Following eight straight outs by strikeout, the Washington Nationals' bullpen was rolling. Then Drew Storen needed a little bit of help to finish off the St. Louis Cardinals in the ninth inning Thursday night. Shortstop Ian Desmond was there to lend a glove. Published October 11 2012
Mark DeRosa knows the words well. He's read them to himself on many occasions. Before a big game. Before a big moment. When he needed to get himself psyched up and steeled for the challenge ahead. He'd never ready them publicly until Thursday afternoon inside the Nationals' clubhouse. Published October 11 2012
After his team's dramatic ninth-inning win Thursday to force a decisive Game 5 in the division series, Nationals manager Davey Johnson spoke about Jayson Werth's home run, Jordan Zimmernann's unusual relief appearance and his team's confidence. Published October 11 2012
Here are some of Jayson Werth's comments after his solo home run in the bottom of the ninth inning Thursday gave the Nationals a 2-1 win over the Cardinals at Nationals Park. Published October 11 2012
As Ryan Zimmerman noted following Game 4 of the NLDS, Jayson Werth is not and probably never will be a warm, cuddly figure. But there's no doubt the veteran outfielder has earned a ton of respect from those in the Nationals' clubhouse, even as he fought through a miserable 2011, and his teammates were thrilled to see Werth end up as the hero Thursday night. Published October 11 2012
Up until this season, Frank Howard represented the post-World War II pinnacle for baseball in Washington, D.C. Whatever happens with the Nationals this series, the "Capital Punisher" is pleased to see winning baseball back in D.C. Published October 11 2012
It's not manager Davey Johnson's style to hold team meetings. "I don't believe in having pep rallies and whatever," he said flatly Thursday afternoon. Published October 11 2012
Gio Gonzalez sat at the table in the Nationals Park press conference room in his postseason hoodie and shorts. He cracked a joke about the temperature, ran his hand through his perfectly-manicured hair and then addressed the precarious nature of preparing to start a game that may or may not happen. "You have to try to win Game 4 to get to Game 5," he said early Thursday afternoon, his hope for making at least one more start this season resting on someone else's left arm. "This conversation would not be happening if we were not going to be having Game 5." Published October 11 2012
The Nationals haven't had much success on offense during the NLDS, but manager Davey Johnson is sticking with his usual lineup for Thursday's elimination game. Published October 11 2012
The Washington Nationals' bullpen will have an extra body in it during Thursday's Game 4 of the National League Division Series. Jordan Zimmermann, the Nationals' Game 2 starter, will be out there in the event that starter Ross Detwiler falters early and he's needed in long relief. Published October 11 2012
Edwin Jackson knows what usually goes wrong when he's off his game: Getting behind in the count and digging himself a hole. In Wednesday's Game 3 loss to the St. Louis Cardinals, the Washington Nationals' most experienced starter figured out all too quickly that it was something else. Published October 11 2012
By virtue of the Oakland Athletics forcing a Game 5 with the Detroit Tigers Thursday evening, the Washington Nationals' season will be on the line at 4:07 p.m. Thursday afternoon. (Had the A's lost, the Nationals would've played at 5:07 p.m.) But the first part remains the same. The Nationals loss in Wednesday's Game 3, an 8-0 drubbing, pushed them to the brink of elimination. One more loss and their charmed season is over. Ross Detwiler will go to the mound trying to do what none of his other starters have been able to yet, and that's hold down the St. Louis Cardinals offense, which has outscored the Nationals 22-7 in the series. With seven hours until the first pitch, here is a quick-link guide to all of the coverage from the first MLB playoff game in D.C. in 79 years: Published October 11 2012
Mark DeRosa knows what his role is on the Washington Nationals. From the first day the veteran arrived in spring training he spoke of understand that he was brought in to be not only a utility man but also a key presence in the clubhouse. So with the team one loss away from being eliminated from the playoffs and their charmed season ending, DeRosa said Wednesday he'd give a small speech to the team before Thursday's Game 4. Published October 10 2012
Here are a few of Cardinals manager Mike Matheny's comments after his team's 8-0 win over the Nationals Wednesday. Published October 10 2012
After the Cardinals beat the Nationals 8-0 in Game 3 of the division series at Nationals Park on Wednesday, manager Davey Johnson talked about his club facing elimination, why Edwin Jackson struggled on the mound, his use of Craig Stammen and more. Published October 10 2012
Frank Robinson threw out the ceremonial first pitch before postseason baseball's return to D.C. and remembered that brief stretch when it appeared the day might arrive much sooner. Published October 10 2012
The Nationals and Cardinals, particularly the outfielders, will have to battle the afternoon sun — not-so-affectionately dubbed the "Sun Monster" by Bryce Harper in September. To that end, Harper popped out of the dugout during optional batting practice today wearing red contact lenses that had been recommended by his eye doctor to help fight the sun. Published October 10 2012
Nationals manager Davey Johnson talked about Danny Espinosa's slump, Bryce Harper's fever, Frank Robinson's Triple Crown, and more at his press conference before Game 3 of the NLDS Wednesday. Published October 10 2012
Ross Detwiler was born in St. Louis but is happy to be home. Away from Nationals Park, he’s 2-6 with a 4.38 ERA. But when he toes the rubber in Washington, he’s 8-2 with a 2.59 ERA. Published October 10 2012
Good morning from Nationals Park where the first Major League Baseball playoff game in Washington since Oct. 7, 1933 -- that's 79 years and three days -- starts in a few hours. The sun is out, "October Natitude" is written across the home dugout and a huge American flag is suspended near the center field gate. Managers Davey Johnson and Mike Matheny are sticking with the same lineups in Game 3 of the division series they used in the first two contests. Published October 10 2012
By John Solomon
How the government's punishing of the exposure of official wrongdoing can linger for years
