The Washington Nationals are about to add some depth with the signing of super-utility player Mark DeRosa, a source tells Fox Sports. The 36-year-old will sign a one-year deal and join recent addition Mike Cameron on the bench, the site reports.

DeRosa has been with the San Francisco Giants for the last two seasons, but has played sparingly due to two surgeries on his left wrist. He only appeared in 73 games for the Giants. In fact, he hasn’t appeared in more than 71 games in a season since 2008.

In the 47 games he played in last year, though, he hit .279 with 12 RBIs and one stolen base. After coming off the disabled list on Aug. 5, DeRosa hit .367 in 57 plate appearances.

“It’s not like I’m looking for an everyday job, even though (playing) will be my goal going to the yard every day,” DeRosa said earlier this offseason, according to Fox. “I just think I can be a difference-maker on a team, not only on the field, but in the clubhouse. I’ve been on a lot of winning clubs in my 13 years.”

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Related: San Francisco Giants, Washington Nationals

As the Washington Nationals packed up in a cramped clubhouse at Wrigley Field and prepared to head to Philadelphia for the final leg of their nine-game road trip, they did so without knowing when they’d have their cleanup hitter and first baseman in the lineup next.

Michael Morse was hit on the left elbow with a 91-mph fastball from Ryan Dempster in the seventh inning of Thursday’s 4-3 loss to the Cubs and doubled over in pain at first base. He was taken to the hospital for X-rays after the game. According to a Nationals’ spokesman, the X-rays came back negative and he was diagnosed with a contusion. He is day-to-day and on the team plane to Philadelphia.

“I’m worried,” Nationals manager Davey Johnson said. “He’s got huge arms and they’re well-protected, but he was in bad shape. … I”ve seen a lot of them, and had a lot of them, but his whole arm was shaking.”

When the trainers came out to attend to Morse, he took off the guard on his lower forearm and tried to outstretch a trembling hand to go through a few tests. He was then removed from the game.

Jonny Gomes replaced Morse on the basepaths and moved to left field when the Nationals began the bottom half of the inning. Laynce Nix shifted to first base. 

Losing Morse for any extended period of time would be a huge blow to the Nationals’ offense as Morse is putting together the finest season of his career and one of the best in the National League. With 6 1/2 weeks to go in the season, Morse was firmly in contention for the NL batting title with a .319 average. He also has 20 homers, 27 doubles, a .369 on-base percentage and .554 slugging percentage, all of which could amount to him getting some MVP votes.

Just before the All-Star break, Morse was hit on his left forearm with a pitch. He developed a decent-sized welt and sat out for a few games but did not need to go on the disabled list. The injury clearly did not affect his hitting once he returned to the lineup. Thursday’s injury appeared to be further up his arm.

“I don’t think it was the same spot [he got hit in last time],” said third baseman Ryan Zimmerman, “so he should be OK. … I’m sure whatever they’re doing is just precautionary.”

“He’s been huge for our team,” said shortstop Ian Desmond. “Hopefully the X-rays come back negative and it’ll be like it was last time where he’ll miss a day or two and get back in there.”

If Morse needs to go on the disabled list, the Nationals could call up first baseman Chris Marrero from Triple-A. Marrero got off to a slow start in the minor leagues this season but is hitting .307 now with 14 homers and a .383 on-base percentage for Syracuse. Marrero has always been an offensive player but he made a good impression with his defensive improvements during his time in big league spring training.

© Copyright 2011 The Washington Times, LLC. Click here for reprint permission.

Rick Ankiel has been on a tear since coming off the disabled list a month ago. Against the Atlanta Braves on Monday night he gave his best performance yet with two home runs in a 5-3 win.

Ankiel led off the bottom of the first with a homer to center field, and his homer in the fifth inning landed deep in the second deck in left. It was the fifth multihomer game of his career, and the solo shots gave Ankiel five home runs this season.

“Sometimes you say, ‘It’s not how far, it’s how many,’ but both of those were pretty far,” teammate Jayson Werth said.

Werth is the only other National with a first-inning leadoff homer this season, doing it on June 16 against St. Louis.

Ankiel was hitting .204 with one home run and nine RBIs when he came off the disabled list on July 1 after recovering from a strained rib cage muscle. Since then, he’s batting .351 with four homers and 10 RBI.

“One thing, he’s getting to play,” Nationals manager Davey Johnson said. “It’s awfully hard to sit, especially if you’re capable of being a power hitter like he is.”

Atlanta second baseman Dan Uggla homered twice, in the second and ninth innings, giving him 22 this season. Uggla went 3 for 4, extending his career-long hitting streak to 23 games.

The Nationals have been one of the few teams to figure out Atlanta starter Jair Jurrjens (12-4), who allowed five runs and seven hits in five-plus innings and lost for the first time in eight starts. The last time Jurrjens faced the Nationals on July 17, he gave up six runs in five innings.

The two home runs he gave up to Ankiel marked only the second time this season Jurrjens has allowed more than one in a game.

“It seems like we hit him pretty well. I’m not really sure why, but hey, good for us,” Ankiel said. “You go up there looking for a pitch to drive, and tonight it worked out.”

Washington starter Livan Hernandez (6-10) allowed one run and six hits over six innings and drove in a run as the Nationals won their third straight. Drew Storen pitched the ninth for his 27th save.

In the second inning Atlanta intentionally walked No. 8 hitter Wilson Ramos with two outs and a runner on third to face Hernandez, who slapped an opposite-field single to give the Nationals a 2-1 lead.

Hernandez, who is 7 for 34 with five RBIs this season, laughed when asked what he thought of the other team issuing a walk to put him at the plate.

“I get mad,” Hernandez said. “They leave me the hole there, then I go over there and get lucky.”

Center fielder Michael Bourn hit leadoff in his first appearance for the Braves after being acquired from Houston on Sunday. He got his first hit with his new team, a single, on the second pitch of the game and finished 1 for 4.

“I’m not trying to do anything out of the normal,” Bourn said. “I know it’s going to be a bit different for a little while, but as time goes on, I’ll get more used to it.”

David Ross homered in the seventh for Atlanta, and Freddie Freeman extended his hitting streak to 16 games with a fourth-inning single.

Notes: Johnson said RHP Stephen Strasburg, recovering from Tommy John surgery, will likely have a minor league rehab start next week. Nationals GM Mike Rizzo has said Strasburg may be able to return to the Nationals in September, and Johnson suggested Strasburg may replace RHP Jordan Zimmermann in the rotation. Zimmermann had the same surgery in 2009 and the Nationals have said his innings will be limited this season. … Washington unconditionally released 1B Matt Stairs before the game. After the game, Washington optioned LHP Atahualpa Severino to Triple-A Syracuse. He was with the Nationals for two games and didn’t pitch. Washington is expected to call up RHP Collin Balester from Syracuse on Tuesday. … Atlanta placed RHP Scott Linebrink on the 15-day DL (lower back strain). … Jurrjens was the No. 8 batter in Atlanta’s lineup, the first time the Braves’ starting pitcher was in the lineup outside of the No. 9 spot since Aug. 12, 1941, according to STATS LLC.

CBSSports.com wire reports
Aug. 1, 2011

WASHINGTON — Rick Ankiel has been on a tear since coming off the disabled list a month ago. Against the Atlanta Braves on Monday night he gave his best performance yet with two home runs in a 5-3 win.

Ankiel led off the bottom of the first with a homer to center field, and his homer in the fifth inning landed deep in the second deck in left. It was the fifth multihomer game of his career, and the solo shots gave Ankiel five home runs this season.

“Sometimes you say, ‘It’s not how far, it’s how many,’ but both of those were pretty far,” teammate Jayson Werth said.

Werth is the only other National with a first-inning leadoff homer this season, doing it on June 16 against St. Louis.

Ankiel was hitting .204 with one home run and nine RBI when he came off the disabled list on July 1 after recovering from a strained rib cage muscle. Since then, he’s batting .351 with four homers and 10 RBI.

“One thing, he’s getting to play,” Nationals manager Davey Johnson said. “It’s awfully hard to sit, especially if you’re capable of being a power hitter like he is.”

Atlanta second baseman Dan Uggla homered twice, in the second and ninth innings, giving him 22 this season. Uggla went 3 for 4, extending his career-long hitting streak to 23 games.

The Nationals have been one of the few teams to figure out Atlanta starter Jair Jurrjens (12-4), who allowed five runs and seven hits in five-plus innings and lost for the first time in eight starts. The last time Jurrjens faced the Nationals on July 17, he gave up six runs in five innings.

The two home runs he gave up to Ankiel marked only the second time this season Jurrjens has allowed more than one in a game.

“It seems like we hit him pretty well. I’m not really sure why, but hey, good for us,” Ankiel said. “You go up there looking for a pitch to drive, and tonight it worked out.”

Washington starter Livan Hernandez (6-10) allowed one run and six hits over six innings and drove in a run as the Nationals won their third straight. Drew Storen pitched the ninth for his 27th save.

In the second inning Atlanta intentionally walked No. 8 hitter Wilson Ramos with two outs and a runner on third to face Hernandez, who slapped an opposite-field single to give the Nationals a 2-1 lead.

Hernandez, who is 7 for 34 with five RBI this season, laughed when asked what he thought of the other team issuing a walk to put him at the plate.

“I get mad,” Hernandez said. “They leave me the hole there, then I go over there and get lucky.”

Center fielder Michael Bourn hit leadoff in his first appearance for the Braves after being acquired from Houston on Sunday. He got his first hit with his new team, a single, on the second pitch of the game and finished 1 for 4.

“I’m not trying to do anything out of the normal,” Bourn said. “I know it’s going to be a bit different for a little while, but as time goes on, I’ll get more used to it.”

David Ross homered in the seventh for Atlanta, and Freddie Freeman extended his hitting streak to 16 games with a fourth-inning single.

Notes

• Johnson said RHP Stephen Strasburg, recovering from Tommy John surgery, will likely have a minor league rehab start next week. Nationals GM Mike Rizzo has said Strasburg may be able to return to the Nationals in September, and Johnson suggested Strasburg may replace RHP Jordan Zimmermann in the rotation. Zimmermann had the same surgery in 2009 and the Nationals have said his innings will be limited this season.
• Washington unconditionally released 1B Matt Stairs before the game. After the game, Washington optioned LHP Atahualpa Severino to Triple-A Syracuse. He was with the Nationals for two games and didn’t pitch. Washington is expected to call up RHP Collin Balester from Syracuse on Tuesday.
• Atlanta placed RHP Scott Linebrink on the 15-day DL (lower back strain).
• Jurrjens was the No. 8 batter in Atlanta’s lineup, the first time the Braves’ starting pitcher was in the lineup outside of the No. 9 spot since Aug. 12, 1941, according to STATS LLC.

WASHINGTON — Yunesky Maya didn’t know for sure whether he’d even be added to the Washington Nationals roster when he arrived at Nationals Park on Saturday. When he left, he’d earned his first major league win.

The Nationals brought Maya to Washington as a back-up plan in case they traded scheduled starter Jason Marquis. When a trade with the Arizona Diamondbacks went through before the game, Maya was officially called up from Triple-A Syracuse and pitched 5 1-3 scoreless innings in a 3-0 victory over the New York Mets.

“Maya showed up, I think like an hour and two minutes before his start, and he went out there and under the circumstances pitched great,” said Jayson Werth, who provided the Nationals’ offense with a three-run home run in the first inning. “He got the win, and we needed it. We’ve been reeling a little bit, and it’s a step in the right direction.”

He walked into the Nationals clubhouse in street clothes about an hour before game time and about 45 minutes before Washington publicly announced the trade. The late notice didn’t seem to affect him as he retired the first seven batters and didn’t allow a hit until David Wright singled with two outs in the fourth.

“It was a little hard, but in a way I was ready for it,” Maya said through an interpreter. “They told me to come up here and I might be able to start. Nothing was for sure, but I was ready.”

Maya, who made his major league debut with Washington last season, was making his fourth start of the season and 10th of his career. He entered the game with an 0-4 career record.

Although he ended up with the win, the outing didn’t end quite the way he wanted. In the fifth inning, Maya hurt his back on the base paths trying to avoid a tag. He came back out to the mound for the sixth but gave up consecutive one-out singles to Daniel Murphy and Wright, leading Nationals manager Davey Johnson to bring in reliever Ross Detwiler, who promptly got Angel Pagan to ground into a double play.

After the game Johnson said Maya had strained his oblique muscle and may need to go on the disabled list. Maya, however, said he felt he would be fine and termed his status day to day.

Drew Storen pitched the ninth for his 26th save in 29 chances, although he gave up a walk and two singles, loading the bases with two outs. Pinch-hitter Willie Harris stuck out looking on a slider to end the game.

“The strike-three pitch was a straight-up pitcher’s pitch,” Harris said. “Good pitch, all I can really say.”

Washington grabbed the lead in the first inning. Rick Ankiel led off with a single against R.A. Dickey (5-9) and advanced to third on a sacrifice and wild pitch. Dickey walked Michael Morse to put runners on the corners for Werth, who drove a 3-2 knuckleball deep to center field for his 12th home run of the season.

“If I had three pitches back, wed still be playing,” Dickey said.

New York had perhaps its best offensive chance in the fifth. A pair of two-out singles by Josh Thole and Dickey brought up Jose Reyes with runners on first and second. Reyes hit a ball deep to right-center but Werth caught it on the warning track to end the inning.

The Mets were shutout for the fifth time this season and ended a five-game winning streak.

Washington snapped a six-game losing streak, its longest of the season, on a day when two veterans were traded. In addition to Marquis, utilityman Jerry Hairston Jr. was sent to Milwaukee before the game.

“That’s part of baseball, but it’s never easy on a ballclub because you have a lot of attachments,” Johnson said. “You talk to two guys and tell them they’re going somewhere, that’s never easy for the manager. But the players responded.”

NOTES: The Nationals received OF Erik Komatsu, who was with Double-A Huntsville, from the Brewers for Hairston. Washington recalled OF Brian Bixler from Triple-A Syracuse to fill Hairston’s roster spot. … Storen, who has been the subject of trade rumors, said he hoped he’d stay in Washington. “I know Ive only been here for about a year and a half, but emotionally, Ive invested a lot in this,” Storen said. … Wright had two singles, giving him a career-high seven consecutive multihit games. Wright has a hit in all nine games since he returned from the disabled list (lower back stress fracture) on July 22.

“Maya showed up, I think like an hour and two minutes before his start, and he went out there and under the circumstances pitched great,” said Jayson Werth, who provided the Nationals’ offense with a three-run home run in the first inning. “He got the win, and we needed it. We’ve been reeling a little bit, and it’s a step in the right direction.”

He walked into the Nationals clubhouse in street clothes about an hour before game time and about 45 minutes before Washington publicly announced the trade. The late notice didn’t seem to affect him as he retired the first seven batters and didn’t allow a hit until David Wright singled with two outs in the fourth.

“It was a little hard, but in a way I was ready for it,” Maya said through an interpreter. “They told me to come up here and I might be able to start. Nothing was for sure, but I was ready.”

Maya, who made his major league debut with Washington last season, was making his fourth start of the season and 10th of his career. He entered the game with an 0-4 career record.

Although he ended up with the win, the outing didn’t end quite the way he wanted. In the fifth inning, Maya hurt his back on the basepaths trying to avoid a tag. He came back out to the mound for the sixth but gave up consecutive one-out singles to Daniel Murphy and Wright, leading Nationals manager Davey Johnson to bring in reliever Ross Detwiler, who promptly got Angel Pagan to ground into a double play.

After the game Johnson said Maya had strained his oblique muscle and may need to go on the disabled list. Maya, however, said he felt he would be fine and termed his status day to day.

Drew Storen pitched the ninth for his 26th save in 29 chances, although he gave up a walk and two singles, loading the bases with two outs. Pinch-hitter Willie Harris stuck out looking on a slider to end the game.

“The strike-three pitch was a straight-up pitcher’s pitch,” Harris said. “Good pitch, all I can really say.”

Washington grabbed the lead in the first inning. Rick Ankiel led off with a single against R.A. Dickey (5-9) and advanced to third on a sacrifice and wild pitch. Dickey walked Michael Morse to put runners on the corners for Werth, who drove a 3-2 knuckleball deep to center field for his 12th home run of the season.

“If I had three pitches back, we

New York had perhaps its best offensive chance in the fifth. A pair of two-out singles by Josh Thole and Dickey brought up Jose Reyes with runners on first and second. Reyes hit a ball deep to right-center but Werth caught it on the warning track to end the inning.

The Mets were shutout for the fifth time this season and ended a five-game winning streak.

Washington snapped a six-game losing streak, its longest of the season, on a day when two veterans were traded. In addition to Marquis, utilityman Jerry Hairston Jr. was sent to Milwaukee before the game.

“That’s part of baseball, but it’s never easy on a ballclub because you have a lot of attachments,” Johnson said. “You talk to two guys and tell them they’re going somewhere, that’s never easy for the manager. But the players responded.”

NOTES: The Nationals received OF Erik Komatsu, who was with Double-A Huntsville, from the Brewers for Hairston. Washington recalled OF Brian Bixler from Triple-A Syracuse to fill Hairston’s roster spot. … Storen, who has been the subject of trade rumors, said he hoped he’d stay in Washington. “I know I

Copyright 2011 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

WASHINGTON — The Nationals added outfielder Jonny Gomes to their roster on Wednesday, one day after acquiring him in a trade with Cincinnati.

To make room for Gomes, Washington designated 43-year-old Matt Stairs for assignment.

Stairs, who holds the major league record with 23 pinch-hit home runs, was a disappointment for the Nationals. In 56 games, Stairs batted just .154 with two RBIs and didn’t hit a homer. Stairs was 6 for 39 as a pinch hitter.

Gomes wasn’t in the lineup for the game against Florida. Manager Davey Johnson said he wanted to give Gomes a day to get acclimated.

Right-handed pitcher Chien-Ming Wang also returned from his rehab assignment. He is still on the disabled list and is scheduled to pitch Friday against the Mets.

Copyright 2011 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Just be glad the Washington Nationals did not want to sign or trade for you last offseason. You would be in a full body cast by now. Here’s a list of the players who constituted the Nats’ entire winter wish list and what has happened to them so far this year.

Adam LaRoche, the Nats’ $16?million free agent, is hitting .172, just went on the disabled list, will miss at least a month and might end up having season-ending surgery.

Jorge De La Rosa, whom the Nats offered more than $30?million for three years, faces elbow surgery after a complete tear of his ulnar collateral ligament.Matt Garza, whom the Nats wanted in a package-of-prospects trade, is on the disabled list because of a bone contusion on his pitching elbow.

Zack Greinke, to whom the Nats tried to give a $100?million deal as part of a possible trade, missed a month of the season and has a 5.79 ERA since his return. Even the soft-hitting Nats got a three-run homer by Michael Morse off him in a 6-4 loss Wednesday.

Carlos Pena and Derrek Lee, the Nats’ first two free agent choices to replace Adam Dunn, are having their worst seasons ever, continuing career declines. At least Dunn, hitting .191 after costing the White Sox $55?million, isn’t rubbing it in. Yet. Jayson Werth, decent by comparison, is only on a pace for 60 RBI for his $126?million.

Welcome to a trend. Last year, the Nats signed Jason Marquis for $15 million over two years. He didn’t make it out of April without elbow surgery. Even if, in the back of their minds, the Nats think about offering someone a contract, such as an extension to Ryan Zimmerman, that alone is a curse. The team’s best player, due back in mid-June, will have missed 10 weeks after hurting himself while sliding headfirst into second base — on a throw to third base.

All winter, as Nats fans thought about a season with Stephen Strasburg rehabbing his arm, with Bryce Harper in the minors and Jordan Zimmermann on a post-surgery innings limit, they tried not to mutter, “Wait ’til ’12.” You never know. Surprise years happen. But don’t hold your breath. Enjoy the bullpen, the development of Wilson Ramos and Danny Espinosa and the flashes of Zimmermann’s future. But, at 21-28, after losing seven of eight games, this is a vulnerable team that is pressing.

The steam coming out of the Nats’ ears starts at the top and works down. General Manager Mike Rizzo was fined this week for a tirade at an umpiring crew in New York the previous week. For years Nats execs have felt that umps are more arrogant, confrontational and unaccountable, especially with perennial losing teams. Rizzo intervened in a postgame fuss between Ivan Rodriguez and several umps, but “in protecting a player [from possible suspension], I exceeded my job,” said Rizzo, who has had a vent against the umps building.

“It cost me a lot of money,” he said, “but I’ll sleep like a baby.”

Wear a helmet around the Nats these days. You never know what’ll break out. Last Friday, Marquis showed up Manager Jim Riggleman in a dugout rant after he got an early hook. The dust and the details are still settling. Marquis continued to vent eloquently (and at length) with the aid of a bat, from unseen subterranean places. Whether this Marquis event was also directed at Riggleman or the universe may never be known.

By Jeff Sullivan

– Editor

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May 23, 2011 – There are plenty of Washington Nationals who haven’t been hitting, but Adam LaRoche might have the best excuse. Back in spring training, LaRoche was diagnosed with a partial tear of the labrum in his left shoulder. He was given a cortisone shot, and doctors assured him it wouldn’t have affect his hitting, but through the first month and a half of the season, LaRoche has hit just .172 with three home runs. LaRoche most definitely feels like something is wrong, and Monday the Nationals have placed him on the disabled list.

LaRoche is not scheduled for surgery, and he and the team think it may take only a few weeks of rest for him to be good to go. But that’s hardly a guarantee, so LaRoche’s future is somewhat uncertain.

To take LaRoche’s place on the roster, the Nationals are expected to activate Rick Ankiel from the disabled list on Tuesday. As for LaRoche’s playing time at first base, Mike Morse is the most likely bet off the bench. Morse is sitting on a .650 OPS, but he mashed the ball a year ago and comes with halfway-decent offensive upside.

Read More: Adam LaRoche (1B – WAS), Rick Ankiel (CF – WAS), Mike Morse (LF – WAS), Washington Nationals

NEW YORK (Reuters) – Jonathon Niese tossed seven scoreless innings to give the injury-riddled New York Mets a 3-0 victory over the Washington Nationals on Wednesday.

Niese struck out seven batters and closer Francisco Rodriguez battled through the ninth to help the Mets (20-22) enjoy some rare good news in a difficult week of added injury woes.

All-Star third baseman David Wright joined first baseman Ike Davis on the disabled list with a back ailment on Tuesday, yet the Mets manufactured a win to pull level with the Nationals (20-22) in a share of bottom spot in the National League East.

Jose Reyes led the offense with three hits and two runs scored, while Justin Turner went 2-for-4 and delivered a two RBI double in the sixth inning.

(Writing by Jahmal Corner in Los Angeles; Editing by John O’Brien)

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — The Philadelphia Phillies may have found a fifth ace.

Vance Worley threw six sharp innings, Raul Ibanez homered and had three hits, and the Phillies beat the Washington Nationals 7-4 on Wednesday night.

Worley (2-0) allowed one run and four hits, striking out a career-high seven in his fourth start in the majors. Worley is filling in for the injured Joe Blanton.

The 23-year-old righty has allowed just one run and six hits in 12 innings in his two starts since coming up from Triple-A Lehigh Valley. He already has as many wins as Cliff Lee, one member of Philadelphia’s star-studded pitching staff. Roy Halladay and Cole Hamels both have four wins and Roy Oswalt has three.

“I’m just trying to contribute the best I can,” Worley said. “Some things are going my way.”

Despite his two impressive starts, Worley is likely going back to the minors once Blanton returns from the disabled list. He’s making quite an impression while he’s here.

“He’s been very good,” manager Charlie Manuel said. “He has good stuff, keeps his composure and he’s focused on what he’s doing. He’s shown he can pitch.”

The NL East-leading Phillies have won 10 of 13.

Jason Marquis (3-1) gave up 10 hits and six earned runs in five-plus innings in his worst start of the season. His ERA rose from 2.62 to 3.66. Marquis was seeking his 100th career win and was trying to go 4-0 for the first time.

“I was leaving balls up,” Marquis said. “If I got it down, I got the contact I wanted.”

Ibanez snapped an 0-for-35 slump with two doubles on Tuesday, and is now 5 for 7 since the skid.

Ibanez gave Philadelphia a 1-0 lead when he connected on the first pitch from Marquis in the fifth. Ibanez hit a high drive deep into the seats in right-center.

“I feel better at the plate, starting to feel more comfortable and seeing the ball better,” Ibanez said.

The Phillies added two more runs in the inning on Shane Victorino’s RBI single and Placido Polanco’s sacrifice fly.

Adam LaRoche hit an RBI double to cut Washington’s deficit to 3-1 in the sixth, but Philadelphia chased Marquis with four runs in the sixth.

Wilson Valdez and Jimmy Rollins had RBI singles in the inning. Victorino drove in a run on a fielder’s choice grounder and another scored on shortstop Ian Desmond’s throwing error.

Danny Espinosa hit a three-run shot off Danys Baez with two outs in the ninth.

On a chilly night at the ballpark, a crowd of 44,123 made it 152 straight sellouts in Philadelphia, including postseason play.

Nationals manager Jim Riggleman was ejected in the fourth when he came out after LaRoche was upset with a called third strike. LaRoche dropped his bat at the plate and had a few words for umpire Alfonso Marquez, so Riggleman left the dugout and got the quick ejection.

“Adam doesn’t say anything. He’s quiet,” Riggleman said. “So if he complained, I felt I had to.”

J.C. Romero pitched a scoreless seventh for the Phillies in his first appearance since going on the disabled list April 19 with a right calf strain.

NOTES: The Nationals said Michael Jacob Allen, the stepson of Davey Johnson and son of Susan Johnson, died Tuesday at 34 from infection and pneumonia in Orlando, Fla. Davey Johnson is the senior adviser to general manager Mike Rizzo. … Nationals OF Jayson Werth went 1 for 4 against his old team. … Nats LF Michael Morse was a late scratch because of right knee soreness. Laynce Nix took his place in the lineup. … Brian Schneider was 1 for 25 off Marquis before hitting a single in the fifth. … Washington’s Matt Stairs singled in the ninth for his 100th career pinch hit, most among active players. … Manuel said C Carlos Ruiz is expected to take batting practice Thursday. Ruiz hasn’t played since April 27 because of lower back tightness, but wasn’t place on the DL.

Read More: Ryan Zimmerman (3B – WAS), Washington Nationals

The Washington Nationals have hung in there despite Ryan Zimmerman’s injury. Soon, they will get to see just how good they can be with their slugger in the lineup. Zimmerman is expected to resume baseball activities on Tuesday, according to CSN Washington’s Mark Zuckerman. He will have a short stint in the minor leagues before coming back to the Majors.

Zimmerman went on the disabled list on April 9 after re-aggravating an abdominal strain while sliding into second base. He could have been activated on Sunday, but the Nationals didn’t believe he was ready. Instead, the team will evaluate his throwing on Tuesday at Nationals Park and determine the best course of action. 

The Nationals are 10-10 this season despite playing most of the time without Zimmerman. It stands to reason that they should improve with Zimmerman back in the lineup. Then again, Zimmerman is just one piece, and the other pieces could surely fall off. 

While the Washington Nationals have endured a dip in their production at the plate, they may feel better about the possibility of breaking out against their next opponent.

The Nationals had plenty of success against the Pittsburgh Pirates last season, and these clubs begin a weekend set Friday night at PNC Park.

Washington (9-9) is hitting .218 this season for one of the worst marks in the majors, and was limited to two singles in Thursday’s 5-0 loss at St. Louis. The Nationals have totaled seven hits in consecutive losses after averaging 9.3 during a four-game win streak that preceded the defeats.

“Right now we’re in a period where they pitched and we didn’t hit,” manager Jim Riggleman said. “It was only a few days before that we were putting double figures in hits out there.”

The Nationals should be happy to see the Pirates (8-11). Washington took five of six meetings in 2010, posting a .316 average, .378 on-base percentage and .519 slugging percentage – all season bests against any opponents.

“We are not in bad shape,” right fielder Jayson Werth(notes) told the Nationals’ official website. “We have been grinding out games and winning games by doing the little things. I don’t know any one person on this team who has reached their potential with the bat so far this season. If we get that going, we’ll be fine.

Michael Morse(notes) was 6 for 14 in those games and Danny Espinosa(notes) 4 for 9. Ryan Zimmerman(notes) was 10 for 24 with six RBIs, but won’t come off the disabled list this week after being out since April 9 due to a strained abdominal muscle.

The Pirates also know about being shut out after losing two straight by 6-0 scores at Florida. Their offense bounced back Thursday, but it wasn’t enough in a 9-5 loss in the finale.

“We’re looking to win ballgames,” manager Clint Hurdle said. “This is not a league where you try hard, this league you’ve got to do good.”

Center fielder Andrew McCutchen(notes) returned after missing Wednesday’s loss to visit his sick father. He went 0 for 5 to drop his average to .212, and was 4 for 23 against Washington last season.

He and the Pirates will try to give Livan Hernandez(notes) (2-1, 2.88 ERA) another rude welcome to PNC Park. Hernandez is 1-4 in eight starts at the stadium with a 6.17 ERA – his third-highest in any current NL park.

The veteran right-hander has allowed one run to win each of his last two starts while failing to issue a walk, pitching seven innings in Sunday’s 5-1 victory over Milwaukee.

He’ll be opposed by Jeff Karstens(notes) (1-0, 4.50), who will make his second start since joining the rotation Sunday after Ross Ohlendorf(notes) landed on the disabled list with a shoulder injury. Karstens gave up five runs over 4 1-3 innings and matched a career high with six strikeouts in a 7-6 victory at Cincinnati.

The right-hander is 0-1 with a 6.55 ERA in two starts against the Nationals.

Karstens will try to pick up a rotation that posted a 15.43 ERA during the sweep in Florida.

The Pirates have the worst home mark in the majors at 1-5.

Read More: Ryan Zimmerman (3B – WAS), Washington Nationals

An update on Washington Nationals star third baseman Ryan Zimmerman, from the Washington Times:

While no one has said anything official regarding Zimmerman’s availability to come off the disabled list on Monday, all signs point to him not being ready to return to the active lineup on Tuesday when the Mets visit Washington, D.C.

Zimmerman hurt his side on a head-first slide in an April 9 game against the New York Mets. While the Nationals were hopeful that Zimmerman would be ready to come off the disabled list when he was eligible on Monday, it seems as if he’s not quite ready. Washington still wants to let Zimmerman resume baseball-related activities before letting him start a minor league rehab assignment, and as Times reporter Amanda Comak points out, he hasn’t started anything like that.

In Zimmerman’s absence, the Nationals have turned to Alex Cora and Jerry Hairston at third, and both are hitting .317 this season. Wait, that’s combined — Cora is hitting .150, and Hairston is hitting .167 — so Zimmerman’s return can’t come soon enough for Washington.

Washington, DC (Sports Network) – Washington Nationals third baseman Ryan Zimmerman is expected to go on the disabled list on Tuesday, according to a report on MLB.com.

Zimmerman first suffered an abdominal strain in spring training, but played in Washington’s first eight regular season games and batted .357 with one home run, five runs scored and four driven in.

The Nationals’ franchise player aggravated the injury on Saturday and was forced to sit out Sunday’s win over the Mets.

Zimmerman has played at least 142 games in four of the past five seasons. Last year he hit .307 with 25 home runs and 85 RBI.

The Sports Network

By Grant Brisbee – Editor

Read More: Washington Nationals

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Apr 11, 2011 - The Washington Nationals are expected to put third baseman Ryan Zimmerman on the disabled list on Tuesday because of an abdominal strain, according to Bill Ladson of MLB.com. Zimmerman hurt himself when he slid into second base during Saturday’s game against the New York Mets, though he stayed in for the remainder of the game.

The Nationals were hoping that the strain would improve on its own with rest, but after an apparent lack of improvement following Zimmerman’s absence from the lineup on Sunday, the Nationals are going to give him the full 15 days on the disabled list.

Zimmerman missed three straight Grapefruit League games in March with an abdominal strain as well, and he was shut down for the end of last season after suffering a strained intercostal muscle on September 22. Both Alex Cora and Jerry Hairston have seen time at third base in the absence of Zimmerman.