Last year was supposed to be a season of waiting for the Nationals — waiting for Stephen Strasburg to recover and waiting for Bryce Harper to mature. But that’s not exactly what happened. The Nationals played constantly compelling baseball, and by the end of the season observers were wondering — hey, are the Nats actually half-decent?

Yesterday we presented five of the Nationals’ top stories in 2011. Below are the remaining five. Feel free to provide your own list in the comments. Thanks for reading all year long.

5. Davey Johnson named manager

Johnson sputtered at the start once he took over for Jim Riggleman, but ultimately he won over the clubhouse and won his share of games. General Manager Mike Rizzo adores Johnson, and players did to. It was a no-brainer, then, that he’ll start 2012 as the manager of the most talented Nationals team since baseball returned.

(John McDonnell)

Best-case in 2012: In charge from spring training, Johnson can mold his bench and bullpen exactly as he sees fit. He continues to help hitters out of slumps. His wisdom, built over years and not drained a bit by his 11-year layoff from the majors, helps him push every correct button.

Worst case in 2012: Johnson was sharp for his full 2011 tenure. But over the course of a full season, it turns out that 11 years away from the game has an effect. A perfect relationship begins to sour.

4. Bryce Harper’s first professional season

He was dominant at Hagerstown, got hurt in Harrisburg and was excellent at the Arizona Fall League. More so, he gave a glimpse of what to expect once he gets to Washington. Harper blew a kiss to the pitcher after he hit a home run; showed up at the Futures Game in a rented Astin Martin; earned an ejection by screaming in an umpire’s face; joyously tossed his helmet in the air after he hit a walkoff home run; tweeted his support of the Yankees during the playoffs; and named his puppy, a Christmas gift, Swag. And the show is just getting started.

Best-case in 2012: Harper gets about a month of seasoning in Class AAA, thereby delaying his free agency one extra season. By mid-May, Harper has so thoroughly obliterated pitching in the International League that it would be a charade to keep him there any longer. They promote him May 14, the start of a seven-game homestand against the Padres, Pirates and Orioles. His stats, at 19 and the youngest player in the majors, he strikes out a lot but becomes an adequate middle-of-the-order bat, hitting .265/.331/.510 over the final two months of the season.

Worst case in 2012: The unexpected happens – Harper, for the first time, does not find a way to be the best player on the field. The advanced approach he finds at Class AAA stifles him, and his adjustment takes months, not weeks. He finally snaps out of a long slump, but not until August. The Nationals make him a September call-up, and he struggles for a month in the majors. He’s still 20 and still looks like a future star, but there is more doubt and the Nationals’ plans for him are delayed.

(Jed Jacobsohn – GETTY IMAGES)

3. Nationals trade for Gio Gonzalez

Last week, the Nationals made one of the biggest transactions in their brief history by trading four prospects for Gio Gonzalez. Losing the combination of Derek Norris, A.J. Cole, Brad Peacock and Tommy Milone may someday haunt the Nationals. But Gonzalez gives the Nats one of the most desirable rotations in baseball – Strasburg, Zimmermann and Gonzalez are all 26 or younger and all under control for at least four years.

Best-case in 2012: The addition of Gonzalez makes the Nationals a real, live contender for the first time since baseball returned. Gonzalez, like many pitchers his age, fixes any lingering control problems and, now in the National League, his ERA actually drops to 3.03 over 215 innings. The Nationals ride an electric trio of young arms to playoff contention, and the future looks even brighter.

Worst case in 2012: Taken out of Oakland’s cavernous ballpark, Gonzalez loses confidence and, worse, his already high walk rate – 4.1 per nine innings over the past two years – shoots up. He still pitches 180 innings, but Gonzalez wins just 10 games as Peacock settles in as a solid No. 3 starter in Oakland and Cole dominates Class AA in the second half.

2. Jim Riggleman quits

It had little impact on the Nationals in the long term, since Riggleman likely would not have been the Nationals’ 2012 manager no matter how 2011 turned out. But Riggleman’s stunning resignation still ranks this high on sheer shock value. It was the craziest story of the Nationals’ season, maybe of the entire baseball year, and it led to Johnson’s return to the dugout.

Best-case in 2012: Riggleman, now managing the Reds’ Class AA team, finds happiness in Pensacola and, by 2012, is back in the majors as a bench coach.

Worst case in 2012: Riggleman deeply misses his old job and finds nothing but regret in the minors. Teams remain scared off by his departure from the Nationals, and a good baseball man spends the rest of his career in the minors.

1. Stephen Strasburg returns

The best night of the Nationals season came in a loss. It didn’t matter much what happened Sept. 6 after Strasburg left the mound following five two-hit, no-walk, four-strikeout shutout innings against the Dodgers. Strasburg had returned with a new style, dialing back his fastball in exchange for enhanced command. He seemed to already have perfected it on the final day of the season, when he struck out 10 Marlins in six innings.

Best-case in 2012: Strasburg dominates like it’s 2010 all over again. The extensive shoulder strengthening Strasburg’s rehab allowed will protect him from any significant injury to his shoulder, which would be even more devastating than Tommy John surgery. The Nationals space out Strasburg’s starts as they realize they have a shot to make the postseason, and he still has enough innings left in his arm to start the first playoff game in Nationals history.

Worst case in 2012: Strasburg struggles as he adjusts to throwing his fastball a tick or two slower, and without that extreme velocity his other pitches suffer. He is merely quite good as opposed to great, and he tires sooner than expected and throws about 140 innings instead of 160.

There is, of course, a worse case than that. But it feels too cruel to even mention it.

Honorable mention: Nyjer Morgan traded to Milwaukee; Ryan Zimmerman misses two months; Tyler Clippard makes the all-star team; Drew Storen saves 43 games; Ivan Rodriguez steps aside; Livan Hernandez throws his likely last game with the Nats; Chien-Ming Wang returns, re-signs; Adam LaRoche signs, has season-ending shoulder surgery.

Chien-Ming Wang has agreed in principle to a 1-year deal with the Washington Nationals according to Jon Heyman of Sports Illustrated. It was reported earlier that a deal was close. Heyman tweeted the news a little while ago.

Nats, Wang have agreed in principle on a 1-year deal

Wang spent much of last season with the Washington Nationals, starting 11 games with a 4-3 record and a 4.04 ERA. Wang is expected to be a back end of the rotation type of pitcher that can eat innings and not put the bullpen in the game early. Wang has been with the Nationals organization since 2009. In 2009, Wang spent much of the season on rehabilitation assignments in the minor leagues. The Nationals hope Chien-Ming Wang can remain healthy and give them more of what he did in his 11 starts during the 2010 season.

For more on the Washington Nationals, visit SB Nation’s Nationals blog Federal Baseball.

For the last game at the Florida Marlins’ first stadium, the atmosphere was far from funereal.

There were standing ovations for manager Jack McKeon, who’s beginning his latest retirement; for Charlie Hough, who threw the first pitch in franchise history; and even for Washington Nationals catcher Ivan Rodriguez, a hero on the Marlins’ 2003 World Series championship team.

When Logan Morrison stepped to the plate with two outs in the ninth, fans were on their feet again. Then he struck out, and the place went silent.

The Marlins bid their much-maligned stadium goodbye Wednesday with a 3-1 loss to Washington.

“Thanks for the memories,” McKeon said.

Next year the Marlins move into a new ballpark with new manager Ozzie Guillen, who held his introductory news conference before the game. The Nationals also have a brighter future thanks to Strasburg (1-1), who threw a gem in his fifth start since returning from elbow surgery.

The top pick in the 2009 draft allowed one hit and struck out 10 in six scoreless innings to earn his first win since July 2010. He gave up his first two walks this season but was otherwise dominant.

“It felt pretty good out there to go out and pound the strike zone like I know I can,” Strasburg said.

Having the right-hander for a full season should make a big difference for the Nationals, who finished 80-81 — their sixth consecutive losing season. Florida wound up last in the NL East at 72-90.

Too much rain often meant too few fans at the Marlins’ stadium, but on a sunny afternoon the atmosphere was lively, with the crowd of 34,615 in a sentimental mood. The 80-year-old McKeon received a long standing ovation before the game, then stepped down with a record of 1,051-990.

“I hate to see it end,” McKeon said. “It’s emotional, no question. What got me were the fans. That was special.”

The crowd included more than 20 former Marlins honored after the game. Among the old-timers were Hough, who was the pitcher for the franchise’s first game in 1993 and returned to the same mound to throw out the final ceremonial first pitch.

Rodriguez received a big ovation the first time he batted in the second inning.

“I got goose bumps,” he said.

Fans were on their feet again at the end.

“It was great to see the fans’ support,” losing pitcher Chris Volstad said. “There have been a lot of memories for a lot of people. To be part of all that is very special.”

The entire Marlins team and owner Jeffrey Loria congregated in the left-field corner before the sixth inning to tear the last number off the 2-year-old sign counting down the games remaining in the stadium. Florida played 1,504 games there and went 781-723.

It was also the franchise’s finale as the Florida Marlins. In conjunction with the move to a ballpark near downtown, the team officially becomes the Miami Marlins on Nov. 11.

The unusual 4:10 starting time appeared to make it difficult for hitters to see the ball in the early innings as shadows crept across home plate. Volstad (5-13) allowed no hits in the first four innings. Strasburg gave up a single and two walks in the second, but a double play helped him escape.

The pace of the game made it clear players were heading into the offseason. In the fifth inning all five Nationals batters swung at the first pitch, including Ian Desmond, who hit a two-run single.

The relative brevity of the finale was a big change for the Nationals, who ended the season with a 14-inning win in 2010 and a 15-inning victory in 2009.

On this occasion, there wasn’t even any rain, and that won’t be a concern for the Marlins in the future. Their new ballpark has a retractable roof.

NOTES: The Nationals finished 23-40 in the stadium. … The Marlins drew 1.52 million fans at home to finish last in the NL in attendance for the seventh consecutive year. … Florida’s batting average of .247 was the lowest in team history. … Marlins founding owner Wayne Huizenga was booed when introduced after the game. Many fans have never forgiven him for dismantling the 1997 World Series champions in a payroll purge.

The Nationals remain 10 ¹/
₂ games behind the second-place Atlanta Braves. But they are a team that lost 298 games the previous three seasons. They are 13-3 in their last 16 games, and nine of those 13 games have been started by a pitcher 25 or younger. Third place will pass for disappointment next year. It stands as something of an accomplishment this season.

The Nationals can also finish with a winning record for the first time. They are 79-80 with two games remaining against the Marlins. They have Morse’s milestone home run to thank. Morse won the game by becoming the fourth Nationals player to hit 30 homers. Few of them have been more meaningful than Monday’s upper-deck blast.

Against closer Edward Mujica in the ninth inning, Laynce Nix scalded a leadoff, pinch-hit single. Ian Desmond followed with his second hit on the night, a line drive to left field. The rallied fizzled when Rick Ankiel could not drop down a sacrifice bunt and ultimately struck out. The runners both moved into scoring position when Ryan Zimmerman grounded out to shortstop.

Up came Morse, the Nationals’ cleanup hitter, batting with runners on second and third and two out. The words surely look more dramatic than the action felt. Football yard markers crisscrossed the grass and the University of Miami’s ‘U’ logo was left over from Saturday’s game in shallow center field. Dozens of fans quietly sat and watched.

The Nationals, though, have played in September like every games means something — if not everything — to them. Mujica threw Morse a 1-1, 89-mph splitter that hung over the heart of the plate. Morse destroyed the ball. He knew immediately. So did Mujica, who crouched on the mound and covered his head. The ball landed over the scoreboard and rattled around the seats.

Morse had seemingly reached the apex of his season Sunday afternoon, when he launched a homer in the Nationals Park finale and received the first curtain call of his life. Monday night, Morse added another memory.

Henry Rodriguez saved the game in the bottom of the ninth, his second career save and second this month. Even before Morse’s heroics, another result on the other end of the Eastern Seaboard ensured this year would be new and different, anyway. The New York Mets’ loss to the Cincinnati Reds would have clinched a third-place finish for the Nationals in the National League East even if the Nationals lost on Monday.

For a while, it appeared they might. The Nationals had won the first four starts of Tommy Milone’s career, but Monday night he could not escape the fifth. Milone left with one out in the fifth inning, with a one-run lead and the bases loaded. Craig Stammen allowed the tying run to score on a wild pitch, and in the seventh inning Todd Coffey yielded an RBI single to Gaby Sanchez.

Milone allowed three runs in his 4 ¹/
₃ innings, throwing 82 pitches. He baffled the Marlins at times, forcing seven swing-and-misses despite throwing his fastest pitch just 89 mph. He struck out four and his only walk came on an intentional free pass to Mike Stanton, the play that loaded the bases in the fifth.

While Milone did not match his success from his last start, when he shut out the Phillies over six innings, he did not leave an altogether sour taste in his final start of 2011. Milone, 24, will join Brad Peacock, Ross Detwiler and others next spring vying for a spot in the starting rotation.

“There’s a lot of guys hungry to get in this rotation,” Manager Davey Johnson said. “You’ve seen it in September. I don’t care if it was any time of the year. You’re in big league ballgames. You’re pitching and trying to establish.”

Desmond scored the Nationals’ first run in the third inning after he walked, stole second, took third on a balk and scampered home on Ankiel’s groundout. In the fourth, Desmond’s RBI double scored Wilson Ramos and Ankiel followed with an RBI single to center.

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — When the season ends Wednesday, the Washington Nationals will begin the process of searching for their 2012 manager. Their list, general manager Mike Rizzo said Sunday, is not long. They know what they want and who they’re looking at.

And when it’s over, the guy in the dugout next spring may well be the same one who’s there now: Davey Johnson.

But their list of candidates could dwindle soon if third base coach Bo Porter is hired elsewhere. Porter interviewed for the Florida Marlins‘ managerial opening Monday and is thought to be high on their list. The Marlins are expected to move swiftly with their decision on who will replace 80-year-old Jack McKeon, who announced Monday that he plans to retire after the season.

“Bo Porter is an outstanding third base [coach] and baseball man,” Johnson said Monday. “I hope he’s back. I hope [his interview] went well. But I hope we don’t lose him.”

This is the third time Porter has interviewed with the Marlins after interviewing twice during the 2010 season – first when Fredi Gonzalez was fired midseason and then after the season when the Marlins opted to go with Edwin Rodriguez, who resigned in June. Porter also interviewed for the Pirates’ opening last offseason but accepted the Nationals third base coaching job under then-manager Jim Riggleman when Pittsburgh opted to go with Clint Hurdle.

Porter, who coached or managed almost all of the Marlins‘ current roster during a 2005-09 stint with the organization at the minor and major league levels, declined to comment.

A report by the Chicago Sun-Times late Monday, however, said the White Sox were in the “final stages” of completing a deal to send Ozzie Guillen to Florida to manage the Marlins in 2012.

Porter also is considered a main candidate for the Nationals’ opening — if there is one — and Rizzo thinks highly of him The GM interviewed Porter for the Nationals’ managerial job before the 2010 season but ultimately hired Riggleman, who’d been the interim manager.

“I brought Bo in here,” Rizzo said when asked about Porter as a candidate for next season. “He’s a terrific baseball guy and certainly a major league-manager candidate.”

If Johnson does return, the Nationals will have to make decisions on the rest of their coaching staff, including Porter. The feeling is that unless Porter is hired as Nationals manager or to manage another major league team, he would return. First base coach Trent Jewett and Triple-A manager Randy Knorr also are thought to be under consideration for the manager’s job.

Knorr is well-liked in the organization and has managed a large percentage of Washington’s current roster while the players were coming through the minor leagues. He is open to interviewing for the position but also would also relish an opportunity to return to the Triple-A level.

“I think Randy Knorr is definitely a major league-manager candidate,” Rizzo said. “His goal is to manage in the major leagues, and I think he’s a great candidate and a great baseball guy, and I feel very lucky to have him in the organization.”

Neither Johnson nor Rizzo has wavered in their stance that Johnson is not a sure thing for the 2012 season, though his three-year consulting contract does include an option for him to manage the team next year. The decision is not expected to come until the season is over and a search following MLB guidelines has been conducted.

“The biggest factor is whether they want me,” Johnson reiterated Monday. “That’s No. 1. And No. 2, I’d like to have a say-so in seeing how much they would want my opinion on trades and free agent signings and that stuff. I love the talent level, and I love what we have in the development stages.”

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

The Washington Nationals completed a four-game sweep of the mighty Philadelphia Phillies last night, clinching a winning record (10-8) over the league’s leading team this season. To put that in perspective, some facts:

• Teams with winning records vs. the Phillies this year: Nationals (10-8), St. Louis Cardinals (6-3), Seattle Mariners (2-1).
• Teams who have swept the Phillies this season: Nationals (four-game series), Cardinals (two-game series).
• Teams who have won two straight road games against the Phillies this season: Nationals, Milwaukee Brewers, San Francisco Giants, Cardinals
• Teams who have won three straight road games against the Phillies this season: Nationals.
• Teams who have won four straight road games against the Phillies this season: Still just the Nationals.
• Teams who have beaten Cliff Lee twice this season: Nationals, Atlanta Braves.
• Phillies’ record vs. Nationals in last seven head-to-head games: 1-7
• Home runs hit by Danny Espinosa against the Phillies this season: Seven
• Home runs hit by Danny Espinosa against everyone else this season: 14

There’s really only one conclusion: the Nationals just own the Phillies. Obviously.

PHILADELPHIA — The standings, being what they are in the National League East, have mattered little to both the Washington Nationals and the Philadelphia Phillies for some time. The Phillies have been six games or more ahead of the division’s second-place team since mid-August. All the Nationals have known is that they’re too far out of things to make the wins and losses significant in a playoff race.

They’ve been two teams on somewhat divergent paths — the Phillies‘ road littered with many more victories than Washington’s. But when both arrived at Citizens Bank Park on Tuesday morning they knew one thing: As far as the standings go, whatever happened was, in essence, meaningless.

Two days and three Nationals’ victories later, the latest a 7-5 win that secured both John Lannan’s 10th victory of the season and the Nationals’ first series win in Philadelphia since April of 2008, and that surety is on unstable ground.

“It just shows what we can do, what the team is truly capable of doing,” said second baseman Danny Espinosa after his two-run homer in the sixth gave the Nationals a lead and set a franchise rookie record for home runs with 21.

“As far as what it does for next year, I don’t know,” he added. “This season and next season are completely different. But I think what it does show us as a team is that we can play with anybody and that we can beat anybody. I’m pretty sure the Phillies are the best team in baseball right now and we play them really well. If we believe in ourselves, I think it just shows that we can do whatever we want to.”

Whatever they want to do this season can still include finishing with a winning record — a mark that seemed nearly impossible to reach two weeks ago. On Sept. 8, as the Nationals watched the rain cancel their game against the Dodgers and ensure they’d only play 161 games, they were 11 games under .500. A chance at finishing 81-80 was bleak.

In the 13 games since, the Nationals have won 10 times — including seven straight on the road — and are aware that a 6-1 record over their remaining seven games will earn them the honor of being the only team in Nationals’ history to finish with more wins than losses.

“I think that’s definitely something to shoot for,” Espinosa said. “I’ve said it before. I don’t care if it’s the end of the season. You play until the end and you try to get the best record that you can. You don’t just lay down the last month and let it go by. It’s definitely still a goal that’s very reachable, that we can be over .500.”

“We know we’re not done yet,” Lannan said. “No one is packing it up yet. We want to get to .500. We want to finish the year strong.”

Fueling Washington’s run has been a staff that’s seen one young pitcher after another impress. In staring down his Philadelphia demons Wednesday night, the 26-year-old lefty held the damage to two runs in a five-hit Phillies‘ second inning, when he escaped with the bases loaded. He surrendered just one more run over five innings. It wasn’t his best outing, but in his personal house of horrors, it was good enough for his 10th win of the season — the first time he’s reached that mark, and first-ever win inside Citizens Bank Park in seven tries.

“I’ve had some tough times against the Phillies,” Lannan said. “Especially here. It was pretty big for me to come out here and battle through that second and third and get through five.”

Aided by Espinosa’s home run, a two-run shot from Wilson Ramos in the second, along with what amounted to three insurance runs in the eighth inning and Henry Rodriguez’s first career save, the Nationals earned their ninth win against Philadelphia. Regardless of the outcome in their series finale Thursday, the Nationals cannot finish with a losing record in the season series. That has happened only once in their seven-year history.

“I think we’ve played them as tough as anybody they’ve played,” said Nationals manager Davey Johnson. “I’m sure they’re fully aware of that. The last few games, [Phillies manager Charlie Manuel] has thrown everything at us. They’re not important games to them but they also want to end on a good note so, in a way, they are important games.”

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

PHILADELPHIA (AP)—Davey Johnson had the best seat in the house when he
molded a young New York Mets team in the 1980s into a World Series champion.

His Nationals aren’t Amazin’ yet.

But his young nucleus has .500 in sight and are no longer pushovers in the
NL East.

Danny Espinosa(notes) and Wilson Ramos(notes) each hit two-run home runs to help the
Washington Nationals beat Philadelphia 7-5 on Wednesday, sending the NL
East-champion Phillies to their season-worst fifth straight loss.

Espinosa’s two-run shot in the sixth off Vance Worley(notes) (11-3) made it 4-3 as
the Nationals continued to give Philadelphia fits. Washington swept a
doubleheader on Tuesday and go for the four-game sweep on Thursday.

“The young guys are growing up and it’s fun to watch,” said Johnson, named
Nationals manager on June 26. “I think we’ve played as tough against them as
anybody they’ve played.”

The Nationals played like the team storming toward the postsesaon, not the
Phillies.

The Phillies have been in a funk since they clinched their fifth straight
division title on Saturday. They’ve lost five straight games for the first time
since May 22-27, 2010. All of the losses have come at home, where the Phillies
are tied for the major league lead with 52 victories.

The Phillies played again without right fielder Hunter Pence(notes) and first
baseman Ryan Howard(notes). Howard has been out with a sore left ankle and Pence missed
his second straight game with patellar tendinitis in his left knee. Both players
are expected to play in Philadelphia’s weekend series at New York.

With postseason plans underway, the Phillies aren’t too worried about this
slump. Manager Charlie Manuel said before the game he needs his regular lineup
in tact for at least the last four or five games of the regular season to tune
up for another potential deep postseason run.

“We definitely need to have our team ready and I plan on our team being
ready,” Manuel said.

They haven’t looked it against Washington.

Backed by Espinosa’s go-ahead homer, the Nationals won their seventh
straight road game. His 21st homer set a single-season franchise record by a
rookie. The Nationals (75-79) still have a chance to set a franchise record for
victories in a season. They will need to finish 7-1 to reach 82 wins, and finish
with their first winning record since moving from Montreal in 2005.

John Lannan(notes) (10-13) allowed eight singles and three runs in five innings.
Lannan improved his career record vs. the Phillies to 2-12.

“It feels good. I’ve run into some tough times here,” Lannan said.

Henry Rodriguez(notes) worked the ninth for his first save.

Worley had fit in nicely in a rotation that included Cliff Lee(notes), Roy
Halladay(notes), Roy Oswalt(notes) and Cole Hamels(notes), winning nine straight games in one stretch
and becoming an instant fan favorite with his Mohawk and “Vanimal” nickname.

He’ll be bumped to the bullpen for the playoffs and this was his last start
of the season.

“I’m still part of the team,” Worley said. “I’d rather come out of the
bullpen a couple of times and get a feel for it.”

Worley had a 43-inning streak this season without allowing a homer, but he
was done in by them on Wednesday. Ramos made it 2-0 in the second with his 14th
homer of the season.

The Phillies tied it at 2 in the second on five straight singles off Lannan.
Ben Francisco’s(notes) single up the middle made it 2-1 and Worley tied it with his own
base hit.

Raul Ibanez’s(notes) RBI single in the third put the Phillies up 3-2. That was all
they could muster against Lannan.

John Mayberry(notes) Jr. hit a two-run homer in the eighth for the Phillies that
made it 7-5.

Howard and Pence have combined for 53 homers and the Phillies could have
used some of that pop in the lineup. The Phillies scored only three runs in the
doubleheader defeat and have been shut out twice over the five-game losing
streak. They’ve scored three runs or less 12 times in the last 14 games.

That kind of anemic run support will shift even more pressure to produce on
the Lee-Halladay-Hamels-Oswalt postseason rotation. Even the so-called “Four
Aces” need more than a run or two each start if the Phillies are going to win
the World Series for the first time since 2008.

Philadelphia’s top four hitters—Jimmy Rollins(notes), Shane Victorino(notes), Placido
Polanco(notes), and Chase Utley(notes)—went 0 for 16.

“I’m concerned about it,” Manuel said. “At the same time, I’ve seen them
hit. I think they’ll hit.”

Ramos added an RBI single and Jonny Gomes(notes) had a sacrifice fly during
Washington’s three-run eighth to open up a cushion.

Notes: The Nationals beat the Phillies for the eighth time in the last 10
games (4-1 at Nationals Park; 4-1 at Citizens Bank Park). … The Phillies lost
five straight home games for the first time since June 16-21, 2009. … The
Nationals send RHP Brad Peacock(notes) (1-0, 1.42 ERA) to complete the sweep Thursday
against Oswalt (8-9, 3.66).

But his young nucleus has .500 in sight and are no longer pushovers in the NL East.

Danny Espinosa and Wilson Ramos each hit two-run home runs to help the Washington Nationals beat Philadelphia 7-5 on Wednesday, sending the NL East-champion Phillies to their season-worst fifth straight loss.

Espinosa’s two-run shot in the sixth off Vance Worley (11-3) made it 4-3 as the Nationals continued to give Philadelphia fits. Washington swept a doubleheader on Tuesday and go for the four-game sweep on Thursday.

“The young guys are growing up and it’s fun to watch,” said Johnson, named Nationals manager on June 26. “I think we’ve played as tough against them as anybody they’ve played.”

The Nationals played like the team storming toward the postsesaon, not the Phillies.

The Phillies have been in a funk since they clinched their fifth straight division title on Saturday. They’ve lost five straight games for the first time since May 22-27, 2010. All of the losses have come at home, where the Phillies are tied for the major league lead with 52 victories.

The Phillies played again without right fielder Hunter Pence and first baseman Ryan Howard. Howard has been out with a sore left ankle and Pence missed his second straight game with patellar tendinitis in his left knee. Both players are expected to play in Philadelphia’s weekend series at New York.

With postseason plans underway, the Phillies aren’t too worried about this slump. Manager Charlie Manuel said before the game he needs his regular lineup in tact for at least the last four or five games of the regular season to tune up for another potential deep postseason run.

“We definitely need to have our team ready and I plan on our team being ready,” Manuel said.

They haven’t looked it against Washington.

Backed by Espinosa’s go-ahead homer, the Nationals won their seventh straight road game. His 21st homer set a single-season franchise record by a rookie. The Nationals (75-79) still have a chance to set a franchise record for victories in a season. They will need to finish 7-1 to reach 82 wins, and finish with their first winning record since moving from Montreal in 2005.

John Lannan (10-13) allowed eight singles and three runs in five innings. Lannan improved his career record vs. the Phillies to 2-12.

“It feels good. I’ve run into some tough times here,” Lannan said.

Henry Rodriguez worked the ninth for his first save.

Worley had fit in nicely in a rotation that included Cliff Lee, Roy Halladay, Roy Oswalt and Cole Hamels, winning nine straight games in one stretch and becoming an instant fan favorite with his Mohawk and “Vanimal” nickname.

He’ll be bumped to the bullpen for the playoffs and this was his last start of the season.

“I’m still part of the team,” Worley said. “I’d rather come out of the bullpen a couple of times and get a feel for it.”

Worley had a 43-inning streak this season without allowing a homer, but he was done in by them on Wednesday. Ramos made it 2-0 in the second with his 14th homer of the season.

The Phillies tied it at 2 in the second on five straight singles off Lannan. Ben Francisco’s single up the middle made it 2-1 and Worley tied it with his own base hit.

Raul Ibanez’s RBI single in the third put the Phillies up 3-2. That was all they could muster against Lannan.

John Mayberry Jr. hit a two-run homer in the eighth for the Phillies that made it 7-5.

Howard and Pence have combined for 53 homers and the Phillies could have used some of that pop in the lineup. The Phillies scored only three runs in the doubleheader defeat and have been shut out twice over the five-game losing streak. They’ve scored three runs or less 12 times in the last 14 games.

That kind of anemic run support will shift even more pressure to produce on the Lee-Halladay-Hamels-Oswalt postseason rotation. Even the so-called “Four Aces” need more than a run or two each start if the Phillies are going to win the World Series for the first time since 2008.

Philadelphia’s top four hitters — Jimmy Rollins, Shane Victorino, Placido Polanco, and Chase Utley — went 0 for 16.

“I’m concerned about it,” Manuel said. “At the same time, I’ve seen them hit. I think they’ll hit.”

Ramos added an RBI single and Jonny Gomes had a sacrifice fly during Washington’s three-run eighth to open up a cushion.

Notes: The Nationals beat the Phillies for the eighth time in the last 10 games (4-1 at Nationals Park; 4-1 at Citizens Bank Park). … The Phillies lost five straight home games for the first time since June 16-21, 2009. … The Nationals send RHP Brad Peacock (1-0, 1.42 ERA) to complete the sweep Thursday against Oswalt (8-9, 3.66).

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

Read More: Jonny Gomes (LF – WAS), John Lannan (P – WAS), Alexei Ramirez (SS – CWS), Chris Marrero (1B – WAS), Danny Espinosa (2B – WAS), Philadelphia Phillies, Washington Nationals, New York Mets

The Washington Nationals continued to steamroll the Philadelphia Phillies on Wednesday on the Phillies home turf of Citizens Bank Park. The Nationals gave no respect to the NL East Champs and pulled off a 7-5 victory. The Nats have now beaten the Phillies in three consecutive games over two days and it is the first time since 2005 the Nats have won consecutive games at CBP. The Nationals will attempt to sweep the shell-shocked Phillies on Thursday in the fourth and final game of the series.

Nationals lefty John Lannan scored the win, his 10th win of the season and it comes against a team he has not had much success against in 2011. Before Wednesday’s game Lannan had lost four of the five games when facing the Phillies this season. The southpaw threw five innings giving up three runs on eight hits. He walked one and struck out three. In the three games of the series so far, Nationals starters have only given up two walks to the mighty Phillies line up.

The Nationals Wilson Ramos and Danny Espinosa also connected for a two-run home run each. Espinosa’s home run was his 21st of the year and it broke the Nationals/Expos franchise record of most home runs hit by a rookie. He’s now tied with Alexei Ramirez for second most among rookie second basemen all time. Espinosa also received his 19th hit-by-pitch which now is the most in the National League.

The Nationals busted open the game in the eighth after Chris Marrero scored on a Phillies throwing error, Ramos hit a RBI single and Jonny Gomes hit a sac fly. Reliever Henry Rodriguez came into the game in the ninth and earned his first save of 2011.

The Nationals are now 75-79 on the season and have pulled two games ahead of the New York Mets who are challenging the Nats for third place in the NL East with seven games to go in 2011.

Espinosa’s two-run shot in the sixth off Vance Worley (11-3) made it 4-3 as the Nationals continued to give Philadelphia fits. Washington swept a doubleheader on Tuesday and go for the four-game sweep on Thursday.

John Lannan (10-13) allowed eight singles and three runs in five innings. Henry Rodriguez worked the ninth for his first save.

The Phillies played again without right fielder Hunter Pence and first baseman Ryan Howard. Howard has been out with a sore left ankle and Pence missed his second straight game with patellar tendinitis in his left knee. Both players are expected to play in Philadelphia’s weekend series at New York.

With postseason plans underway, the Phillies aren’t too worried about this slump. Manager Charlie Manuel said before the game he needs his regular lineup in tact for at least the last four or five games of the regular season to tune up for another potential deep postseason run.

“We definitely need to have our team ready and I plan on our team being ready,” Manuel said.

They haven’t looked it against Washington.

Backed by Espinosa’s go-ahead homer, the Nationals won their seventh straight road game. His 21st homer set a single-season franchise record by a rookie. The Nationals (75-79) still have a chance to set a franchise record for victories in a season. They will need to finish 7-1 to reach 82 wins, and finish with their first winning record since moving from Montreal in 2005.

Worley had fit in nicely in a rotation that included Cliff Lee, Roy Halladay, Roy Oswalt and Cole Hamels, winning nine straight games in one stretch and becoming an instant fan favorite with his Mohawk and “Vanimal” nickname.

He’ll be bumped to the bullpen for the playoffs and this was his last start of the season.

Worley had a 43-inning streak this season without allowing a homer, but he was done in by them on Wednesday. Ramos made it 2-0 in the second with his 14th homer of the season.

The Phillies tied it at 2 in the second on five straight singles off Lannan. Ben Francisco’s single up the middle made it 2-1 and Worley tied it with his own base hit.

Raul Ibanez’s RBI single in the third put the Phillies up 3-2. That was all they could muster against Lannan.

John Mayberry Jr. hit a two-run homer in the eighth for the Phillies that made it 7-5.

Howard and Pence have combined for 53 homers and the Phillies could have used some of that pop in the lineup. The Phillies scored only three runs in the doubleheader defeat and have been shut out twice over the five-game losing streak. They’ve scored three runs or less 13 times in the last 14 games.

That kind of anemic run support will shift even more pressure to produce on the Lee-Halladay-Hamels-Oswalt postseason rotation. Even the so-called “Four Aces” need more than a run or two each start if the Phillies are going to win the World Series for the first time since 2008.

Ramos added an RBI single and Jonny Gomes had a sacrifice fly during Washington’s three-run eighth to open up a cushion. Lannan improved his career record vs. the Phillies to 2-12.

Notes: The Nationals beat the Phillies for the eighth time in 10 games (4-1 at Nationals Park; 4-1 at Citizens Bank Park). … The Phillies lost five straight home games for the first time since June 16-21, 2009. … The Nationals send RHP Brad Peacock (1-0, 1.42 ERA) to complete the sweep Thursday against Oswalt (8-9, 3.66).

AP Photo/Matt Slocum

Philadelphia Phillies’ Raul Ibanez hits an RBI-single off Washington Nationals starting pitcher John Lannan during the third inning of a baseball game on Wednesday, Sept. 21, 2011, in Philadelphia. Nationals catcher Wilson Ramos. right, looks on.

Davey Johnson had the best seat in the house when he molded a young New York Mets team in the 1980s into a World Series champion.
His Nationals aren’t Amazin’ yet.
But his young nucleus has .500 in sight and are no longer pushovers in the NL East.
Danny Espinosa and Wilson Ramos each hit two-run home runs to help the Washington Nationals beat Philadelphia 7-5 on Wednesday, sending the NL East-champion Phillies to their season-worst fifth straight loss.
Espinosa’s two-run shot in the sixth off Vance Worley (11-3) made it 4-3 as the Nationals continued to give Philadelphia fits. Washington swept a doubleheader on Tuesday and go for the four-game sweep on Thursday.
“The young guys are growing up and it’s fun to watch,” said Johnson, named Nationals manager on June 26. “I think we’ve played as tough against them as anybody they’ve played.”
The Nationals played like the team storming toward the postsesaon, not the Phillies.
The Phillies have been in a funk since they clinched their fifth straight division title on Saturday. They’ve lost five straight games for the first time since May 22-27, 2010. All of the losses have come at home, where the Phillies are tied for the major league lead with 52 victories.
The Phillies played again without right fielder Hunter Pence and first baseman Ryan Howard. Howard has been out with a sore left ankle and Pence missed his second straight game with patellar tendinitis in his left knee. Both players are expected to play in Philadelphia’s weekend series at New York.
With postseason plans underway, the Phillies aren’t too worried about this slump. Manager Charlie Manuel said before the game he needs his regular lineup in tact for at least the last four or five games of the regular season to tune up for another potential deep postseason run.
“We definitely need to have our team ready and I plan on our team being ready,” Manuel said.
They haven’t looked it against Washington.
Backed by Espinosa’s go-ahead homer, the Nationals won their seventh straight road game. His 21st homer set a single-season franchise record by a rookie. The Nationals (75-79) still have a chance to set a franchise record for victories in a season. They will need to finish 7-1 to reach 82 wins, and finish with their first winning record since moving from Montreal in 2005.
John Lannan (10-13) allowed eight singles and three runs in five innings. Lannan improved his career record vs. the Phillies to 2-12.
“It feels good. I’ve run into some tough times here,” Lannan said.
Henry Rodriguez worked the ninth for his first save.
Worley had fit in nicely in a rotation that included Cliff Lee, Roy Halladay, Roy Oswalt and Cole Hamels, winning nine straight games in one stretch and becoming an instant fan favorite with his Mohawk and “Vanimal” nickname.
He’ll be bumped to the bullpen for the playoffs and this was his last start of the season.
“I’m still part of the team,” Worley said. “I’d rather come out of the bullpen a couple of times and get a feel for it.”
Worley had a 43-inning streak this season without allowing a homer, but he was done in by them on Wednesday. Ramos made it 2-0 in the second with his 14th homer of the season.
The Phillies tied it at 2 in the second on five straight singles off Lannan. Ben Francisco’s single up the middle made it 2-1 and Worley tied it with his own base hit.
Raul Ibanez’s RBI single in the third put the Phillies up 3-2. That was all they could muster against Lannan.
John Mayberry Jr. hit a two-run homer in the eighth for the Phillies that made it 7-5.
Howard and Pence have combined for 53 homers and the Phillies could have used some of that pop in the lineup. The Phillies scored only three runs in the doubleheader defeat and have been shut out twice over the five-game losing streak. They’ve scored three runs or less 12 times in the last 14 games.
That kind of anemic run support will shift even more pressure to produce on the Lee-Halladay-Hamels-Oswalt postseason rotation. Even the so-called “Four Aces” need more than a run or two each start if the Phillies are going to win the World Series for the first time since 2008.
Philadelphia’s top four hitters — Jimmy Rollins, Shane Victorino, Placido Polanco, and Chase Utley — went 0 for 16.
“I’m concerned about it,” Manuel said. “At the same time, I’ve seen them hit. I think they’ll hit.”
Ramos added an RBI single and Jonny Gomes had a sacrifice fly during Washington’s three-run eighth to open up a cushion.
Notes: The Nationals beat the Phillies for the eighth time in the last 10 games (4-1 at Nationals Park; 4-1 at Citizens Bank Park). … The Phillies lost five straight home games for the first time since June 16-21, 2009. … The Nationals send RHP Brad Peacock (1-0, 1.42 ERA) to complete the sweep Thursday against Oswalt (8-9, 3.66).

By DAN GELSTON
AP Sports Writer

PHILADELPHIA (AP) – Davey Johnson had the best seat in the house when he molded a young New York Mets team in the 1980s into a World Series champion.

His Nationals aren’t Amazin’ yet.

But his young nucleus has .500 in sight and are no longer pushovers in the NL East.

Danny Espinosa and Wilson Ramos each hit two-run home runs to help the Washington Nationals beat Philadelphia 7-5 on Wednesday, sending the NL East-champion Phillies to their season-worst fifth straight loss.

Espinosa’s two-run shot in the sixth off Vance Worley (11-3) made it 4-3 as the Nationals continued to give Philadelphia fits. Washington swept a doubleheader on Tuesday and go for the four-game sweep on Thursday.

“The young guys are growing up and it’s fun to watch,” said Johnson, named Nationals manager on June 26. “I think we’ve played as tough against them as anybody they’ve played.”

The Nationals played like the team storming toward the postsesaon, not the Phillies.

The Phillies have been in a funk since they clinched their fifth straight division title on Saturday. They’ve lost five straight games for the first time since May 22-27, 2010. All of the losses have come at home, where the Phillies are tied for the major league lead with 52 victories.

The Phillies played again without right fielder Hunter Pence and first baseman Ryan Howard. Howard has been out with a sore left ankle and Pence missed his second straight game with patellar tendinitis in his left knee. Both players are expected to play in Philadelphia’s weekend series at New York.

With postseason plans underway, the Phillies aren’t too worried about this slump. Manager Charlie Manuel said before the game he needs his regular lineup in tact for at least the last four or five games of the regular season to tune up for another potential deep postseason run.

“We definitely need to have our team ready and I plan on our team being ready,” Manuel said.

They haven’t looked it against Washington.

Backed by Espinosa’s go-ahead homer, the Nationals won their seventh straight road game. His 21st homer set a single-season franchise record by a rookie. The Nationals (75-79) still have a chance to set a franchise record for victories in a season. They will need to finish 7-1 to reach 82 wins, and finish with their first winning record since moving from Montreal in 2005.

John Lannan (10-13) allowed eight singles and three runs in five innings. Lannan improved his career record vs. the Phillies to 2-12.

“It feels good. I’ve run into some tough times here,” Lannan said.

Henry Rodriguez worked the ninth for his first save.

Worley had fit in nicely in a rotation that included Cliff Lee, Roy Halladay, Roy Oswalt and Cole Hamels, winning nine straight games in one stretch and becoming an instant fan favorite with his Mohawk and “Vanimal” nickname.

He’ll be bumped to the bullpen for the playoffs and this was his last start of the season.

“I’m still part of the team,” Worley said. “I’d rather come out of the bullpen a couple of times and get a feel for it.”

Worley had a 43-inning streak this season without allowing a homer, but he was done in by them on Wednesday. Ramos made it 2-0 in the second with his 14th homer of the season.

The Phillies tied it at 2 in the second on five straight singles off Lannan. Ben Francisco’s single up the middle made it 2-1 and Worley tied it with his own base hit.

Raul Ibanez’s RBI single in the third put the Phillies up 3-2. That was all they could muster against Lannan.

John Mayberry Jr. hit a two-run homer in the eighth for the Phillies that made it 7-5.

Howard and Pence have combined for 53 homers and the Phillies could have used some of that pop in the lineup. The Phillies scored only three runs in the doubleheader defeat and have been shut out twice over the five-game losing streak. They’ve scored three runs or less 12 times in the last 14 games.

That kind of anemic run support will shift even more pressure to produce on the Lee-Halladay-Hamels-Oswalt postseason rotation. Even the so-called “Four Aces” need more than a run or two each start if the Phillies are going to win the World Series for the first time since 2008.

Philadelphia’s top four hitters – Jimmy Rollins, Shane Victorino, Placido Polanco, and Chase Utley – went 0 for 16.

“I’m concerned about it,” Manuel said. “At the same time, I’ve seen them hit. I think they’ll hit.”

Ramos added an RBI single and Jonny Gomes had a sacrifice fly during Washington’s three-run eighth to open up a cushion.

Notes: The Nationals beat the Phillies for the eighth time in the last 10 games (4-1 at Nationals Park; 4-1 at Citizens Bank Park). … The Phillies lost five straight home games for the first time since June 16-21, 2009. … The Nationals send RHP Brad Peacock (1-0, 1.42 ERA) to complete the sweep Thursday against Oswalt (8-9, 3.66).

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

While the Washington Nationals were sweeping their way through New York last week, a national writer approached manager Davey Johnson and asked him about his future. Johnson chuckled.

With 10 games left in the season — and uncertainty surrounding whether Johnson will return as the manager in 2012 — that query has been lobbed at him more than once. Everyone around him, including his wife, Susan, seems to be pondering it. Yet the one man who isn’t, and hasn’t, is Johnson.

“That’s after the season,” Johnson said. “I don’t even care, much less want to think about it. I’ve got my plate full today.”

Eighty-five days ago, Johnson stepped into a dugout under a Southern California sun and assumed stewardship of the Nationals. In the months that have passed, he’s set about putting his team in the best position possible to succeed.

For a franchise seemingly on the brink of leaving behind the doldrums of its losing past, Johnson’s goal has been to answer as many questions and fill as many holes as he can for those constructing the 2012 roster. He’s been testing, observing and evaluating — players and coaches — so that when the season ends, he can make recommendations to general manager Mike Rizzo.

“The job I’m doing now, with 30-some-odd guys, is to give them all an opportunity to establish and play to their ability,” Johnson said. “To make all these decisions that are made above me easier. To have less question marks. That’s what they’re paying me for now: to not have that ambiguity.

“I don’t want there to be any doubt when they go to make a decision — whether it involves me, or anybody. If that exists, then I’m not doing my job today. The hell with tomorrow or down the road.”

As far as Johnson sees it, when Rizzo called him up on a late June weekend and presented an opportunity to be the Nationals’ manager as part of a three-year consulting contract, he’d be a manager who always had a dual purpose in mind. He wants to win, of course. He is one of the winningest active managers, and he’s the first to point out that the Nationals’ 32-41 record since he took over isn’t stellar. But he also wants to guide the franchise.

“You can fill a lot with the talent here,” he said. Johnson talks almost daily about the holes he’s trying to fill and how: using Jayson Werth in center field and Michael Morse in left; enjoying the blossoming of Ian Desmond at the leadoff spot; trying out Chris Marrero at first base and Steve Lombardozzi at various spots in the infield; slotting call-ups Brad Peacock and Tom Milone into the rotation while moving a proven and time-tested Livan Hernandez out of it.

At times, it gives the perception that he’s fitting the pieces together and setting it up for someone else to man the dugout next season. Not true, he said. He’s doing these things for whomever it is. “Even if it’s me.”

“I don’t think anyone would be upset if he came back next year,” said third baseman Ryan Zimmerman, describing Johnson as a hands-off type of manager who “thinks you’re a professional and he treats you that way.”

“A lot of people respect him,” Zimmerman said. “But I’ve said before, the manager, it is what it is. He doesn’t get the hits.”

The certainty over Johnson’s role ends after 10 more games. “I only know that my managerial contract ends after the season. You only need a manager until the end of this month. Then I’m an advisor.” An “in-house advisor,” more specifically, and he’ll make his opinions known on all offseason decisions — including that of manager — when it’s time.

“I’m not 100 percent where everything is on the same page [with the construction of the team], but I have a comfort zone,” Johnson said. “I really think when I have it the way I want it, and everything is functioning like a machine, that’s usually when they can do without me. It doesn’t matter who’s standing [in the dugout]. And it looks real simple. It’s supposed to.”

So again Johnson shrugs off the question of his managerial future.

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The Marlins face young Washington Nationals ace Stephen Strasburg on Saturday night with a combination of excitement, curiosity and trepidation.

Strasburg, the No. 1 pick of the 2009 draft, is back on the mound a year after undergoing Tommy John surgery on his right elbow. He’s got Washington abuzz again with optimism for the club’s future.

Strasburg (0-0, 1.13 ERA) is playing in his third game of the season. In eight innings he has given up five hits, one run and zero walks with eight strikeouts. Some of his fast balls were clocked in the 95-98 mph range.

The Marlins who faced Strasburg last season are eager to see if he is as good as new.

“From what I’ve heard, he’s right where he needs to be,” said Logan Morrison, who went 0?for?1 with two walks against Strasburg. “Ninety-eight mph is a good place to be.

“It’s a battle from the first pitch with him. He’s so electric.”

Gaby Sanchez expects the same blinding velocity out of Strasburg.

“I’ve seen what he’s done on TV and he’s definitely got his power back,” Sanchez said. “He’s got such an explosive fastball and great off speed pitches.”

Marlins manager Jack McKeon said Strasburg reminds him of the young Dwight Gooden.

“They’re in the same category — hard-throwing, charismatic guys,” McKeon said, adding that he would not overthink Strasburg’s comeback if he was his manager. “I wouldn’t worry about nothing. Let him play. Let him pitch. Let him let loose.”

Strasburg will face Chris Volstad (5-12, 5.31), who was the 16th pick in the 2005 draft, and McKeon hopes the matchup will inspire Volstad.

• Marlins general manager Mike Hill is confident that the healing and rehabilitation timetable for Hanley Ramirez will have the shortstop back in the lineup for Opening Day six and a half months from now.

Ramirez underwent surgery on his injured left shoulder on Thursday. The typical recovery period is four to eight months.

“The feedback we got was that he will be ready to go,” Hill said. “They opened it up and fixed what needed to be fixed. But whenever you’re talking about a surgery, you’re at the mercy of rehab. It’s definitely the goal that he’ll be ready for Opening Day.”

Asked whether Ramirez’s shoulder could have been bothering him throughout a disappointing season, Hill replied: “It’s hard to say. He’s a three-time All-Star and one of the five best position players in baseball and he wasn’t producing. Could there have been something wrong? There very well could have been.”

• The Marlins’ lack of production led to a new franchise record. In the four games previous to Friday’s game, the Marlins batted just .186 and scored one run in each game, going 0-4. Florida has now scored one run or fewer in 35 games this season, breaking the record of 33 in 1993. The Marlins are 2-33 in those games.

•  Mike Stanton, who turns 22 in November, has 54 career home runs, the fifth-highest total before the age of 22 in National League history, behind Mel Ott (86), Eddie Mathews (72), Frank Robinson (60) and Andruw Jones (55).

Scouting report

Nationals pitcher Strasburg, clocked at up to 98 mph in his first two appearances since returning from surgery a year ago, meets Volstad in a matchup of first-round draft picks.

Linda Robertson

Upcoming

Saturday: Marlins RHP Chris Volstad (5-12, 5.31 ERA) at Washington Nationals RHP Stephen Strasburg (0-0, 1.13).

Sunday: Marlins LHP Brad Hand (1-7, 4.02) at Washington Nationals LHP Ross Detwiler (2-5, 3.76).

Read More: Jayson Werth (RF – WAS), Rick Ankiel (CF – WAS), Michael Morse (1B – WAS), Drew Storen (P – WAS), Brad Peacock (P – WAS), Washington Nationals, New York Mets

The Washington Nationals put the hurt on the New York Mets at Citi Field Wednesday night. The Nationals shut out the Mets 2-0 in what is becoming a big series for the Nationals. While they might not be going to the playoffs, the Nationals are now playing for respectability and forward progress. They achieved this by winning their 70th game of the season, a win total the franchise has not reached since 2007. They are now on a four-game winning streak, and have pulled even with the Mets in third place in the NL East.

Nationals rookie starter Brad Peacock made his first MLB start and he bloomed. The 23-year old relied on fly outs and a unique curveball to hold the Mets down. He pitched five innings, had a no-hitter for three, gave up no runs, two hits and three walks while striking out two. In the fourth inning he showed incredible resilience after he loaded the bases, but was able to get out of the jam. He earned his first MLB win with his family in the crowd.

Peacock was supported by the Nationals who were able to get RBI singles from Michael Morse and Jayson Werth in the third inning. In the ninth closer Drew Storen earned his 37th save of the season and his third in the last three days as he closed out all of the games in the Nats sweep. Center fielder Rick Ankiel had a fantastic run saving catch to end the game.

Game Four of the series will be Thursday at 1:10 P.M. The Nats will try to go for the sweep.

The Nationals are now 70-77 on the season and in a tie for third place in the NL East with the Mets.

WASHINGTON, D.C. (AP) – Wandy Rodriguez won his 11th game and Carlos Corporan drove in three runs in the Houston Astros’ 9-3 victory over the Washington Nationals on Saturday night.

Carlos Lee also had a double, single and an RBI, and Jason Bourgeois had three hits and an RBI for the Astros, who had six consecutive hits in a six-run third inning. Lee has now driven in at least 80 runs for the 13th straight season, second only to Alex Rodriguez among active players.

The Astros’ six runs and seven hits in the third inning both tied the team’s single-inning highs this season.

Rodriguez (11-10) went six innings, giving up three runs on seven hits and striking out seven. Rodriguez is the only Astros’ starter with a winning record.

John Lannan (9-12) gave up six runs – four earned – on eight hits in 2 1-3 innings, his second-shortest outing this season. He allowed six hits on seven runs in two innings at Philadelphia on May 5.

Lannan also made a costly error in the middle of Houston’s big inning, which started when Jordan Schafer doubled down the left field line with one out and took third as Michael Morse misplayed the ball. Each of Houston’s next five batters singled, including run-scoring hits by Bourgeois, Lee and Chris Johnson.

After the six straight hits, the bases were loaded and Jose Altuve hit a dribbler toward third base. Lannan fielded the ball but his throw home was wide of catcher Jesus Flores. Lannan dropped to his knees and held his head in his hands after the throw as two runs scored.

The play left runners on the corners for Corporan, whose squeeze bunt got past Lannan for an RBI single, giving Houston a 6-0 lead and ending the pitcher’s night.

The Astros added two more runs in the fifth inning on a sacrifice fly by Corporan and a run-scoring double by Rodriguez, his first extra-base hit of the season. Corporan also had an RBI single in the ninth.

Washington’s Morse hit his team-leading 27th home run on a solo shot in the sixth inning, and Chris Marrero hit a two-run single in the fourth.

NOTES: RHP Stephen Strasburg (0-0) will make his second start for the Nationals today since returning from last year’s Tommy John surgery. Washington manager Davey Johnson said he didn’t have a strict innings or pitch-count limit for his young star. “I’m just going to go by what I see. I don’t have a set number. I’m going to see how he’s going along,” Johnson said. … The Nationals named IF Steve Lombardozzi and RHP Brad Peacock minor league player and pitcher of the year. Both are with Washington this September. Johnson said Peacock would likely get his first major league start next week in New York.

Astros 9, Nationals 3

Houston Washington

ab r h bi ab r h bi

JSchafr cf 5 1 1 0 Dsmnd ss 5 0 0 0

Bourgs rf 5 1 3 1 Werth cf 4 0 1 0

JMrtnz lf 5 1 1 0 CBrwn ph 1 0 0 0

Ca.Lee 1b 5 1 2 1 Zmrmn 3b 4 1 1 0

CJhnsn 3b 5 2 2 1 Morse lf 4 2 2 1

AngSnc ss 4 2 2 0 JGoms rf 3 0 2 0

Altuve 2b 4 1 1 0 Espinos 2b 4 0 0 0

Corprn c 4 0 2 3 Marrer 1b 4 0 1 2

WRdrg p 2 0 1 1 Flores c 4 0 2 0

AnRdrg p 0 0 0 0 Lannan p 0 0 0 0

Michals ph 1 0 1 0 Maya p 1 0 0 0

JAreu p 0 0 0 0 Bixler ph 1 0 0 0

Wallac ph 0 0 0 0 Balestr p 0 0 0 0

MDwns ph 1 0 0 0 Lmrdzz ph 1 0 0 0

DCrpnt p 0 0 0 0 Severin p 0 0 0 0

Coffey p 0 0 0 0

Slaten p 0 0 0 0

L.Nix ph 1 0 0 0

Totals 41 9 16 7 Totals 37 3 9 3

Houston 006 020 001-9

Washington 000 201 000-3

E-C.Johnson (13), Morse (7), Lannan (2). DP-Washington 1. LOB-Houston 9, Washington 8. 2B-J.Schafer (9), Ca.Lee (36), W.Rodriguez (1), Flores (6). HR-Morse (27). S-W.Rodriguez. SF-Corporan.

IP H R ER BB SO

Houston

W.Rodriguez W,11-10 6 7 3 3 0 7

An.Rodriguez 1 2 0 0 0 1

J.Abreu 1 0 0 0 0 3

D.Carpenter 1 0 0 0 0 2

Washington

Lannan L,9-12 2 1-3 8 6 4 1 1

Maya 2 2-3 4 2 2 0 1

Balester 2 0 0 0 0 2

Severino 1 2 0 0 0 2

Coffey 2-3 2 1 1 0 0

Slaten 1-3 0 0 0 0 0

HBP-by J.Abreu (J.Gomes), by Coffey (Ang.Sanchez). WP-W.Rodriguez. T-3:09. A-30,935 (41,506).

WASHINGTON, Sept. 9 (UPI) — Ryan Zimmerman scored in the 11th inning Friday on a throwing error by third baseman Jimmy Parades, allowing the Washington Nationals to down Houston 4-3.

Washington’s relief corps limited Houston to two hits over the final 5 1/3 innings and the Nationals handed the Astros their 96th loss of the season. Houston needs 15 wins in its last 18 games to avoid the first 100-loss campaign in franchise history.

The game had been tied since the seventh when Houston’s Lucas Harrell, making his fifth appearance of the season, came out for his second inning of work in the 11th. Harrell issued one-out walks to Ryan Zimmerman and Michael Morse, bringing up Jayson Werth.

Werth hit a ground ball to Paredes, who threw wildly to second in an attempt to get Morse. The ball rolled into right field and Zimmerman came around to score.

Zimmerman also hit a two-run homer in the first.

Tyler Clippard (3-0) worked the final two relief innings to get the victory.

The error salvaged another mostly bleak offensive night for the Nationals. They managed six hits all game, none leading to runs except for Zimmerman’s two-run homer in the first inning and first baseman Chris Marrero’s game-tying double in the seventh. Even in a victory, just their fourth in 16 games, the offensive woes that torpedoed their season surfaced.

“I’ve had trouble sleeping at night thinking about it,” Johnson said. “It just makes it tougher on the pitching staff, tougher on the defense. Guys are grinding up there, I sense sometimes trying to do a little too much. I usually don’t talk a lot of hitting during the season, but I’m starting to open up and talk about what I’m seeing with the hitters. .?.?.

“But a lot of guys are trying to establish themselves, and our veteran key guys have been out most of the year. So the offense is going to struggle. But there’s no give-up in there. That’s the good thing.”

The Nationals had a chance Friday night because of their bullpen, which threw 5¹/
₃ scoreless innings. A day after he allowed three runs in the ninth inning of a previously tied game, Drew Storen struck out two in a scoreless ninth. Tyler Clippard pitched two scoreless extra innings.

It helped that they were playing the Astros, who lost for the 96th time this year. The Astros’ trip to Washington began Friday evening when one of their relievers, Sergio Escalona, stepped on his pitching coach’s glove in left field while shagging batting practice. Escalona was carted off the field, had X-rays and will probably not pitch again this season.

Their day ended with a walk-off error. In the 11th inning, Zimmerman and Michael Morse drew consecutive one-out walks off Lucas Harrell. Astros Manager Brad Mills called Wilton Lopez out of the bullpen, and Werth pounded a 2-1 sinker into the ground, to third base.

Paredes fielded the ball on one knee. Werth bolted out of the box, worried about a double play, and kept looking at second base. When he didn’t see the ball, he assumed Paredes wouldn’t throw it. The he saw Morse slide in ahead of the throw, and then the throw skipping into right field.

“I was just rooting for a bad hop,” Johnson said. “Somehow, he got a glove on it. And I said, ‘Well, they can’t get two.’ And when he fell down with it, I said, ‘He can’t get one.’ And he was nice enough to throw it away. We didn’t actually pound the ball that hard, but we’ll take it.”

Read More: Stephen Strasburg (P – WAS), Washington Nationals

Stephen Strasburg’s pitching schedule for the month of September was laid out by Washington Nationals manager Davey Johnson in a pre-game press conference with reporters Friday. Strasburg has already made one start, and Johnson said that his next three starts will occur at home.

Via Adam Kilgore of the Washington Post:

The Nationals have planned Stephen Strasburg’s scheduled so he will make his four starts back from Tommy John surgery at Nationals Park, at which point he will either make one road start on the season’s final day or conclude his major league season.

Those four starts are as follows.

Strasburg could then start on the road against the Marlins on September 28 on four days rest if so inclined. That decision would ultimately be up to the Nationals.