Das Team » ion on Jan. 1.Thrasher said Florida State would not get in

WASHINGTON -- The day began with manager Davey Johnson calling a team meeting in which he appealed for more aggression at the plate and mistook his starting pitchers heat pad for a neck brace. It ended with the Washington Nationals accomplishing something they hadnt done all season -- coming from three runs down to win a ballgame. The Nationals swept a day-night doubleheader from the Minnesota Twins on Sunday, climbing back to .500 and showing signs of an offensive breakthrough by pounding out a combined 24 hits in the 7-0 opener and 5-4 nightcap. "I dont know if Ive ever played a doubleheader," said shortstop Ian Desmond, "where you pretty much had to win both." That sums up the angst that was spreading among the preseason NL East favourite Nationals, even though there are still 100 games to go before the finish line of the regular season. "Its good to get back to .500 -- and get on with it," Johnson said. Desmond doubled home the go-ahead run in the seventh inning of the second game after Jordan Zimmermann dominated the opener, allowing two hits over seven innings. Zimmermann (9-3) struck out eight with a season-high 111 pitches while dropping his ERA to 2.00. He moved into a tie with Bostons Clay Buchholz, Arizonas Patrick Corbin and St. Louis Adam Wainwright for most wins in the majors. Zimmermann had Johnson worried before the game when the pitcher showed up for the team meeting with something on his neck. The right-hander has had a stiff neck off-and-on for a couple of weeks. "Im hoping he wears that neck brace every time he goes out," Johnson said. "That was a heck of a game." Zimmermann later clarified that it was actually a heating pad, a precautionary measure after feeling some tightness a few days ago. "I didnt want to take any chances," Zimmermann said. "So I figure heat it up and itll be good to go." Johnson also joked that he might have to hold more team meetings after watching his offence score five runs in the fifth inning of the first game. The Nationals had totalled just 14 runs in their previous seven games. "Ill have it every day if we get 14 hits and seven runs, but it wasnt much of a meeting," Johnson said. "It was about three minutes or something like that. I was just cheering em up." Asked what he got from the meeting, second baseman Anthony Rendon said: "Swing." "Just be aggressive," Rendon said. "Thats basically what he was trying to say. Just go out there and try to hit." And thats what they did. The Nationals scored a pair in the fourth and five in the fifth to chase starter Scott Diamond (4-5), using a lineup that had a pair of natural second basemen in the outfield -- Jeff Kobernus in centre, Steve Lombardozzi in left -- and a converted third baseman, Rendon, at second. Regular centre fielder Denard Span missed the first game after fouling a pitch off his right foot in Saturdays 11-inning loss, but played in the nightcap. Usual left fielder Bryce Harper is on the disabled list with a sore knee and was en route for his Monday appointment with renowned specialist Dr. James Andrews. The Nationals, who have come from two runs down to win only twice this season, climbed their way back from a 4-1 hole in the second game. They scored single runs in the first, third, fifth, sixth and seventh, with Desmond extending his hitting streak to a career-high 12 games with his double off reliever Anthony Swarzak (1-2). "Normally, early on in the season, when we would get behind, we would just kind of fold and give away at-bats," said Span, who had an RBI triple to tie the game in the sixth. "And (tonight) we just kept fighting and having good at-bats." Tyler Clippard (5-1) pitched the seventh to get the win, Drew Storen handled the eighth and Rafael Soriano the ninth for his 16th save. The nightcap was played before a small crowd -- it was the makeup from Fridays rainout -- and was mostly a tedious game of attrition between recent Triple-A call-ups. Minnesotas Samuel Deduno laboured through five innings in his fourth start since arriving from Rochester, and Washingtons Nathan Karns lasted only three innings in his third start since getting a promotion from Syracuse. Both teams wasted plenty of chances -- they combined to leave 18 runners on base -- and the Twins managed only two runs in the second and two in the third against Karns, who is expected to go back to Syracuse once Stephen Strasburg comes off the disabled list in a few days. Pedro Florimon hit a two-run homer in the third for Minnesota, but more typical was Eduardo Escobar getting stranded at third after a leadoff triple in the sixth. "Hit some balls right on the screws, seemed to go right at them," Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said. "They got a couple of big hits and ended up getting the win. Very frustrating game for us." The Twins helped out the Nationals cause in the first game with some flubs in the field. First baseman Justin Morneau allowed an extra run to score when he failed to come off the bag to field a late, off-target throw from Florimon, and Washingtons five-run barrage in the fifth was possible because of a grounder misplayed by second baseman Brian Dozier, who somehow wasnt charged with an error. "I know they gave it a hit, but this is the big leagues, folks," Gardenhire said. "Thats an error. Thats two steps to his right." NOTES: The second game included a 12-minute rain delay. ... Minnesota CF Aaron Hicks left the nightcap with a strained left hamstring after running to first on a groundout in the fifth inning. ... Twins RHP Ryan Pressley left the first game in the seventh inning with a sore right triceps. "He should be just fine," Gardenhire said. ... Kobernus made his first major league start in the opener and got his first career hit, an infield single in the third. Youth Troy Apke Jersey . Now, correct me if Im wrong but I saw one official distinctly pointing at the net indicating a good goal but after an inconclusive review they overturned the goal. Shouldnt the ruling on the ice (good goal) stand after an inconclusive review? Why was this overturned? James Veaudry Pembroke, ON -- Hey Kerry, Youll get a lot of these, but why was the Montreal goal against Nashville Saturday night overturned? Eller puts the puck on net and the on ice ruling from the ref behind the net is a Montreal goal. Youth Derrius Guice Jersey . 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Those questions were put to rest Saturday after Ed Orgeron had the interim title removed.This has been the second straight season Fishers name has been mentioned about openings. He doesnt think it will be the last.When youre successful, people do that, Fisher said after his No. 12 Seminoles defeated No. 15 Florida 31-13 on Saturday. When I was at LSU, Coach (Nick) Saban had it every year. Every year I was ever around him he was going to 32 different jobs. It was 10 times worse as far as jobs and things.Besides Saban, Fisher mentioned another one of his former bosses when it comes to dealing with coaching rumors. Fisher is quick to point out that Bobby Bowden had to deal with such questions during his first 10 years coaching Florida State.The difference though between LSU and other openings was Fishers history with the school. He was the offensive coordinator there for seven seasons before coming to Florida State.Fisher said the only time he brings up his future with the team is when he was asked directly by players or recruits. He also added that there werent too many questions about whether he was remaining at Florida State.Im straight honest with them. They can read my body language. They can read me. If they ask, I tell them. They know, he said. Theres a trust factor, and I trust them, and hopefully they trust me.Defensive end DeMarcus Walker and running back Dalvin Cook said they didnt ask Fisher about such things.Fisher and his team watched a documentary about Bowden the night before facing Florida. After the win over the Gators, Fisher accomplished something in sevven years that took Bowden 34 -- beat Miami and Florida the same season five times.ddddddddddddFlorida State President John Thrasher said last week he was confident Fisher would stay. There is a possibility Fishers contract could be renegotiated again. The current deal, signed in 2015, pays Fisher more than $5 million a season and runs through 2022. The buyout clause, though, drops from $5 million to $3 million on Jan. 1.Thrasher said Florida State would not get into a bidding war with other schools over Fisher, but there might be room for a slight raise.If theres something he wants, well look for it, he said.Florida State (9-3) was ranked fourth in the preseason and was expected to contend for a spot in the College Football Playoff. But a 42-point loss at No. 16 Louisville on Sept. 17 and subsequent defeats to North Carolina and No. 3 Clemson knocked the Seminoles out of the discussion.FSU, however, has been playing its best football of the season since the loss to the Tigers on Oct. 29. Bolstered by the play of Cook and a pass rush that leads the nation in sacks, the Seminoles have won four straight.With Louisville losing two straight, FSU possibly could find itself in the Orange Bowl if Clemson beats Virginia Tech in the ACC championship game and the Seminoles are the second-highest ranked conference team in the CFP standings.I think we have a bright future. I really do, Fisher said. Im anxious for the bowl season. I want to finish this season off the right way.---Associated Press reporter Gary Fineout contributed to this report.---More AP college football: www.collegefootball.ap.org and https://twitter.com/AP-Top25---Follow Joe Reedy on Twitter at www.twitter.com/joereedy Wholesale Stitched Jerseys Wholesale Jerseys Free Shipping Wholesale NFL Autographed Jerseys Cheap Authentic Jerseys Cheap Jerseys From China Stitched NFL Jerseys Wholesale Nike NFL Jerseys ' ' '