Cardinals rookie Michael Wacha, making his ninth career start, loses his no-hit bid with two outs in the ninth inning on Ryan Zimmerman’s infield single in the team’s 2-0 victory over the Nationals at Busch Stadium. The 22 year-old Redbird right-hander, taken out of the game after the hit, becomes the third pitcher this season to have a no-hitter broken up with one out to go, joining Yu Darvish of the Ranger and the Giants’ Yusmeiro Petit, both who had perfect games after facing 26 batters.

ByThis Day in Baseball

Cardinals rookie Michael Wacha, making his ninth career start, loses his no-hit bid with two outs in the ninth inning on Ryan Zimmerman’s infield single in the team’s 2-0 victory over the Nationals at Busch Stadium. The 22 year-old Redbird right-hander, taken out of the game after the hit, becomes the third pitcher this season to have a no-hitter broken up with one out to go, joining Yu Darvish of the Ranger and the Giants’ Yusmeiro Petit, both who had perfect games after facing 26 batters.

Teddy Roosevelt finally beats George, Abe, and Tom to the finish line, winning the Presidents Race for the first time

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On October 3, 2012 After getting off to a slow start in the regular-season finale against Philadelphia, Teddy Roosevelt finally beats George, Abe, and Tom to the finish line, winning the Presidents Race for the first time since the popular race made its debut at RFK Stadium in 2006. The victory, the mascot’s first in…

The Nationals announce that they are shutting down ace pitcher Stephen Strasburg 

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The Nationals announce that they are shutting down ace pitcher Stephen Strasburg in order to limit his innings on the mound in his first full season since undergoing Tommy John surgery. While other teams have taken similar decisions in the past, it is the first time a team involved in a pennant race has deliberately taken one of its top pitchers out of action of its own volition. Strasburg is 15-6, 3.16, with 197 strikeouts in 159 1/3 innings. His absence will be sorely felt when the Nats drop a five-game NLDS series to the Cardinals next month, in large part because of a lack of pitching depth.

The Phillies defeat the Nationals, 9 – 3, as Hunter Pence hits a pair of two-run homers in support of Cole Hamels’ pitching. Washington’s sole highlight comes in the the 1st, when rookie Bryce Harper pulls off a steal of home on a pick-off throw to first; Harper had reached base on a hit-by-pitch which Hamels later admits was a deliberate gesture aimed at the phenom’s cocky attitude after barely a week in the bigs; he will be suspended for five games as a result. In the 6th inning, RF Jayson Werth breaks his wrist in attempting a sliding catch in the outfield and will be out until August, a tough break for the Nats who have managed to stay in first place in spite of the absence of two other key players, Ryan Zimmerman and Michael Morse, who are both injured.

The Phillies defeat the Nationals, 9 – 3, as Hunter Pence hits a pair of two-run homers in support of Cole Hamels’ pitching. Washington’s sole highlight comes in the the 1st, when rookie Bryce Harper pulls off a steal of home on a pick-off throw to first; Harper had reached base on a hit-by-pitch which Hamels later admits was a deliberate gesture aimed at the phenom’s cocky attitude after barely a week in the bigs; he will be suspended for five games as a result. In the 6th inning, RF Jayson Werth breaks his wrist in attempting a sliding catch in the outfield and will be out until August, a tough break for the Nats who have managed to stay in first place in spite of the absence of two other key players, Ryan Zimmerman and Michael Morse, who are both injured.

ByThis Day in Baseball

The Phillies defeat the Nationals, 9 – 3, as Hunter Pence hits a pair of two-run homers in support of Cole Hamels’ pitching. Washington’s sole highlight comes in the the 1st, when rookie Bryce Harper pulls off a steal of home on a pick-off throw to first; Harper had reached base on a hit-by-pitch which Hamels later admits was a deliberate gesture aimed at the phenom’s cocky attitude after barely a week in the bigs; he will be suspended for five games as a result. In the 6th inning, RF Jayson Werth breaks his wrist in attempting a sliding catch in the outfield and will be out until August, a tough break for the Nats who have managed to stay in first place in spite of the absence of two other key players, Ryan Zimmerman and Michael Morse, who are both injured.

The Nationals announce Rob Dibble is terminated for comments about Stephen Strasburg

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The Nationals announce Rob Dibble will no longer be employed as a TV analyst for the team’s games on MASN, the network that telecasts the Washington games. The former major league reliever, as a host on a Sirius XM Radio show, severely chastises Stephen Strasburg for not pitching through pain, before the rookie phenom is diagnosed with a torn elbow ligament. “This is the major leagues. This is not college any more. You’re not on scholarship. You’re being paid to do the job and guys depend on you, and I think it’s unfortunate that the Nationals and the team are in a situation here where this kid now, he feels any kind of arm pain, he’s gonna call you out?… You give these guys (today’s players) $15 million bucks, please. Get your butt out there and play every fifth day.” – ROB DIBBLE, comments as a Sirius XM Radio show host

Pitcher Stephen Strasburg makes the most eagerly anticipated debut in decades before a sell-out crowd in Washington, DC

ByThis Day in Baseball

Pitcher Stephen Strasburg makes the most eagerly anticipated debut in decades before a sell-out crowd in Washington, DC. The recipient of the largest signing bonus in history lives up to his advance billing, striking out 14 while walking none in seven innings; the only batter to reach him is Delwyn Young, who connects for a two-run homer. The Nationals defeat Pittsburgh, 4 – 2, for Strasburg’s first major league win.

Josh Willingham hits two grand slams and ties a franchise record with 8 RBI as Washington defeats Milwaukee, 14 – 6.

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Josh Willingham hits two grand slams and ties a franchise record with 8 RBI as Washington defeats Milwaukee, 14 – 6. He is the 13th player to hit two slams in one game, and the first since Bill Mueller of Boston in 2003. Two other decisive grand slams are hit today, one a walk-off shot in the 13th inning by Alfonso Soriano in the Cubs’ 5 – 1 win over Houston, and the other a pinch-hit blast by Fernando Tatis in the 8th inning of a 7 – 3 Metsvictory against Colorado.