/cdn.vox-cdn.com/photo_images/8416406/20120812_mje_as8_217.jpg)
• Ross Detwiler wasn't feeling great. Craig Stammen wasn't at his best. Arizona D-Backs' lefty Patrick Corbin had a strong start. The Washington Nationals lost a game on Sunday. The Nationals eight-game win streak is over. PANIC!!! Ryan Zimmerman told reporters after the game, including AP reporter Bob Baum, that unfortunately, you can't win them all. "As much as I wish,'" the Nats' third baseman said, "'We weren't going to win every game the rest of the season.'" Nats' skipper Davey Johnson was impressed with what Ross Detwiler was able to accomplish considering what he was dealing with on Sunday. "It was a gutty performance on [Detwiler's] part," Johnson said, "Because he was hurting." The Nationals took two of three from the D-Backs. They now head to San Francisco for a three-game series with the NL West's 1st Place Giants. Gio Gonzalez vs Ryan Vogelsong tonight in AT&T Park. Gio's coming off a complete game performance against the Astros. Vogelsong's coming off a win over the Cardinals in which he threw 7.0 scoreless. You'll have to stay up until 10:00 pm EDT to see it. Take a nap at work, they won't mind. These links should keep you busy until you fall asleep. It's going to be a late night, take a nap!! RIGHT NOW!!!!:
• THE BIG STORY!!!:
• "It's likely that [Stephen] Strasburg, who has thrown 133 1/3 innings this season, will throw no more than 180, although according to the source, the righty could exceed 160, which was originally believed to be his limit for the season." - "Nationals ace Stephen Strasburg may throw as many as 180 innings this season" - Bill Ladson, nationals.com: News
• NATS BEAT:
• "The Nationals‘ recent play inspires a similar sense of disorientation because, well, Washington hasn’t exactly been the capital of the hardball universe over the decades." - "Nationals unscathed after their trial by fire" - Dan Daly, Washington Times
• "[Bryce] Harper made a wide turn and bolted for second, a sure thing until first base umpire Mike Murchlinski blocked his path." - "Bryce Harper’s adventurous first inning" - Adam Kilgore, Nationals Journal - The Washington Post
• "[Ross] Detwiler never appeared to be hit that hard, and he stuck with his formula to throw almost exclusively fastballs, but there were small issues that snowballed." - "Nationals-Diamondbacks: Bats don't have a cure for ailing Ross Detwiler" - Amanda Comak, Washington Times
• "The Nationals were sloppy out of the gate and put themselves in a 7-0 hole, though they did try to mount a furious rally late and brought the tying run to the plate with two outs in the ninth." - "Nats cope with a rare loss" - Mark Zuckerman, CSNWashington.com
• "They put up a nice fight, but the Nationals fell to the D'backs 7-4, failing to earn a sweep in the three-game set." - "Nationals Pastime: Not the best showing in the desert (Nats lose 7-4)" - Dan Kolko, MASNSports.com
• "If there was any question beforehand, Jordan Zimmermann's latest outing has catapulted him firmly into the National League Cy Young Award race." - "The Baseball Page: Aug. 12, 2012" - Brian McNally, WashingtonExaminer.com
• "The Nationals, whose rotation boasts an Major League-best 3.22 ERA, continue their road trip against the Giants, owners of the fifth-best starters' ERA at 3.55." - "Washington Nationals at San Francisco Giants - August 13, 2012" - Mike Fiammetta, MLB.com Preview
• "[Christian] Garcia has not allowed an earned run since June and is throwing 97 mph fastballs with life. Garcia is 2-0 with a 0.79 ERA in the minors this season." - "Hip soreness puts Wang's season in jeopardy; Garcia possible call-up?" - Byron Kerr, MASNSports.com
• "A major theme of the season, which has surpassed most all external expectations, has been how the Nationals have withstood injuries." - "How the Nationals have exceeded expectations" - Adam Kilgore, Nationals Journal - The Washington Post
• "Since [Kurt] Suzuki arrived on Aug. 3 he'd never been part of a Nationals game that didn't end with handshakes and high-fives on the field." - "Nationals head to San Francisco for important test" - Amanda Comak, Washington Times
• "Make no bones about it, [Bryce] Harper is in a prolonged slump at the plate." - "Instant analysis: D'backs 7, Nats 4" - Mark Zuckerman, NatsInsider.com
• "'As much as I wish,' [Ryan Zimmerman] said, 'we weren't going to win every game the rest of the season.'" - "Corbin, Arizona end Nationals' 8-game win streak" - Bob Baum, AP/WTOP.com
• "The Nationals are expected to call up right-handed reliever Christian Garcia to the big leagues when rosters expand to 40 men on Sept. 1, according to a baseball source." - "When rosters expand, Garcia may boost Nats" - Bill Ladson, nationals.com: News
• "Yesterday's game put them 31 days into a stretch in which they play 35 games in 34 days. So far, they're an impressive 22-10 during that span." - "Nationals Pastime: Some of this, some of that" - Dan Kolko, MASNSports.com
• "On Saturday, [Roger] Bernadina walked up to [Mark] DeRosa, patted him on the shoulder and said, only half-kidding, 'This is the guy who changed my life.'" - "Lighter bat behind Roger Bernadina’s offensive surge" - Adam Kilgore, Nationals Journal - The Washington Post
• "The tone was set early, when Bryce Harper singled with one out in the first, collided with umpire Mike Muchlinski as he rounded the base and ended up getting picked off, slipping between first and second." - "Washington Nationals at Arizona Diamondbacks - August 12, 2012" - Adam Berry, MLB.com WSH Recap
• "Since [Kurt] Suzuki arrived on Aug. 3 he'd never been part of a Nationals game that didn't end with handshakes and high-fives on the field." - "Nationals head to San Francisco for important test" - Amanda Comak, Washington Times
• "Ryan Mattheus said Saturday night that the Nationals bullpen's confidence is 'at an all-time high.'" - "Nats bullpen beaming with confidence" - Adam Berry, nationals.com: News
• "Since leaving the District with a disappointing four-game split against the Nats on July 22, the Braves have gained no ground at all." - "Nationals holding Braves at bay so far" - Brian McNally, WashingtonExaminer.com
• "They've covered the storyline where their starting pitcher dominates and carries the team to a win. We've seen that one a few times." - "Nationals Pastime: Finding new ways to keep on winning" - Dan Kolko, MASNSports.com
• "A 10-game road trip is a challenge for any club, owners of the best record in baseball or not." - "Bay Area battle awaits Nats" - Mark Zuckerman, NatsInsider.com
• "With 49 games remaining, the thinking goes, it would be bad form for the club with Major League Baseball’s best record to suddenly become chatty about its obviously strong position." - "Washington Nationals, with the playoffs in their sights, have a few storylines to watch" - Jason Reid, The Washington Post
• "As much as the Nationals have been winning since the All-Star break, the Braves have stayed right on their heels." - "Despite torrid stretch, Braves on Nats' heels" - Adam Berry, nationals.com: News
• "As Ross Detwiler fought through stomach illness and sinus issues, Diamondbacks rookie starter Patrick Corbin faced the minimum through the first six innings." - "Nationals vs. Diamondbacks: Washington’s winning streak halted at eight games in 7-4 loss" - Adam Kilgore, The Washington Post
• NATS MINORS:
• Class-A Short Season Auburn: "Four of Auburn's five first-inning runs came thanks to one swing of the bat by 3B Carlos Lopez, who belted a 2-0 pitch over the left field fall for the Doubledays' third grand slam of the summer." - "Lopez powers Doubledays past Scrappers 8-4" - Eli Pearlstein, Auburn Doubledays News
• Class-A Short Season Auburn: "Chris Marrero hit a double off the right-centerfield wall to bring in Spencer Kieboom, and Shawn Pleffner followed with an RBI single in the seventh." - "Lopez hits grand slam in D-days win" - Jeremy Houghtaling, The Auburn Citizen
• Class-A Potomac: Dash 7, P-Nats 0 - Anthony Rendon - 0 for 2, 2 Ks; Alex Meyer - 6.0 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 7 Ks - Potomac Nationals Scoreboard
• "Washington Nationals prospects Alex Meyer and Anthony Rendon at Potomac" - Dave Nichols (w/ photos by Cheryl Nichols), District Sports Page
• Double-A Harrisburg: Mets 7, Senators 2 - Sean Nicol - 3 for 4; Paul Demny - 2.2 IP, 8 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 3 BB, 2 Ks - Harrisburg Senators Scoreboard
• Triple-A Syracuse: "But [Yunesky] Maya would settle down from there. He retired the next 10 batters he faced and allowed just three hits and one run in five innings." - "Chiefs split doubleheader with Yankees" - Syracuse Chiefs News
• Triple-A Syracuse: "Yunesky Maya is making a case that he could be ready for the big leagues again." - "Chiefs split doubleheader with Yankees" - Ben Meyers, The Auburn Citizen
• "Monday’s News & Notes" - Luke Erickson, NationalsProspects.com
• NATSTOWN:
• "I still think it’s disgraceful. The fact of the matter is that this is a young stud. Somebody’s got to figure something out." - Stephen A. Smith - "Stephen A. Smith says Nats handling of Strasburg is ‘disgraceful'" - Dan Steinberg, DC Sports Bog - The Washington Post
• "Now, with just 47 games left in the season, no one can say they could have predicted what has happened." - "The Race For The NL East Pennant With Eight Weeks Left" - Patrick Hilley, The Nats Blog
• "August 13, 1926 - In the only game played today in baseball, Lou Gehrig‘s two home runs help lead New York over Washington, 7-5." - "This Date in Washington Senators History" - Art Audley, D.C. Baseball History
• "When Christian Garcia signed with the Nationals last July, the move came with little fanfare." - "Christian Garcia: a story of redemption" - Sean Hogan, DC Is For Baseball
• "You can cross 'collide with an umpire' off the list of Bryce Harper's Big League firsts now." - "Bryce Harper's first ever collision with an umpire as a Big Leaguer" - Nats Enquirer
• "Hunter Pence on the Washington Nationals" - Ouij, Natstradamus
• "Today is one of the best days of the year. It is the first day of Shark Week." - "SHARK WEEK IS HERE"- Sharkadina
• "Next up is the Giants. The Nats miss Matt Cain, but Vogelsong, Bumgarner, and a revitalized Lincecum are nothing to sneeze at." - "Monday Quickie : Normalcy" - Harper, Nationals Baseball
• NL EAST UPDATES:
• Braves: "Since getting healthy [Freddie Freeman] has a .327 average with six homers, 37 RBIs and a .946 OPS in his past 45 games, including .362 (17-for-47) with 14 RBIs in his last 13 games before tonight’s series finale against the Mets on ESPN." - +"Freeman’s surge continues with ‘mammo’ homer" - David O'Brien, Atlanta Journal-Constitution
• Mets: "When it was over, the exhaling Mets avoided a sweep by the Braves, winning, 6-5, in the finale of a three-game series." - "Bullpen nearly blows lead, but NY Mets halt losing ways as Jordany Valdespin homers" - Andy Martino, NY Daily News
• Marlins: "Jose Reyes saved the Marlins from being on the wrong end of history for the second time this season." - "Miami Marlins stymied in loss to Dodgers" - Andre C. Fernandez, MiamiHerald.com
• Phillies: "'I'm still playing a kids game,' [Juan] Pierre said. 'No matter where you are in the standings, to win a big-league game is always special, and I never want to take that for granted.'" - "Juan Pierre gets it done with 11th inning walk-off single in Phillies' win over St. Louis Cardinals" - David Murphy, Philly.com