Nats edge Tigers to complete sweep

Washington, DC –  Adam LaRoche and Ryan Zimmerman each recorded multiple hits and drove in a run as the Washington Nationals completed a two-game interleague sweep with a 5-4 victory over Detroit on Thursday.

Bryce Harper and Ian Desmond also supplied an RBI apiece for the Nationals, who have won four straight and six of seven. Starter Dan Haren (4-3) allowed four runs on nine hits and struck out three over six innings.

"We've come a long way in a week," Haren said, "and we're still not at full strength."

Matt Tuiasosopo hit a three-run homer in the sixth inning for Detroit, which saw starter Doug Fister (4-1) pick up his first loss of the season. The right- hander drove in the Tigers' other run with an RBI single, but lasted just three frames and allowed eight hits and five runs -- four earned -- while striking out four in defeat.

Detroit dropped both games of this series following a four-game sweep of Houston.

Trailing 5-1 entering the top of the sixth, Detroit rallied with Tuiasosopo's pinch-hit three-run jack.

Haren opened up the inning by generating two quick outs, in between issuing a walk to Jhonny Peralta, and Omar Infante kept the frame alive with a bunt single. Tuiasosopo, though, pinch-hit for reliever Darin Downs and crushed Haren's 2-1 offering over the left field wall to cut the Tigers' deficit to 5-4.

Rafael Soriano added to Washington's solid bullpen performance by working around a two-out single in the ninth to earn his 12th save of the season.

The Nationals jumped on Fister early and plated three runs in the first. Denard Span and Roger Bernadina opened up the game with a double and single, respectively, and Harper grounded into a fielder's choice to plate the first run.

Ryan Zimmerman followed with a poke to left to moving Harper to second and Adam LaRoche smacked a single up the middle, though Austin Jackson's fielding error in center allowed Harper to score and gave the Nats a 2-0 edge. Desmond returned the favor and made it 3-0 with another single up the middle, plating Zimmerman to finish the scoring.

In the second, Fister helped his own cause with an RBI single to center, bringing home Peralta to put the Tigers on the board. It also broke an 0- for-29 slump from Detroit pitchers.

Washington poured on two more runs in the bottom of the frame. Fister plunked Span with one out and then issued a walk to Bernadina. The right-hander looked to settle down as he struck out Harper, but then gave up back-to-back two-out RBI singles by Zimmerman and LaRoche, which gave the home team a 5-1 lead.

Game Notes

The game was originally scheduled for Tuesday, but the contest was postponed due to rain ... Fister's RBI single was the first for a Tigers pitcher since 2009 ... Haren, who allowed more than three earned runs for the first time since his debut on April 5, is 4-0 in five starts versus Detroit since 2008 ... The Nationals improved to 13-0 this season when scoring five or more runs.

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Nats' bullpen combines for 3 scoreless innings, hangs on to beat Tigers 5-4 for 2-game sweep

Published May 09, 2013

Associated Press

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  Washington Nationals relief pitcher Rafael Soriano (29) untucks his jersey as the Nationals defeat the Detroit Tigers 5-4 in a baseball game, Thursday, May 9, 2013, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)The Associated Press

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  Washington Nationals relief pitcher Rafael Soriano, right, celebrates a 5-4 win over the Detroit Tigers with catcher Wilson Ramos, left, in a baseball game, Thursday, May 9, 2013, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)The Associated Press

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  Washington Nationals' Bryce Harper, left, is safe on an attempted pick-off play at second by Detroit Tigers shortstop Jhonny Peralta, right, during the first inning of a baseball game, Thursday, May 9, 2013, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)The Associated Press

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  Washington Nationals right fielder Bryce Harper (34) catches a liner by Detroit Tigers' Alex Avila during the fourth inning of a baseball game, Thursday, May 9, 2013, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)The Associated Press

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  Detroit Tigers' Matt Tuiasosopo watches his three-run home run during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Washington Nationals, Thursday, May 9, 2013, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)The Associated Press

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WASHINGTON –  Ryan Mattheus, Drew Storen and Rafael Soriano combined for shutout relief after Dan Haren nearly squandered a four-run lead, and the Washington Nationals beat the Detroit Tigers 5-4 Thursday to complete a two-game sweep of the AL champions.

Adam LaRoche singled in the first and second innings for his first consecutive multihit games this season, helping the Nationals to their first four-game winning streak of the year. Ryan Zimmerman, in a 2-for-14 slide coming in, had three hits.

Bryce Harper hit an RBI groundout in the first following Denard Span's leadoff double, and Harper came home from second when LaRoche singled and centerfielder Austin Jackson let the ball get past him for an error. Ian Desmond followed with a run-scoring single for a 3-1 lead.

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Lackey sharp in return as Red Sox complete sweep of Astros

Published April 28, 2013

Sports Network

Boston, MA –  Stephen Drew and David Ortiz each drove in a pair of runs while John Lackey pitched six strong innings for the Boston Red Sox, who completed a four-game sweep of the Houston Astros with a 6-1 win at Fenway Park.

Lackey (1-1), activated from the 15-day disabled list prior to the game, needed just 81 pitches to get through six innings in his second outing of the season. He allowed a run and five hits to go with four strikeouts as Boston completed its third series sweep of the season and retained the best record in the major leagues.

Daniel Nava and Matt Carp each had two hits for the Sox. Nava also scored three runs and ended the game with a diving catch out in right field.

Bud Norris (3-3) recorded the loss for Houston after surrendering five runs -- three earned -- on nine hits in six innings of work.

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A's score early, hold on to sweep Astros

Oakland, CA –  Jed Lowrie had two hits, one RBI and one run scored, while Bartolo Colon pitched six strong innings as the Oakland Athletics swept a three-game series from the Houston Astros for the second time this season with a 7-5 victory.

Josh Reddick drove in two runs with a double for Oakland, which has won 12 of 14 after dropping its first two games of the season. John Jaso added an RBI, two hits and a run scored and Seth Smith went 3-for-5.

Colon (2-0) yielded one run on four hits and struck out three in the victory.

Carlos Pena and Rick Ankiel each hit solo homers for the Astros, who have dropped five straight. Starter Bud Norris (2-2) lasted only two-thirds of an inning and gave up six runs on five hits while walking three batters. He threw 46 pitches before exiting.

Norris also struggled in a 6-3 loss to Oakland on April 6, allowing five runs - two earned - while throwing 122 pitches in 5 2/3 innings.

Houston made it a 1-0 game in the first inning. With one out, Chris Carter's fielder's choice scored Jose Altuve, who singled to lead off the frame.

The lead was short-lived, though, as Jaso doubled just inside the left-field line to lead off the first frame for the home team. Chris Young plated Jaso to make it 1-1 with a single to left-center. After Smith hit an infield single, Lowrie drew a walk to load the bases with no outs.

Josh Donaldson fouled out to first base, but Reddick followed and made the most of the opportunity with a two-run double to right field to make it 3-1. Derek Norris walked to once again load the bases and Eric Sogard hit a line drive through the right side scoring Lowrie.

The inning still wasn't done, as Shane Peterson drew a walk to make it 5-1 and Jaso, batting for the second time in the frame, hit a fielder's choice to second base scoring Norris which made it 6-1. Lowrie's fielders choice in the fourth scored Peterson to make it 7-1.

The Astros still trailed by six in the seventh, before Pena came through with a one-out solo blast to right to make it 7-2. Later in the frame, Marwin Gonzalez singled to center to score Brandon Barnes and Altuve followed with an RBI single to right to cut the deficit to 7-4.

Ankiel knocked a pinch-hit solo home run to right-center in the ninth off Grant Balfour. After Matt Dominguez singled to left, Balfour got Gonzalez to ground into a force out at second and Altuve's chopper turned into an easy double play which ended the game and gave the righty reliever his third save of the year.

Game Notes

Colon beat the Astros in his first start of the year and is 5-2 over eight starts in his career ... Norris joined fellow Astros pitcher Erik Bedard (April 15 versus Oakland) as the second Houston starter this season to last two-thirds innings or fewer and allow six-plus earned runs ... Oakland has won 11 straight versus AL West foes.

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Nationals complete sweep of Marlins

Published April 04, 2013

Sports Network

Washington, DC –  Jayson Werth hit a three-run homer and scored twice as the Washington Nationals beat the Miami Marlins, 6-1, to complete a three-game sweep.

Ryan Zimmerman went 3-for-3 with two RBI for the Nationals, who had never swept their initial series of a season. Bryce Harper went 2-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored.

Jordan Zimmermann (1-0) gave up one run on eight hits over six innings to pick up the win. The right-hander went 12-8 with a 2.94 ERA in 32 games last season.

Justin Ruggiano hit a homer for the Marlins, who were outscored by an 11-1 margin in the series. Wade LeBlanc (0-1) got the start and allowed three runs -- two earned -- on five hits over five innings.

The Nationals scored all the runs they would need in the first inning. With one out, Werth and Harper hit consecutive singles. Zimmerman followed with a two-run double off the wall in center.

Miami's lone run of the series came in the second. Ruggiano led off the frame with a blast to right, cutting the gap to 2-1.

Washington got the run back in the third after Denard Span reached first on a bunt single, moved to second on LeBlanc's throwing error and scored on Harper's single to right.

Werth's homer in the seventh gave the Nationals some breathing room. Wilson Ramos singled, moved to second on a sacrifice bunt and advanced to third on Mike Dunn's wild pitch. Span walked to put men on the corners for Werth, who cleared the wall in left-center field.

Henry Rodriguez, Tyler Clippard and Craig Stammen each tossed a scoreless inning of relief to secure the victory.

Game Notes

The Nationals signed pitcher Chris Young to a minor league deal on Thursday ... Harper has now hit safely in a career-high 12 straight games dating to Sept. 24 of last season ... The Marlins plan to put first baseman Casey Kotchman on the 15-day disabled list on Friday with a strained left hamstring ... Miami went 0-for-6 with runners in scoring position and stranded eight.

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Niemi, Wingels star as Sharks sweep a pair from Ducks

Published March 28, 2013

Sports Network

San Jose, CA –  Antti Niemi stopped all 22 shots he faced, while Tommy Wingels added a career-high three points on a goal and two assists, as San Jose downed Anaheim, 4-0, to sweep a home-and-home series from HP Pavilion.

Joe Pavelski, Patrick Marleau and Brent Burns scored early in the first period for the Sharks, who took a 5-3 decision in Anaheim on Monday and have won three of their last four.

Jonas Hiller made 25 saves in defeat for the Ducks, who extended their season- long losing skid to four games.

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Hurricanes knock off Panthers, sweep weekend set

Sunrise, FL –  Jordan Staal scored the eventual game-winner to help the Carolina Hurricanes sweep a home-and-home set with a 3-2 victory over the Florida Panthers.

Justin Faulk and Alexander Semin each had a goal for the Hurricanes, who have won three straight and four of their last five.

Cam Ward started in net and stopped all 15 shots he faced before leaving in the second period with a leg injury. Dan Ellis allowed two goals on 21 shots in relief.

Jonathan Huberdeau scored both goals for the Panthers, who have dropped three straight and five of six. Scott Clemmensen allowed three goals on 24 shots in the loss.

Clemmensen was called upon after it was reported earlier Sunday by a Canadian broadcast outlet that usual starter Jose Theodore has a torn right groin and may require surgery. Later on, the Panthers reported Theodore and defenseman Dmitry Kulikov were placed on injured reserve.

The Hurricanes took a 1-0 lead with 1:52 left to play in the opening frame when Faulk's one-timer from the right point found its way through traffic.

It was a 2-0 game one minute later when Semin left the puck at the right point for Jiri Tlustly, who then fed the puck down to Semin as he was behind the defense and slid the puck in for his fifth of the season.

The score was 3-0 at the 6:10 mark of the second when Jeff Skinner came around the net from the right side and sent it out from where Staal one-timed it home.

Florida, though, made it a two-goal game with 3:55 to play in the second as Peter Mueller's pass from the right boards went to the slot where Huberdeau re-directed it into the net.

Late in the game with Clemmensen pulled for an extra attacker, the Panthers cut their deficit to one. Brian Campbell was stopped on a breakaway, but Mueller picked up the puck and from the left boards he sent it to the right where Huberdeau was all alone for his 10th of the season with 54.6 seconds left.

The hosts were unable to get any pressure in the Carolina end before time expired.

Game Notes

Florida recalled goaltender Jacob Markstrom from San Antonio of the AHL, but Markstrom's pads arrived late, causing goaltending coach Rob Tallas to take warmups as Clemmensen's backup ... The Panthers also recalled defenseman Nolan Yonkman from San Antonio ... Carolina hosts Buffalo on Tuesday ... Florida hosts Winnipeg on Tuesday ... The Hurricanes have won two of the three games with the Panthers this season ... Carolina was 0-for-2 on the power play while Florida was 0-for-1.

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