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Articles by Brian McNally

Demand from fans in Richmond to see Robert Griffin III and the Redskins at training camp is great enough that the team will hold a lottery for tickets to Fan Appreciation Day. (AndreW HARNIK/The Washington Times)

Redskins call Richmond their summer home

The Redskins are part of the dwindling number of organizations committed to a training camp away from their own headquarters. For the second year in a row, they are headed to Richmond for camp.

July 22, 2014
Washington Nationals starting pitcher Stephen Strasburg (37) delivers a pitch against the Milwaukee Brewers during the fourth inning of a baseball game, Friday, July 18, 2014, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

Strasburg, Nats fall to Brewers as second half opens

On a weird night at Nationals Park, it was probably fitting that the end result was a 4-2 defeat to the Milwaukee Brewers. Scooter Gennett and Khris Davis hit solo home runs and Aramis Ramirez smacked a two-run single to right field. That was all Brewers starter Kyle Lohse would need.

July 18, 2014
Washington Nationals left fielder Bryce Harper (34) steps on the field as he prepares to bat during an interleague baseball game against the Baltimore Orioles at Nationals Park, Monday, July 7, 2014, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

Nationals second-half preview: Starting from the top

No team in the NL has a better run differential (plus-61). That's a good predictor of which teams will make the playoffs. The starting rotation, missing Doug Fister for five weeks with an elbow injury and Gio Gonzalez (shoulder) for a month, still has a 3.28 ERA, third in the sport. The bullpen also ranks third overall (2.67 ERA). This is still a club built around its pitching. The offense just has to be good enough.

July 17, 2014
Washington Nationals catcher Wilson Ramos (40) celebrates with relief pitcher Tyler Clippard after a baseball game against the Philadelphia Phillies at Nationals Park Tuesday, June 3, 2014, in Washington. The Nationals won 7-0. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

All-Star Tyler Clippard represents entire Nats bullpen

On a team whose lineup was crippled by injuries and whose rotation has never been completely intact, the bullpen has been the steadiest unit in 2014. That has allowed Washington to post a 51-42 record in the first half and remain percentage points ahead of the Atlanta Braves for first place in the NL East.

July 14, 2014
Baltimore Orioles' Manny Machado (13), celebrates his two-run homer with Adam Jones left, with Nick Markakis, at right, during the 11th inning of an interleague baseball game against the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park, Monday, July 7, 2014, in Washington. The Orioles won 8-2, in 11 innings. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

Nationals-Orioles rivalry doesn’t have much edge

In a fractured baseball market, where the Orioles and Nationals have every game beamed into every home with cable television, the sport's checkered history has mashed two fanbases unwillingly together. And yet, almost a decade after Washington rejoined the big leagues following a 34-year absence, a real rivalry has yet to translate to the field.

July 8, 2014
Washington Nationals starting pitcher Jordan Zimmermann throws during the third inning of a baseball game against the Chicago Cubs at Nationals Park, Sunday, July 6, 2014, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

Jordan Zimmermann Nats’ lone All-Star; Rendon in final vote

Zimmermann, who started at home against the Chicago Cubs on Sunday, was chosen by NL manager Mike Matheny. He will play in front of a large contingent of friends and family in Minneapolis, site of this year's All-Star game and just a three-hour drive from his hometown of Auburndale, Wisconsin.

July 6, 2014
Washington Nationals' Denard Span celebrates after scoring the winning run during the eighth inning of a baseball game against the Chicago Cubs at Nationals Park, Sunday, July 6, 2014, in Washington. The Nationals won 2-1. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

Denard Span, Nationals edge Cubs to keep rolling at home

With the Nationals locked in a tie game and doing their best to give away the contest, Span knocked an obvious single into right field and had one thought: get to second base. Teammate Ryan Zimmerman eventually drove him in with a sharp base hit to left field in a 2-1 Washington victory.

July 6, 2014
Detroit Red Wings' Tomas Tatar (21), of Slovakia, tries to get to the puck controlled by Pittsburgh Penguins' Matt Niskanen (2) during the second period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, March 20, 2014 in Detroit. The Red Wings defeated the Penguins 5-4 in overtime. (AP Photo/Duane Burleson)

Capitals’ blueline additions pricey, but should pay off

It's hard to dispute that the Capitals improved their blueline this week with the signing of free agents Matt Niskanen and Brooks Orpik, who left the Pittsburgh Penguins for D.C. That was the organization's top goal coming into the offseason to help restart a team that missed the Stanley Cup playoffs for the first time since 2007.

July 3, 2014
Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Matt Niskanen (2) celebrates with teammate Sidney Crosby (87) after scoring against the Tampa Bay Lightning during the third period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, Oct. 12, 2013, in Tampa, Fla. The Penguins won the game 5-4. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)

Capitals spend big on defense as NHL free agency opens

Washington took a step toward solving its weaknesses by signing free agent defenseman Matt Niskanen to a seven-year, $40.25 million contract and his former Pittsburgh Penguins teammate Brooks Orpik to a five-year deal worth $27.5 million.

July 1, 2014
Washington Nationals catcher WIlson Ramos, left, looks on as third baseman Ryan Zimmerman fields a bunt for a base hit by Colorado Rockies Brandon Barnes during the fifth inning of a baseball game at Nationals Park, on Monday, June 30, 2014, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

Ryan Zimmerman shines for Nats on Bryce Harper’s night

It was Bryce Harper's night and a big crowd came out to Nationals Park on a Monday in part to snag one of his bobble head dolls. But Ryan Zimmerman, the man who already switched positions once with Harper out of the lineup - and did so again upon his return - was the real star in a 7-3 victory over the Colorado Rockies.

July 1, 2014
Washington Nationals left fielder Bryce Harper (34) waits for a pitch in his first at bat since returning from the disabled list during the second inning of a baseball game against the Colorado Rockies at Nationals Park, on Monday, June 30, 2014, in Washington. Harper is returning to the lineup after missing 59 games with a torn ulnar collateral ligament in his left thumb. At right is Colorado Rockies catcher Wilin Rosario. (AP Photo/ Evan Vucci)

Bryce Harper’s return sets Nationals’ lineup in motion

After nine weeks out following surgery to repair a torn left thumb ligament, Harper assumed his customary spot in left field for the Washington Nationals against the Colorado Rockies. But that sent Ryan Zimmerman and his arthritic right shoulder back to third base, which spun Anthony Rendon over to second and deflected second baseman Danny Espinosa to the bench.

June 30, 2014
Atlanta Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez, far left, catcher Evan Gattis, head athletic trainer Jeff Porter look at starting pitcher Gavin Floyd, with shortstop Andrelton Simmons and second baseman Tommy La Stella, during the seventh inning of a baseball game against the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park Thursday, June 19, 2014, in Washington. Floyd left the game. The Braves won 3-0. Atlanta Braves right-hander Gavin Floyd left Thursday night's game against the Washington Nationals with an elbow injury in his ninth start since returning from Tommy John surgery.(AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

Braves pitcher Gavin Floyd breaks elbow in win over Nats

Maryland native Gavin Floyd, a year removed from Tommy John surgery, broke his elbow during the seventh inning of a strong pitching performance against the Nationals on Thursday night. The Atlanta Braves won the game 3-0 to start an important four-game series in Washington against their NL East rivals.

June 19, 2014
Washington Redskins wide receiver Santana Moss (89) looks on during NFL football minicamp, Wednesday, June 18, 2014, in Ashburn, Va. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

Redskins take a break before training camp

Redskins coach Jay Gruden canceled his team's scheduled minicamp practice on Thursday, allowing his players to get an early start on a rest period before reporting to training camp in Richmond on July 23.

June 19, 2014
Washington Redskins safety Ryan Clark (21) takes part in a drill on the practice field during mini camp practice at Redskins Park in Ashburn, Va., Wednesday, June 18, 20124. (Photo Rod Lamkey Jr.)

Ryan Clark set to fill leadership role on Redskins’ defense

Safety was a problem area for Washington throughout last year's miserable 3-13 campaign. It had to be addressed. And while Clark's age makes him a short-term answer, coaches and teammates say he still brings value at a position of need. On a defense that lost its unquestioned leader, linebacker London Fletcher, to retirement, Clark could help fill that void.

June 18, 2014