Byron Kerr

Strasburg sets strikeout mark (Nats win 3-1)

August 30, 2014, 5:31pm

The Nationals hit six home runs versus Seattle on Friday in an 8-3 romp. It was the most home runs by any team at Safeco Field this season and the most by the Nationals since September 2012. The Nationals have hit 36 home runs this month, most in the National League. Make that 37. The Nationals hit their seventh homer against Mariners pitching in the last 27 outs. Jayson Werth cranked a two-run shot in the first inning off of left-hander Roenis Elias and the Nationals lead 2-0. It was...

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Nationals need Blevins and Detwiler to be more consistent

August 29, 2014, 3:29pm

Nationals

It is important for the left side of the Nationals bullpen to regain some consistency as the September stretch run soon commences. Left-hander Jerry Blevins has hit a couple of rough spots. In his last 10 appearances, Blevins is 0-0 with a 6.75 ERA. He has allowed eight earned runs in the past 10 2/3 innings. Blevins has a 2.31 ERA versus left-handed batters and an 8.31 ERA against right-handed hitters. Left-hander Ross Detwiler is 1-0 with a 5.84 ERA in his last 10 games. He also has allowed...

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Hagerstown's Difo and Giolito earn postseason South Atlantic League honors

August 28, 2014, 7:59am

Nationals

Hagerstown's Difo and Giolito earn postseason South Atlantic League honors

Low Single-A Hagerstown infielder Wilmer Difo has been named South Atlantic League Most Valuable Player, while right-hander Lucas Giolito was named Most Outstanding Pitcher and Most Outstanding MLB Prospect. Difo leads or is tied for the league in hits (174) and total bases (257). Difo is hitting .321 on the season and his slash line is .321/.366/.474. He ranks in the top five in the league in RBIs with 88 (third), stolen bases with 49 (second), runs scored with 90 (tied for second), extra-base...

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Nationals not distracted by delay, get started quickly (Phillies win 8-4)

August 27, 2014, 3:50pm

Nationals

The Nationals were not slowed by Wednesday's delayed first pitch. The Phillies honored their local Little League World Series team during pregame. The first pitch was expected at 7:35 p.m., but instead came at 7:44 p.m. Denard Span didn't waste any time with a single against Phillies starter Kyle Kendrick to lead off the game. Anthony Rendon followed with a double that rattled around the left field corner. Span raced all the way around from first base to score and the Nationals lead...

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Rundown of Nationals' invitees to Arizona Fall League

August 27, 2014, 7:40am

Nationals

Here is a rundown of the Arizona Fall League invitees from the Nationals. Included on the team is one coach and one trainer. They will play for the Mesa Solar Sox and the first game is Oct. 7. The list includes two catchers, two left-handers, two right-handers and one second baseman. 2B Tony Renda, high Single-A Potomac - Renda has fought through injury this season. If not, he likely would have garnered Carolina League MVP honors. He has all the tools and is a solid leader. He really knows...

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A pair of left-handers battle in Philly (Phillies win 4-3)

August 26, 2014, 3:29pm

Nationals

A pair of left-handers battle in Philly (Phillies win 4-3)

A pair of southpaws doing battle tonight in Philadelphia. Cole Hamels was off to smooth start with two quick outs in the first. Against Anthony Rendon, a grounder to third base was fielded by Andres Blanco, who threw to first for the out. But first base umpire Gary Cederstrom ruled that first baseman Darin Ruf drifted off the bag and called Rendon safe. Phillies manager Ryne Sandberg requested a video review. The video replay in New York overturned the call and Rendon was out. Nationals...

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Souza named International League MVP; Gardner, Burriss and Laird honored

August 26, 2014, 6:19am

Nationals

Souza named International League MVP; Gardner, Burriss and Laird honored

Triple-A Syracuse Chiefs outfielder Steven Souza Jr. has been named International League Most Valuable Player and Rookie of the Year, according to a club press release. Souza becomes the sixth International League MVP in Syracuse history and first since Chad Mottola in 2000. He's also the seventh IL Rookie of the Year in Chiefs history and first since Shawn Green in 1994. Souza is hitting .354 with an on-base percentage of .435 and slugging percentage of .601. All three statistics lead the...

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Burnett not allowing contact (Phillies win 3-2)

August 25, 2014, 3:43pm

Nationals

Burnett not allowing contact (Phillies win 3-2)

Right-hander A.J. Burnett is on his game after two innings. He already has three strikeouts, including the last two of the second inning. He caught both Ian Desmond and Bryce Harper looking at a called strike three. Right-hander Tanner Roark was not as fluid as he wanted to be in the first inning. He gave up a hit to Jimmy Rollins who stole second base. He also walked Ryan Howard. But he was able strike out Marlon Byrd to end the threat. Roark then rebounded with a three-up, three-down second...

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LaRoche on magic number: "My advice is to keep winning"

August 25, 2014, 5:00am

Nationals

LaRoche on magic number: "My advice is to keep winning"

It felt like it happened in the blink of an eye. Eight hits in one inning. Some wondered when the Giants would be able to record an out after all the hits in a row. "I tell you what, you talk to the opposing pitchers on that, and it happens real quick," said Nationals first baseman Adam LaRoche. "I've been on that end, too, unfortunately. Just keep putting pressure on them. Again it was nice to be able to pick (Stephen) Strasburg up. He had a rough start, obviously. We could easily (have)...

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Hearing from Strasburg, Lobaton, Hairston, Harper and Espinosa after 14-6 win

August 24, 2014, 3:00pm

Nationals

Hearing from Strasburg, Lobaton, Hairston, Harper and Espinosa after 14-6 win

It did not work out for right-hander Stephen Strasburg on Sunday, after allowing five runs on eight hits in four innings. But his teammates got back in the game and then overtook the Giants 14-6. "Yeah, it's huge. They picked me up," Strasburg said of his teammates. "Obviously, I didn't go out there and pitch like I wanted to, but there's going to be games like that and they came up big." Home runs by leadoff man Gregor Blanco and Travis Ishikawa set the tone as the Giants piled up a...

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Nats score 12 runs after fifth inning, stun Giants 14-6

August 24, 2014, 9:48am

Nationals

Nats score 12 runs after fifth inning, stun Giants 14-6

Nationals right-hander Stephen Strasburg allowed another first inning run and it came from the lead off man. Center fielder Gregor Blanco launched a 3-2 95 mph fastball over the right field wall and the Giants led 1-0. It was Blanco's second career leadoff home run after hitting one at Turner Field against the Braves last season. It was also the third leadoff home run by a Giants player this season. Angel Pagan accomplishing the feat the other two times. It is the second game in a row the...

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Hearing from Span, Cabrera and Zimmermann after 6-2 win over Giants

August 23, 2014, 5:02pm

Nationals

Hearing from Span, Cabrera and Zimmermann after 6-2 win over Giants

Right-hander Jordan Zimmermann notched his ninth win in a 6-2 Nationals defeat of the Giants, but the first question for him at his locker was how Hunter Pence crushed his high fastball over the fence for a 2-0 San Francisco lead in the first inning? "Very surprised. There's only one guy in the game that is going to hit that pitch and that's him," Zimmermann said. "I threw it right where I wanted to, 0-2, up by his shoulders, beats me how he hit it that far." Zimmermann wasn't the only...

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Giants and Nats tied after one inning (Nats win 6-2)

August 23, 2014, 1:38pm

Nationals

Giants and Nats tied after one inning (Nats win 6-2)

The Giants and Nationals began play after a 1-hour, 12-minute rain delay. San Francisco wasted no time in scoring a few runs against Jordan Zimmermann and the Nats. Zimmermann allowed a leadoff double to Giants center fielder Angel Pagan. Two pitches later, Hunter Pence hit a two-run homer to center field. Zimmermann quickly retired the next three batters, but the damage was done. The Giants took a 2-0 lead into the bottom of the first. But things did not go smoothly for the Tim...

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Schierholtz excited to join "winning environment" with Nats

August 23, 2014, 11:15am

Nationals

Schierholtz excited to join "winning environment" with Nats

The Nationals welcomed new outfielder Nate Schierholtz on Saturday prior to their game with the Giants. Outfielder Michael A. Taylor was moved to Triple-A Syracuse to make room for Schierholtz. Schierholtz, who played his last game for the Cubs on August 5, was thrilled to move to a winning team and is anxious to help the Nationals win games. "For many reasons. I've got some friends here," Schierholtz said of why he likes the move to D.C. "But beyond that, obviously, it's been a winning...

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Source: Giolito shut down after reaching innings limit, transferred to Auburn (game under way)

August 23, 2014, 10:48am

Nationals

Source: Giolito shut down after reaching innings limit, transferred to Auburn (game under way)

Nationals top pitching prospect Lucas Giolito has been transferred to short-season Single-A Auburn after reaching a club-mandated innings limit, according to a team source. The right-handed Giolito exceeded expectations this season at Single-A Hagerstown and is not injured, according to source. Giolito will continue strength and conditioning plus baseball related activities as he prepares for instructional league in September and October in Viera, Fla. Giolito is only a year removed from...

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Fister, Span and LaRoche reflect on end of 10-game win streak

August 22, 2014, 7:37pm

Nationals

Fister, Span and LaRoche reflect on end of 10-game win streak

The Giants dropped the Nationals 10-3 on Friday night, ending the club's longest win streak in nine years at 10 games. After the game, first baseman Adam LaRoche and center fielder Denard Span reflected on the run. "Yeah, I don't know, we haven't had that feeling in awhile, fortunately," LaRoche said. "Tough loss, no question, just the way we got beat." "Other than that, looking back, an awesome stretch. Frustrating, but we're still in great position here for this time of year. Got...

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Nationals strike first against Giants (Nats lose 10-3, win streak ends at 10)

August 22, 2014, 3:35pm

Nationals

The Nationals have had a tough go of it against Tim Hudson over the years. In June, he dropped the Nationals 7-1, limiting them to no earned runs over seven innings. The Nationals looked to get off to a quick start against the veteran in the bottom of the first. With one out, Anthony Rendon walked. With two outs, Adam LaRoche singled. With Ian Desmond at the plate, catcher Buster Posey looked to catch LaRoche stealing at second on the back end of a double steal. Second baseman Joe Panik could...

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Williams updates on Zimmerman, McLouth, Schierholtz and win streak

August 22, 2014, 1:48pm

Nationals

Williams updates on Zimmerman, McLouth, Schierholtz and win streak

During pregame Friday, Nationals manager Matt Williams provided an update on Ryan Zimmerman's every-other-day throwing session. Friday Zimmerman successfully finished his second throwing session of the week. Zimmerman is on the disabled list with a right hamstring strain. "He came out good," Williams said. "He's continuing his rehab. No issues with that. So we'll ramp him up there within that throwing program, strengthening and all that stuff. So he should be good. He's on his...

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Span, Gonzalez and Rendon after another walk-off winner

August 21, 2014, 4:33pm

Nationals

Span, Gonzalez and Rendon after another walk-off winner

Another walk-off winner for the Nationals, this time 1-0 over the Diamondbacks, on a hot shot by third baseman Anthony Rendon off reliever Evan Marshall that turned into a two-base error that plated the winning run. Arizona third baseman Jordan Pacheco fielded the ball on the grass, but his throw to first got away from Mark Trumbo and went into the camera well adjacent to the Nationals dugout. The two-base error allowed Denard Span to score from second and the celebration was on again. "He...

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Gonzalez and Miley in southpaw battle (Nats walk off again 1-0 for 10th win in row)

August 21, 2014, 12:26pm

Nationals

Gonzalez and Miley in southpaw battle (Nats walk off again 1-0 for 10th win in row)

The Nationals seek their first 10-game win streak since June 12, 2005, as they wrap up their four-game set against the Diamondbacks today. A pair of lefties in Gio Gonzalez and Wade Miley tangle on Ian Desmond bobblehead day. Gonzalez is seeking his first win since July 5. He is 2-0 with a 2.03 ERA in two starts lifetime versus the D-Backs. Gonzalez was able to go three up and three down to start the game. Miley allowed a base hit to Denard Span to open the bottom of the first. One out later,...