to the Washington Nationals on Friday with an open-ended prescription for rest, after an examination at the Mayo Clinic revealed no particular reason for his troubling right forearm soreness. "The plan is to shut him down," manager Manny Acta said before a game against Baltimore.

Nationals place RHP Hill on DL, activate LHP Perez (PA SportsTicker)

Thu, 26 Jun 2008 08:52:34 PDT

The Washington Nationals made a switch in their rotation on Thursday, dropping Shawn Hill and replacing him with Odalis Perez.

Flores gives Nationals 5-4 win in 9th (AP)

Wed, 25 Jun 2008 20:32:16 PDT

Jesus Flores struck out three times while going hitless in his first four at-bats Wednesday night, flailing at pitches outside the strike zone. His final time up, he waited for a good one and turned his night around. Flores lined an RBI single to right-center with one out in the bottom of the ninth to give the Washington Nationals a 5-4 victory over the Los Angeles Angels.

Boone is fourth person in family to get 1,000 hits (AP)

Wed, 25 Jun 2008 20:31:04 PDT

Aaron Boone became the fourth member of his family to get 1,000 hits in the majors, reaching the milestone Wednesday night in Washington's 5-4 win over the Los Angeles Angels. Boone hit the mark with an infield single in the bottom of the eighth inning. He joined grandfather Ray (1,260), father Bob (1,838) and brother Bret (1,775) in the achievement.

Nationals' Kearns set to start rehab assignment (AP)

Wed, 25 Jun 2008 19:10:07 PDT

Nationals outfielder Austin Kearns is expected to begin a minor league rehab assignment Thursday with hopes of returning to the team late next week. Kearns went on the disabled list May 22 and had surgery to clean out bone fragments in his right elbow. He'll go to Class-A Hagerstown and later move to Triple-A Columbus while trying to get ready for Washington's four-game series in Cincinnati that...

Nationals LF Lo Duca leaves game (PA SportsTicker)

Tue, 24 Jun 2008 21:09:31 PDT

Washington Nationals left fielder Paul Lo Duca left Tuesday's game against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim in the second inning after feeling lightheaded.

Nats commit 4 errors in 8-3 loss to Angles (AP)

Tue, 24 Jun 2008 20:35:21 PDT

When the Nationals made errors, the Los Angeles Angels took advantage. They almost couldn't help but capitalize on Washington's woeful ways. Two of the Nats' miscues came in a six-run first inning that set the tone for Los Angeles to cruise to an 8-3 win. The Angels have won five straight games and 10 of their last 11 on the road, while the Nationals have lost seven of eight.