Devers hits 2 HR; Red Sox to host Yanks in AL wild-card game
The Boston Red Sox have clinched a playoff berth on the regular season’s final day and will host the New York Yankees in the AL wild-card game after coming back to beat the Washington Nationals 7-5 on a tiebreaking two-run homer by Rafael Devers in the ninth inning.
Giants beat Dodgers 3-2 in 11th on error, take NL West lead
Second baseman Trea Turner threw wildly on Buster Posey’s bases-loaded, two-out grounder in the 11th inning and a video review upheld the safe call as the San Francisco Giants beat the Los Angeles Dodgers 3-2 to grab first place in the NL West.
Panda! Sandoval helps Braves sweep doubleheader against Nats
Atlanta pinch-hitter Pablo Sandoval drove a two-run homer to the deepest part of the ballpark off a Washington reliever who took over after Stephen Strasburg’s six scoreless innings to lift the Braves to a 2-0 victory over the Nationals and a doubleheader sweep.
Nats finally play, beat Braves 6-5 on Soto's walk-off in 9th
Juan Soto drove in the winning run with a single on a 3-0 pitch in the bottom of the ninth inning to lift the coronavirus-depleted Washington Nationals to a 6-5 comeback victory over the Atlanta Braves after waiting five days to start their season.
Boone takes leave for pacemaker; Lester to have surgery
I look forward to getting back to work in the next several days.”LESTER SURGERYWashington Nationals left-hander Jon Lester is leaving spring training camp to have surgery for the removal of his thyroid gland. He underwent chemotherapy treatments and returned to the Red Sox at spring training before the following season. Soto’s spring training start was delayed because he fouled a ball off his right foot in live batting practice Sunday. Martinez had two hits for a second straight game, driving in his first two runs of spring training. Jarred Kelenic, Seattle’s top prospect, hit a two-run homer and Taylor Trammell hit a solo homer.
Nats' Strasburg: 'Numbness in my whole hand' led to surgery
Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo said Thursday, Feb. 18, 2021, that Strasburg is in preparation mode not in rehabilitation mode at spring training after having surgery in 2020. I think, if anything, all the work I’ve done strengthening it has only improved the movement of my pitches," Strasburg said. “Endurance-wise, stamina-wise, I feel like I’m a lot further along than I have (been) in years past,” he said. There was a period of uncertainty about when the so-called “summer camp” would start, so Strasburg would throw into a net to try to stay ready. Martinez said he might ask position players to play seven, eight or nine innings of the last 10 days of exhibition games.
Ryan Tepera? Mix-up gives curious MVP vote to Cubs pitcher
But there likely was no debate about the most surprising name on the list of players getting NL MVP votes Thursday. That was Tepera, the Chicago Cubs reliever who was 0-1 with a 3.92 ERA during the virus-shortened season. Tepera struck out 31 in 20 2/3 innings over 21 games, and pitched in the playoffs for the Cubs. “I meant to hit Trea Turner and thought I had,” longtime St. Louis Post-Dispatch writer Rick Hummel said. “One man’s mistake is another man’s claim to an NL MVP vote.
Champs done: Time to look toward 2021 for eliminated Nats
FILE - In this Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2019, file photo, The Washington Nationals celebrate after Game 7 of the baseball World Series against the Houston Astros in Houston. A year after winning the World Series thanks to a historic turnaround, the Nationals woke up Thursday, Sept. 24, 2020, with a 23-33 record and no mathematical chance of returning to the playoffs. There was no opportunity for a sellout crowd to roar during the raising of a championship banner or to witness a World Series ring ceremony. Most notably, World Series MVP Stephen Strasburg’s season lasted all of five innings before he was done because of a nerve issue in his throwing hand. The Nationals conclude their 60-game regular season with four games at home against the New York Mets, starting Thursday.