Nats tried, couldn't get Greinke's OK

Image by Getty Images via @daylife

By Bill Ladson / MLB.com

NEW YORK -- The Nationals had a deal in place to acquire right-hander Zack Greinke, a baseball source confirmed to MLB.com. Greinke, however, used his no-trade clause to reject the deal.

Instead, the Royals traded Greinke to the Brewers for prospects, a deal Greinke was willing to accept. The trade was announced early Sunday afternoon. CONTINUE....

Strasburg's strikeout show not enough

By Bill Ladson / MLB.com

WASHINGTON -- Right-hander Stephen Strasburg had another great outing, but it wasn't enough, as the Nationals were blanked by the Royals, 1-0, in front of 31,913 fans at Nationals Park on Wednesday.

Strasburg's strikeout show not enough....

Kansas City AB R H RBI BB SO LOB AVG
Podsednik, LF 5 0 0 0 0 2 1 .288
Kendall, C 4 0 1 0 0 0 0 .256
DeJesus, D, CF-RF 4 1 2 0 0 0 0 .325
Butler, 1B 4 0 1 0 0 2 2 .324
Guillen, J, RF 4 0 2 1 0 0 0 .275
Maier, CF 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .262
Callaspo, 3B 4 0 1 0 0 1 3 .276
Betancourt, Y, SS 4 0 0 0 0 2 3 .267
Getz, 2B 4 0 2 0 0 0 2 .224
Bannister, B, P 2 0 0 0 0 2 2 .200
Tejeda, P 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
a-Bloomquist, PH 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .188
Soria, P 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
Totals 36 1 9 1 0 10 13 .280
a-Struck out for Tejeda in the 9th.
BATTING
TB: Kendall; DeJesus, D 2; Butler; Guillen, J 2; Callaspo; Getz 2.
RBI: Guillen, J (44).
2-out RBI: Guillen, J.
Runners left in scoring position, 2 out: Getz; Butler; Bannister, B; Callaspo; Podsednik.
S: Bannister, B.
Team RISP: 1-for-7.
Team LOB: 9.

FIELDING
Outfield assists: Guillen, J (Bernadina at home).
DP: (Bannister, B-Betancourt, Y-Butler).

Washington AB R H RBI BB SO LOB AVG
Morgan, CF 3 0 0 0 1 1 1 .244
Bernadina, RF 4 0 1 0 0 0 1 .284
Zimmerman, R, 3B 4 0 1 0 0 2 1 .286
Dunn, A, 1B 4 0 2 0 0 0 0 .278
Willingham, LF 3 0 0 0 1 3 3 .270
Rodriguez, I, C 4 0 1 0 0 1 1 .313
Kennedy, A, 2B 3 0 0 0 0 0 2 .235
Desmond, SS 3 0 0 0 0 2 2 .251
Strasburg, P 2 0 1 0 0 0 2 .167
Burnett, S, P 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
a-Harris, W, PH 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .151
Slaten, P 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
Totals 31 0 6 0 2 9 13 .256
a-Flied out for Burnett, S in the 8th.
BATTING
TB: Bernadina; Zimmerman, R; Dunn, A 2; Rodriguez, I; Strasburg.
Runners left in scoring position, 2 out: Strasburg 2; Willingham; Zimmerman, R.
GIDP: Rodriguez, I.
Team RISP: 2-for-7.
Team LOB: 6.

BASERUNNING
SB: Willingham (6, 2nd base off Bannister, B/Kendall), Bernadina (6, 2nd base off Tejeda/Kendall).

FIELDING
E: Desmond (16, throw).

Kansas City IP H R ER BB SO HR ERA
Bannister, B(W, 7-5) 6.0 5 0 0 2 4 0 5.29
Tejeda(H, 5) 2.0 1 0 0 0 3 0 3.72
Soria(S, 17) 1.0 0 0 0 0 2 0 2.70
Totals 9.0 6 0 0 2 9 0 4.79
Washington IP H R ER BB SO HR ERA
Strasburg(L, 2-1) 6.0 9 1 1 0 9 0 1.78
Burnett, S 2.0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2.52
Slaten 1.0 0 0 0 0 1 0 2.63
Totals 9.0 9 1 1 0 10 0 4.12
Pitches-strikes: Bannister, B 84-48, Tejeda 21-16, Soria 14-9, Strasburg 95-75, Burnett, S 17-9, Slaten 14-9.
Groundouts-flyouts: Bannister, B 9-3, Tejeda 2-1, Soria 1-0, Strasburg 3-4, Burnett, S 5-0, Slaten 2-0.
Batters faced: Bannister, B 23, Tejeda 7, Soria 3, Strasburg 28, Burnett, S 6, Slaten 3.
Umpires: HP: Hunter Wendelstedt. 1B: Mike Winters. 2B: Jerry Layne. 3B: Brian Runge.
Weather: 93 degrees, partly cloudy.
Wind: 3 mph, L to R.
T: 2:30.
Att: 31,913

Rain delay, Royals can't stop Atilano

By Greg Rosenstein / MLB.com

WASHINGTON -- Not even heavy rain and lightening could stop the Nationals on Tuesday night, as strong pitching from right-hander Luis Atilano carried them to a 4-3 win against the Royals at Nationals Park.

Rain delay, Royals can't stop Atilano....

Kansas City AB R H RBI BB SO LOB AVG
Podsednik, LF 3 0 1 3 1 0 0 .293
Kendall, C 5 0 0 0 0 1 5 .256
DeJesus, D, CF 4 0 1 0 0 1 2 .322
Butler, 1B 4 0 0 0 0 1 3 .325
Guillen, J, RF 4 0 2 0 0 0 1 .272
Callaspo, 3B 4 1 2 0 0 0 1 .277
Aviles, M, 2B 3 1 1 0 0 1 2 .323
Texeira, K, P 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
a-Betemit, PH 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .471
Betancourt, Y, SS 4 0 2 0 0 0 2 .272
Lerew, P 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .000
Hughes, D, P 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
Getz, 2B 2 0 1 0 0 0 3 .213
Totals 35 3 11 3 1 5 19 .280
a-Singled for Texeira, K in the 9th.
BATTING
2B: Getz (3, Storen, D).
TB: Podsednik; DeJesus, D; Guillen, J 2; Callaspo 2; Aviles, M; Betemit; Betancourt, Y 2; Getz 2.
RBI: Podsednik 3 (31).
2-out RBI: Podsednik 2.
Runners left in scoring position, 2 out: Betancourt, Y; Kendall 2; Butler.
S: Lerew.
SF: Podsednik.
GIDP: Guillen, J.
Team RISP: 2-for-10.
Team LOB: 8.

Washington AB R H RBI BB SO LOB AVG
Morgan, CF 3 0 0 1 0 0 1 .247
Guzman, C, SS-2B 4 1 2 0 0 0 2 .303
Zimmerman, R, 3B 4 0 2 1 0 0 2 .287
Dunn, A, 1B 4 1 1 1 0 0 2 .275
Capps, P 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
Willingham, LF 4 1 3 1 0 0 0 .274
Rodriguez, I, C 4 1 1 0 0 1 2 .315
Bernadina, RF 4 0 1 0 0 1 2 .285
Kennedy, A, 2B-1B 3 0 1 0 1 0 1 .240
Atilano, L, P 2 0 0 0 0 1 3 .045
Peralta, Jo, P 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
a-Gonzalez, Al, PH 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .278
Storen, D, P 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1.000
Clippard, P 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1.000
b-Desmond, PH-SS 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .254
Totals 34 4 11 4 1 3 16 .257
a-Popped out for Peralta, Jo in the 6th. b-Flied out for Clippard in the 8th.
BATTING
2B: Willingham 2 (11, Lerew, Lerew), Zimmerman, R (15, Lerew).
HR: Willingham (13, 4th inning off Lerew, 0 on, 0 out), Dunn, A (17, 5th inning off Lerew, 0 on, 1 out).
TB: Guzman, C 2; Zimmerman, R 3; Dunn, A 4; Willingham 8; Rodriguez, I; Bernadina; Kennedy, A.
RBI: Zimmerman, R (37), Willingham (41), Morgan (10), Dunn, A (41).
2-out RBI: Zimmerman, R.
Runners left in scoring position, 2 out: Kennedy, A; Dunn, A; Guzman, C 2; Bernadina; Zimmerman, R.
SF: Morgan.
Team RISP: 1-for-10.
Team LOB: 8.

BASERUNNING
SB: Kennedy, A (9, 2nd base off Lerew/Kendall).

FIELDING
DP: (Guzman, C-Kennedy, A-Dunn, A).

Kansas City IP H R ER BB SO HR ERA
Lerew(L, 0-1) 5.1 10 4 4 1 2 2 4.76
Hughes, D 1.0 1 0 0 0 0 0 3.20
Texeira, K 1.2 0 0 0 0 1 0 3.94
Totals 8.0 11 4 4 1 3 2 4.86
Washington IP H R ER BB SO HR ERA
Atilano, L(W, 6-4) 5.1 6 1 1 0 5 0 4.52
Peralta, Jo(H, 1) 0.2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.00
Storen, D(H, 5) 1.0 1 0 0 1 0 0 2.08
Clippard(H, 16) 1.0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1.58
Capps(S, 22) 1.0 4 2 2 0 0 0 3.51
Totals 9.0 11 3 3 1 5 0 4.17
Storen, D pitched to 2 batters in the 8th.

Pitches-strikes: Lerew 86-57, Hughes, D 14-10, Texeira, K 20-12, Atilano, L 84-58, Peralta, Jo 4-3, Storen, D 21-13, Clippard 15-10, Capps 20-16.
Groundouts-flyouts: Lerew 9-5, Hughes, D 0-3, Texeira, K 3-1, Atilano, L 6-2, Peralta, Jo 2-0, Storen, D 2-1, Clippard 1-2, Capps 0-3.
Batters faced: Lerew 27, Hughes, D 4, Texeira, K 5, Atilano, L 22, Peralta, Jo 1, Storen, D 5, Clippard 3, Capps 7.
Inherited runners-scored: Hughes, D 1-0, Peralta, Jo 1-0, Clippard 2-0.
Umpires: HP: Brian Runge. 1B: Hunter Wendelstedt. 2B: Mike Winters. 3B: Jerry Layne.
Weather: 93 degrees, partly cloudy.
Wind: 5 mph, In from LF.
T: 2:45 (:49 delay).
Att: 21,168

Two homers provide only offense in Nats' win

By Greg Rosenstein / MLB.com

WASHINGTON -- Coming off one of his worst starts of the season, a loss to the Tigers on June 16, right-hander Livan Hernandez had something to prove entering Monday's matchup against Kansas City.

He also wanted to be the pitcher to end the Nationals' six-game losing streak.

Both were accomplished in the Nationals' 2-1 win against the Royals at Nationals Park.

Two homers provide only offense in Nats' win....

Kansas City AB R H RBI BB SO LOB AVG
Podsednik, LF 4 0 4 0 0 0 0 .293
Kendall, C 3 0 0 1 0 0 4 .261
DeJesus, D, CF 4 0 0 0 0 0 2 .323
Butler, 1B 4 0 1 0 0 2 1 .330
Guillen, J, RF 4 0 1 0 0 0 1 .269
1-Bloomquist, PR 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .190
Callaspo, 3B 4 0 1 0 0 2 2 .273
Aviles, M, 2B 4 0 3 0 0 1 1 .323
Betancourt, Y, SS 3 1 0 0 1 2 3 .268
Chen, B, P 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 1.000
a-Betemit, PH 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .438
Tejeda, P 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
b-Maier, PH 1 0 0 0 0 1 2 .262
Totals 33 1 11 1 1 9 17 .279
a-Struck out for Chen, B in the 7th. b-Struck out for Tejeda in the 9th.
1-Ran for Guillen, J in the 9th.
BATTING
2B: Butler (23, Hernandez, L), Podsednik (5, Hernandez, L).
TB: Podsednik 5; Butler 2; Guillen, J; Callaspo; Aviles, M 3; Chen, B.
RBI: Kendall (23).
Runners left in scoring position, 2 out: Aviles, M; DeJesus, D; Kendall; Butler; Maier.
S: Chen, B; Kendall.
Team RISP: 1-for-11.
Team LOB: 8.

BASERUNNING
CS: Aviles, M (3, 2nd base by Hernandez, L/Rodriguez, I), Podsednik (7, 2nd base by Hernandez, L/Rodriguez, I).
PO: Callaspo (2nd base by Rodriguez, I).

FIELDING
DP: (Aviles, M-Betancourt, Y-Butler).
Pickoffs: Chen, B (Morgan at 1st base).

Washington AB R H RBI BB SO LOB AVG
Morgan, CF 2 0 1 0 1 0 0 .250
Guzman, C, 2B 3 1 1 1 1 0 2 .300
Zimmerman, R, 3B 1 0 0 0 3 1 2 .283
Dunn, A, 1B 4 0 0 0 0 0 5 .275
Capps, P 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
Willingham, LF 3 0 0 0 0 1 2 .265
Rodriguez, I, C 3 0 0 0 0 2 1 .316
Morse, RF 3 1 1 1 0 0 0 .390
Clippard, P 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1.000
Kennedy, A, 1B 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .238
Desmond, SS 3 0 0 0 0 2 0 .256
Hernandez, L, P 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 .125
Bernadina, RF 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .286
Totals 25 2 4 2 5 6 12 .256
BATTING
HR: Morse (3, 2nd inning off Chen, B, 0 on, 2 out), Guzman, C (1, 6th inning off Chen, B, 0 on, 1 out).
TB: Morgan; Guzman, C 4; Morse 4; Bernadina.
RBI: Morse (6), Guzman, C (20).
2-out RBI: Morse.
Runners left in scoring position, 2 out: Rodriguez, I; Dunn, A.
S: Morgan.
GIDP: Guzman, C.
Team RISP: 0-for-3.
Team LOB: 5.

BASERUNNING
CS: Morgan (11, 2nd base by Chen, B/Kendall).
PO: Morgan (1st base by Chen, B).

FIELDING
Pickoffs: Rodriguez, I (Callaspo at 2nd base).

Kansas City IP H R ER BB SO HR ERA
Chen, B(L, 3-2) 6.0 3 2 2 4 3 2 3.96
Tejeda 2.0 1 0 0 1 3 0 3.93
Totals 8.0 4 2 2 5 6 2 4.86
Washington IP H R ER BB SO HR ERA
Hernandez, L(W, 6-4) 7.0 8 1 1 1 5 0 2.82
Clippard(H, 15) 1.0 1 0 0 0 1 0 1.61
Capps(S, 21) 1.0 2 0 0 0 3 0 3.06
Totals 9.0 11 1 1 1 9 0 4.18
WP: Chen, B.
Pitches-strikes: Chen, B 96-57, Tejeda 33-24, Hernandez, L 99-65, Clippard 13-8, Capps 15-11.
Groundouts-flyouts: Chen, B 3-9, Tejeda 1-1, Hernandez, L 8-3, Clippard 1-1, Capps 0-0.
Batters faced: Chen, B 23, Tejeda 8, Hernandez, L 27, Clippard 4, Capps 5.
Umpires: HP: Jerry Layne. 1B: Brian Runge. 2B: Hunter Wendelstedt. 3B: Mike Winters.
Weather: 88 degrees, clear.
Wind: 5 mph, In from LF.
T: 2:40.
Att: 13,592