Author Archives: Dion Johnson

When your superstar and reigning MVP is batting only .233 for the season and a National League-worst .179 since the All Star break, those numbers would be a recipe for disaster.  Instead the Washington Nationals have pushed forward, winning seven of their last 10 ballgames, including a dominant three-game sweep in Arizona to extend their […]

Before a 5-3 loss on July 30, the Washington Nationals won three consecutive ballgames. That statement alone is proof why numbers sometimes lie.  Washington Nationals shortstop Wilmer Difo, left, turns a double play over San Francisco Giants’ Angel Pagan (16) after a ground ball was hit by Giants’ Joe Panik during the first inning of a […]

The Washington Nationals lost four of five games before claiming a walk-off 3-2 victory against San Diego on July 23, putting General Manager Mike Rizzo in a precarious position with the trade deadline looming. Washington Nationals’ Anthony Rendon, center, runs home to score the game-winning run on a walk-off triple by Stephen Drew as San Diego Padres […]

At the halfway point of the 2016 Major League Baseball season, the Washington Nationals remain in first place in the National League East.  With team success, individual performances are noted and acknowledged.  This year, the Nats will send five players to the All-Star festivities in San Diego, breaking a team record of four players sent […]

Baseball is a fickle game.  One minute you’re writing about how inept a team is and how their current status can be a precursor of things to come, and the next minute you’re praising that very same team about how they have recovered from the longest Washington Nationals center fielder Ben Revere (9) bats during […]

Washington Nationals starting pitcher Joe Ross follows through on a delivery to the Los Angeles Dodgers during the first inning of a baseball game in Los Angeles, Wednesday, June 22, 2016. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson) In every season, there are inevitable peaks and valleys throughout the year—and the Washington Nationals are currently mired in one of […]

Washington Nationals’ Wilson Ramos hits an RBI single during the ninth inning of a baseball game against the Chicago Cubs at Nationals Park, Wednesday, June 15, 2016, in Washington. The Nationals won 5-4, in 12 innings. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon) As the Nationals last week headed into the huge three-game series against the Chicago Cubs, the […]

  (June 25-27) Washington Win Series, 2-1, over Arizona In taking two of three games from the potent Arizona Diamondbacks, Washington showed its mettle but blew an opportunity for a series sweep in the last game.  In the opening game, starting pitcher Gio Gonzales was the beneficiary of a five-run third inning  which included a […]

(June 17-19) Washington Falls in Series to Phillies, 2-1 In Game One of the four-game set against the rival Philadelphia Phillies, Nats’ Chad Tracy blasted a ninth inning home run off Phillies closer Jonathan Papelbon to tie the score at 4. Yet Washington’s bullpen couldn’t close out the game and gave the Philadelphia batters a […]

(June 9) Washington Claims Doubleheader Against Minnesota If the Washington Nationals truly wanted to turn their season around, their doubleheader against the Minnesota Twins was crucial for starting the process. They accomplished that feat by winning the first game, 7-0, as starting pitcher Jordan Zimmermann shell-shocked the overmatched Twins lineup for his ninth win of […]

Tropical Storm Andrea wreaked havoc on the Nats’ schedule during week 10 of the season; two consecutive games were postponed (June 6 against the N.Y. Mets and June 7 against the Minnesota Twins). The team was only able to play three games during the week. (June 4-5) Washington Splits Series—1-1 Against Mets In Game 1 […]

After enduring a tougher-than-anticipated extended West Coast road trip, the Washington Nationals are in need of a jolt of energy. They finished 4-6 on the 10-game swing, coming home to the Eastern Time Zone where they face, arguably, the toughest part of their schedule for the season. Collectively, the Nats have not hit or fielded […]