Byron Kerr

Giolito earns first Double-A win; Turner and Robles updates

August 16, 2015, 6:39am

Right-hander Lucas Giolito produced his best outing of the year Friday in Double-A Harrisburg's 2-0 win over Bowie. It was Giolito's first win in Double-A. Giolito (1-1) fired 99 pitches, 63 for strikes over seven strong innings, allowing only one hit, one walk and tying a career high with 11 strikeouts. Giolito also struck out 11 on May 14 for high Single-A Potomac. He struck out 10 batters July 6 for the P-Nats. Bowie's Chance Sisco had the only hit on a grounder to center fielder Brian...

Tags:

Stevenson excelling at Hagerstown after big season for LSU

August 14, 2015, 4:55pm

Nationals

Stevenson excelling at Hagerstown after big season for LSU

Outfielder Andrew Stevenson has already been promoted from short-season Single-A Auburn to low Single-A Hagerstown. The 2015 second-round selection from Louisiana State played in the College World Series and gained valuable experience by playing for a top-flight collegiate program in the Southeastern Conference. The SEC had four teams earn trips to the College World Series in Omaha to start this summer (LSU, Arkansas, Vanderbilt, Florida). Stevenson was already a highly rated centerfield...

Tags:

andrew stevenson auburn doubledays byron kerr hagerstown suns jose valverde nationals frontstory_nationals2

Syracuse has won nine straight; Lopez strikes out career-high 11 for Potomac

August 12, 2015, 8:47pm

Nationals

Syracuse has won nine straight; Lopez strikes out career-high 11 for Potomac

The Triple-A Syracuse Chiefs are on a nine-game winning streak after Wednesday's 9-5 win over Lehigh Valley. The Chiefs were 6-for-13 (.462) with runners in scoring position. Emmanuel Burriss, Jason Martinson and Dan Butler each had two RBIs and a double. Shortstop Trea Turner went 2-for-4 with two runs scored, and is now batting .304. Turner also had his 12th stolen base. Burriss is hitting .289. Caleb Ramsey went 2-for-3 and scored two runs. He is batting .286. Paolo Espino (5-5) got the win...

Tags:

byron kerr nationals reynaldo lopez trea turner Emmanuel Burriss Jason Martinson wilmer difo featured_sidebar frontstory_nationals3

First-rounder Fedde promoted to low Single-A, makes initial start

August 11, 2015, 8:13pm

Nationals

First-rounder Fedde promoted to low Single-A, makes initial start

Right-hander Erick Fedde was promoted to the low Single-A Hagerstown Suns on Tuesday and started against Augusta. Fedde went 4 1/3 innings and allowed five hits and six runs. He had two walks and struck out three. The Suns lost the game 9-1. Early on, Fedde allowed two runs in the second. He hung in there until the fifth inning where the Green Jackets tallied seven runs. Fedde was responsible for four of those runs. He was tagged with the loss but gained valuable experience up a level. More...

Tags:

byron kerr erick fedde gary cathcart nationals featured_sidebar frontstory_nationals2

10 in 10: Youth Baseball Academy welcomes Nats to showcase summer progress

August 10, 2015, 10:55pm

Nationals

10 in 10: Youth Baseball Academy welcomes Nats to showcase summer progress

From the time they arrived from Montreal before the 2005 season, the Nationals have been a mainstay in the Washington, D.C., sports scene. But the Nats are also very active in the community, working diligently over the past decade to touch the lives of many in the region and proving that baseball has a further reach than wins and losses, balls and strikes, batters and pitchers. Each Thursday through mid-August, MASNsports.com's Byron Kerr will explore the Nationals' community outreach...

Tags:

anthony rendon byron kerr ian desmond matt williams nationals tal alter youth baseball academy jasmine richardson makiah mcknight nat10nals featured_sidebar frontstory_nationals3

18-year-old Dominican outfielder Victor Robles shining for Auburn

August 10, 2015, 10:52pm

Nationals

18-year-old Dominican outfielder Victor Robles shining for Auburn

A lot of buzz has been generated by the start for 18-year-old Dominican outfielder Victor Robles, who moved quickly from the Dominican Summer League Nats to the Gulf Coast League and is now playing for the short-season Single-A Auburn Doubledays. Robles has hit .342 in his last 10 games and is batting .363 overall in 44 minor league games. I checked in with Auburn manager Gary Cathcart on a recent road trip to spotlight the progress of Robles. Cathcart said Robles is impressing on all...

Tags:

auburn doubledays bryon kerr dominican academy featured_sidebar gary cathcart gulf coast league nationals nationals victor robles frontstory_nationals2

Scherzer looking to build off of changeup; Zimmerman on "big" western trip

August 10, 2015, 4:32am

Nationals

Scherzer looking to build off of changeup; Zimmerman on "big" western trip

There are very few starting pitchers that I have come across in all my years of covering major league baseball that are as articulate and thoughtful as Max Scherzer. Win or lose, he can eloquently break down what went right and what went wrong, and he already is devising a plan of attack for his next outing. Scherzer had a no-decision Sunday. He went six innings, allowed eight hits and four runs, one intentional walk and still struck out 10 batters. He allowed three homers and left with 84...

Tags:

aaron barrett byron kerr max scherzer nationals ryan zimmerman featured_sidebar matt williams frontstory_nationals3

Storen victimized and missed opportunities cost Nationals series against Rockies

August 09, 2015, 2:33pm

Nationals

The eighth inning turned into a big inning for the Rockies in this series. Their ability to score runs in that frame against Nationals right-hander Drew Storen helped them to a series win. Friday night, Carlos Gonzalez belted a grand slam off Storen in a Rockies 5-4 win. The Nationals had entered the inning with Storen on the hill and a 4-1 lead. On Sunday, the game was tied at 4-4 in the top of the eighth. The Rockies scored two runs in the frame again off Storen to help them to a 6-4 victory...

Tags:

anthony rendon byron kerr drew storen matt williams nationals featured_sidebar frontstory_nationals3

Game blog: Nats seek first series win in August against Rox today

August 09, 2015, 9:26am

Nationals

Game blog: Nats seek first series win in August against Rox today

The Nationals look to win their first series since Miami on July 30 with a win over the Rockies today. Right-hander Max Scherzer (11-8, 2.31 ERA) battles left-hander Yohan Flande (2-1, 3.54). The Nationals will face three southpaw starters in their next four games. Yunel Escobar is back in the lineup for the Nationals and will lead off. He is hitting .301 with 22 hits, two homers and 12 RBI in 73 career at-bats against Colorado. Ryan Zimmerman has hit 11 homers and 56 RBIs in his career against...

Tags:

byron kerr max scherzer nationals ryan zimmerman frontstory_nationals1 yunel escobar

Harper, Zimmerman and Robinson put on show in middle of lineup, Nats win 6-1

August 08, 2015, 6:50pm

Nationals

Harper, Zimmerman and Robinson put on show in middle of lineup, Nats win 6-1

For the second night in a row, the Nationals offense was ignited with Bryce Harper on first base and Ryan Zimmerman at the plate. On Friday night, Harper reached first base on single in the fourth. Zimmerman followed with a double, and Harper scored all the way from first base. Saturday night in the fifth, Harper was on first base thanks to a walk. Zimmerman slammed a double off the wall, and again Harper raced all the way from first base for another run. "I think I had a pretty good read on...

Tags:

bryce harper byron kerr clint robinson nationals ryan zimmerman featured_sidebar frontstory_nationals3

Game blog: Nats need to get off to good start as Strasburg returns

August 08, 2015, 2:40pm

Nationals

Game blog: Nats need to get off to good start as Strasburg returns

The Nationals look to get on the board in their series with the Rockies and welcome back right-hander Stephen Strasburg, making his first start since July 5. Not only do the Nats need to get off to a good start in this game to benefit Strasburg, they also need to find a way to get off to a good start in each series they play. Recently that has not been the case. The Nationals have now lost the first game of a series in the last five series in a row. They have also lost the first game of a...

Tags:

byron kerr eddie butler nationals stephen strasburg frontstory_nationals1

Espinosa adjusts to new role as utility hitter (updated)

August 08, 2015, 8:32am

Nationals

Espinosa adjusts to new role as utility hitter (updated)

With the return of three starters, players like Danny Espinosa have had to go back to their utility role planned from opening day. Espinosa is extremely valuable because of his defensive ability and has had a pretty good season at the plate. Obviously, he went through a tough period beginning in late June, but despite the loss Friday, had a solid night at the plate. Espinosa went 2-for-4 with a double, two runs and a hit by pitch. On Wednesday, he started at shortstop going 0-4 with a...

Tags:

byron kerr danny espinosa nationals wilmer difo andrew stevenson featured_sidebar hagerstown suns harrisburg senators potomac nationals syracuse chiefs frontstory_nationals3

Harper can't deliver in ninth and is seeing less opportunity to impact games

August 07, 2015, 7:25pm

Nationals

Harper can't deliver in ninth and is seeing less opportunity to impact games

Unless the Nationals can get some power from those around Bryce Harper in the lineup, this is how it's going to be for the slugger the rest of the season: lots of walks. The Rockies defeated the Nationals 5-4 thanks to a grand slam from Carlos Gonzalez in the eighth. The Nationals had one last chance in the bottom of the ninth. With a man on, Harper battled right-hander Tommy Kahnle to a 3-2 count before striking out on an 89 mph changeup. Earlier, Harper singled and came around to score...

Tags:

bryce harper byron kerr matt williams nationals ryan zimmerman featured_sidebar frontstory_nationals2

Nationals game blog: Zimmermann seeks sixth win against Rockies

August 07, 2015, 3:01pm

Nationals

The Colorado Rockies are in D.C. for three games against the Washington Nationals. The teams match up in Denver next week. The Rockies are an amazing 21-13 on the road in D.C. against the Nationals, but Washington swept last year's Nats Park matchup, outscoring the Rockies 36-19 behind Jordan Zimmermann, Stephen Strasburg and Doug Fister. Zimmermann is 5-0 with a 2.20 ERA in his career against Colorado. But he allowed three home runs against the Mets on August 2 in his last start, a 5-2...

Tags:

byron kerr jordan zimmermann nationals frontstory_nationals1

Williams said he's not worried about Werth's power numbers right now

August 07, 2015, 1:53pm

Nationals

Williams said he's not worried about Werth's power numbers right now

With the Nationals' offense struggling to score runs, part of the issue has been the power numbers from the three returning hitters: Anthony Rendon, Ryan Zimmerman and Jayson Werth. Rendon hit one home run in New York. Zimmerman has crushed two since his return. But Werth hasn't hit a home run since May 13. Manager Matt Williams was asked during Friday's pregame session with the media how he thinks Werth is coming along in returning to full form offensively. He said the patience Werth is...

Tags:

anthony rendon byron kerr jayson werth matt williams nationals ryan zimmerman featured_sidebar frontstory_nationals3

Joe Ross earns more starts with sterling performance to beat Diamondbacks 8-3

August 06, 2015, 5:07pm

Nationals

Joe Ross earns more starts with sterling performance to beat Diamondbacks 8-3

Right-hander Joe Ross continued to showcase his ability to pitch at the major league level with another solid six innings Thursday in an 8-3 win over the Diamondbacks. Ross allowed only five hits, one run and no walks while striking out seven over 89 pitches, an amazing 62 for strikes. His only mistake was a changeup to Jarrod Saltalamacchia for a solo homer. Manager Matt Williams said the poise that the 22-year-old Ross has displayed in only his seventh major league start is rare but...

Tags:

byron kerr doug fister joe ross matt williams nationals stephen strasburg featured_sidebar frontstory_nationals1

Nationals game blog: Nats look to Ross to split series with Arizona

August 06, 2015, 12:00pm

Nationals

The Nationals and Diamondbacks wrap up their four-game series today. Rookie right-hander Joe Ross (2-3, 3.00 ERA) faces Arizona right-hander Jeremy Hellickson (7-7, 4.95 ERA). The season series is split 3-3. The Nationals have won eight of their last 11 games in the series. Ryan Zimmerman gets the day off for the Nationals, and Ian Desmond is back in the lineup. The Nationals wrap up the homestand with three games versus the Rockies starting Friday night. Manager Matt Williams conducted a team...

Tags:

byron kerr diamondbacks joe ross nationals frontstory_nationals1

Matt Williams' pregame message to Nats: "We're best when we're aggressive"

August 06, 2015, 10:53am

Nationals

Matt Williams' pregame message to Nats: "We're best when we're aggressive"

Nationals manager Matt Williams said Wednesday night after his team's 11-4 loss to Arizona that he would have a pregame team meeting on Thursday prior to the series finale to discuss some important topics. Williams gave the media gathering hints as to what the subject of that pregame team meeting would be and what he wants his team to get back to doing well. "I think it's important for us to understand we're best when we're aggressive," Williams said. "When we're an aggressive team,...

Tags:

byron kerr matt williams nationals featured_sidebar frontstory_nationals3

Strasburg likely to start Saturday, Treinen available today, plus Fister update

August 06, 2015, 10:10am

Nationals

Strasburg likely to start Saturday, Treinen available today, plus Fister update

Nationals manager Matt Williams all but confirmed that right-hander Stephen Strasburg will return to the team and start Saturday night's matchup against the Rockies. Strasburg has been on the disabled list with an oblique issue since July 5. He has had two promising rehab starts and came out of each feeling back to full strength. "We've got some options, certainly his day falls Saturday, but he'll go out and do his towel drills today and make sure," Williams said. "So we'll have a better...

Tags:

aaron barrett blake treinen byron kerr doug fister joe ross matt williams nationals stephen strasburg featured_sidebar frontstory_nationals3

Nationals recall Treinen, option Barrett (with lineups, updated)

August 06, 2015, 8:36am

Nationals

The Nationals look for a series split with the Arizona Diamondbacks in Thursday's late afternoon tilt. The club announced prior to the game that right-hander Blake Treinen has been recalled from Triple-A Syracuse. Right-hander Aaron Barrett, who took the loss Wednesday night, was optioned to Syracuse to make room for Treinen, who has had five scoreless appearances with the Chiefs. Treinen recorded 14 strikeouts in 12 innings, allowing six hits since July 21 with Syracuse. Barrett is 3-3 with a...