Byron Kerr

Harper has single, walk and run scored, Ramos three-run homer for Potomac

June 23, 2014, 4:08pm

WOODBRIDGE, Va. - Nationals outfielder Bryce Harper played three innings in left field for the high Single-A Potomac Nationals in his first minor league rehab game as he recovers from a left thumb ligament injury. Wearing jersey No. 32, Harper went 1-for-1 with a single, a walk and a run scored. He came home on a three-run shot by catcher Wilson Ramos in a four-run third inning that gave the P-Nats a 4-1 lead over the Salem Red Sox. Ramos finished 3-for-4 with a single, double and three-run...

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Espinosa widens stance at plate to help improve batting numbers

June 23, 2014, 6:55am

Nationals

Espinosa widens stance at plate to help improve batting numbers

Second baseman Danny Espinosa has rebounded from a difficult month of May to have a positive month of June so far at the plate. In May, Espinosa struggled to a .125 batting average (10-for-80) before hitting .303 (20-for-66) so far this month. In April, he struck out only 20 times. In May, that ballooned to 37 whiffs. In June, he is back down to 25 with a handful of games to play. In the just-completed four-game series against the Braves, Espinosa connected for five base hits and was able to...

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Williams on Roark, Espinosa, Werth, Desmond, beating Atlanta

June 22, 2014, 2:03pm

Nationals

Williams on Roark, Espinosa, Werth, Desmond, beating Atlanta

Nationals manager Matt Williams was proud the team was able to bounce back after losing the first two games of its series with Atlanta to earn a pair of victories on Saturday and Sunday and remain atop the National League East. "After the first two, I am proud of the guys for staying in there and battling," Williams said. "We have talked about it many times - you have to have a short memory. After the first two, got two real good pitching performances and the guys battled to get some runs...

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Roark, Zimmerman, Stammen, Espinosa know importance of split against Braves

June 22, 2014, 1:34pm

Nationals

Roark, Zimmerman, Stammen, Espinosa know importance of split against Braves

The Nationals earned a much-needed 4-1 win over the Braves Sunday to split the series between the top two teams in the National League East. Craig Stammen got five outs in relief to help the cause and said the Nationals are too good to not be able to stay competitive with the Braves, despite their recent struggles in the series. "I think the odds were in our favor to finally win a game against them," Stammen said. "Two in a row is definitely good, we were able to split with them in a...

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Nationals hit Santana and Braves early to grab lead (Nats win 4-1)

June 22, 2014, 10:00am

Nationals

Braves right-hander Ervin Santana has lost two in a row, to the Rockies and the Phillies. He has given up 10 runs, nine of them earned during those stints. He came in 0-0 with a 3.67 ERA in four career starts against the Nationals, allowing 11 runs and 24 hits in 27 innings with 27 strikeouts and 10 walks. On Sunday, the Nationals jumped on him quickly in the first inning. After almost plunking the hot-hitting Anthony Rendon on his first delivery, Santana walked him. Jayson Werth followed...

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Williams impressed with how Fister "controlled the strike zone"

June 21, 2014, 7:37pm

Nationals

Williams impressed with how Fister "controlled the strike zone"

Nationals manager Matt Williams was impressed with Doug Fister's 117 pitches over eight scoreless innings in a 3-0 shutout of the Braves Saturday night and what it meant to a tired bullpen. "Really good. Picked up the bullpen," Williams said. "We pushed his pitch count a little bit, but he felt great. Pitched really well. Controlled the zone all night." Williams said Fister's start prevented the Braves from getting going because he forced the issue with good command. "Just that he...

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Hearing from Rendon, Fister, Zimmerman and Lobaton after 3-0 win over Braves

June 21, 2014, 7:12pm

Nationals

Hearing from Rendon, Fister, Zimmerman and Lobaton after 3-0 win over Braves

Nationals third baseman Anthony Rendon continued his clutch hitting in the last two games with a 3-for-4 performance, with a double and two RBIs in a 3-0 shutout of the Braves. "It was good. We executed the small things," Rendon said. "Small ball comes into play. That is how you play the game." Winning pitcher Doug Fister went eight innings and threw 117 pitches, allowing no runs on five hits. Fister continued his trademark quick work, wasting no time on the mound between pitches. "We...

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Nationals look to get on the board in series vs. Braves (Nats win 3-0)

June 21, 2014, 3:33pm

Nationals

The Nationals step into Game 3 of their series against the Braves searching for a win. They have not defeated Atlanta since a 2-1 win on April 6. Starter Doug Fister got out a jam in the first inning with some sterling defense from second baseman Danny Espinosa. With men on first and third and two out, Espinosa grabbed Jason Heyward's hot shot right up the middle and flipped to shortstop Ian Desmond covering the bag at second to get Freddie Freeman. Atlanta did not score in the inning. The...

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Hearing from Blevins, Rendon, Strasburg and LaRoche

June 20, 2014, 8:45pm

Nationals

Hearing from Blevins, Rendon, Strasburg and LaRoche

Third baseman Anthony Rendon smacked a dramatic two-run homer in the ninth Friday that erased Atlanta's lead and tied the game at 4-4. The Braves ended up winning the game 6-4 in 13 innings. Rendon's blast came against the Braves closer Craig Kimbrel, who arrived with 21 saves. "I was just looking for a ball to barrel up and that one just happened to go out, and we just couldn't get it done in extra innings," Rendon said. "I just try to see the ball. Try not to do too much. He is...

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Even vs. Strasburg, Braves start with upper hand (Atlanta wins 6-4 in 13th)

June 20, 2014, 3:19pm

Nationals

Even vs. Strasburg, Braves start with upper hand (Atlanta wins 6-4 in 13th)

The Nationals need their stopper to come through. Right-hander Stephen Strasburg is attempting to slow the Braves roll against his team. The Nationals have lost four straight against the Braves, and six of their last seven overall. I won't mention 2013. You're welcome. Strasburg has made 13 starts against Atlanta. His last win against the Braves was August 21, 2012. The Braves got the first run of the game again. In the first inning with two outs, Freddie Freeman launched a long fly ball...

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Williams won't let recent difficulty against Braves cloud preparation

June 20, 2014, 1:55pm

Nationals

Williams won't let recent difficulty against Braves cloud preparation

The Braves have now won six of the first seven games against the Nationals this season following Thursday's 3-0 series-opening win. The Nationals have lost four straight against Atlanta, with their only victory a 2-1 decision April 6. Nationals manager Matt Williams said he takes the series with the Braves one game at a time and will not let the recent downslide against Atlanta cloud his team's preparations for tonight. Williams said Gavin Floyd's curveball last night was as one reason why...

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Ryan Ripken one of 24 players agreeing to terms with Nationals

June 20, 2014, 9:34am

Nationals Orioles

Ryan Ripken one of 24 players agreeing to terms with Nationals

The Nationals announced they have agreed to terms with 24 players drafted in the 2014 First-Year Player Draft, including five of the top seven they selected. The most recognizable name of those is Ryan Ripken, the son of Hall of Famer and Orioles legend Cal Ripken, Jr. Ryan Ripken is a first baseman who was selected in the 15th round. The 20-year-old is a left-handed hitter at 6-foot-5, 193 lbs., out of Indian River (Fla.) State College. Ryan played one season at South Carolina, and was...

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LaRoche and Zimmermann on if the Braves have psyched them out

June 19, 2014, 7:09pm

Nationals

LaRoche and Zimmermann on if the Braves have psyched them out

The Nationals lost their sixth game in seven attempts against the Braves on Thursday, a 3-0 shutout at Nationals Park. First baseman Adam LaRoche does not know the answer as to why Atlanta has had the Nationals' number recently, besides the obvious of playing a little better baseball at the right time. "I don't know what it is," LaRoche said. "You got to think losing that many games it's not all coincidence. They play us tough, you know, plain and simple. They come up with some big...

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Nationals and Braves under way in NL East battle (Braves won 3-0)

June 19, 2014, 3:27pm

Nationals

The much anticipated Nationals versus Braves series is upon us. Atlanta has won five of the first six meetings between the two clubs this year and had held the top spot in the division until a recent downward turn. The Nationals bounced back from a four-game skid to post a pair of 6-5 wins against Houston to begin the homestand. But this is the Braves, and the Nationals have a combined record of 3-10 record against Atlanta and St. Louis this season. Right-hander Jordan Zimmermann allowed a...

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Harper crushes homers in batting practice, Williams details rehab progression

June 19, 2014, 2:42pm

Nationals

Harper crushes homers in batting practice, Williams details rehab progression

Nationals outfielder Bryce Harper completed batting practice Thursday prior to the team's game against the Braves. Harper came out of it with a positive update on his thumb. He has been on the disabled list since April 26 with a left thumb sprain. "I feel good," Harper said. "But still trying to see where my swing's at and trying to get in shape in the outfield. And just trying to feel how I go about everything every single day and try to get a strong as I can." Manager Matt Williams said...

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Gonzalez and Span speak after sweep of Astros

June 18, 2014, 7:40pm

Nationals

Gonzalez and Span speak after sweep of Astros

The Nationals' advance scouting saw that Astros starter Scott Feldman was slow to the plate. They felt they could run on Astros catcher Jason Castro. The strategy worked, playing a key part in the Nationals scoring two early runs. They lost that lead, but eventually ended up beating the Astros 6-5, going 5-for-5 in stolen bases, all off Feldman. But Denard Span said after the game that stealing five bases was not the crux of the overall game plan. "I don't think collectively as a team we...

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Williams on Gonzalez's return and Harper's progress

June 18, 2014, 12:56pm

Nationals

Williams on Gonzalez's return and Harper's progress

Before Wednesday's game, Nationals manager Matt Williams provided the reasoning behind having Sandy Leon catch left-hander Gio Gonzalez's return from the disabled list against the Houston Astros. "Just getting (Leon) in there. He's got some experience with Gio, has caught Gio. Nothing in particular," Williams said. "Just get him in against the righty." Gonzalez got to 79 pitches in his last minor league rehab start. But he has not pitched in a major league game since May 17 against the...

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Hearing from Roark and Rendon after win over Astros

June 17, 2014, 7:47pm

Nationals

Hearing from Roark and Rendon after win over Astros

The Nationals had only one extra base hit against the Cardinals over the weekend. They lost all three games and managed three total runs. On Tuesday, the Nationals edged the Astros 6-5 thanks in a pair of doubles each from Ryan Zimmerman, and Anthony Rendon. The duo combined to go 4-for-8 with two runs, four doubles, a walk and five RBIs. Astros starter Dallas Keuchel (8-4) arrived in D.C. with an 8-3 record and was 6-0 on the road. He had won six of his last seven decisions. Rendon said...

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Strasburg emotional in remembrance of Gwynn

June 17, 2014, 1:00pm

Nationals

Strasburg emotional in remembrance of Gwynn

Nationals right-hander Stephen Strasburg was noticeably emotional this afternoon when speaking about the death of his boyhood idol and college baseball coach, Hall of Famer Tony Gwynn, who died Monday of salivary gland cancer at 54. "It's tough because the last couple of weeks, no one really knew what was going on," Strasburg said. "I mean, just from my perspective, he was like a god to me growing up. How much he did for San Diego and for baseball all over the country. You never would have...

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Six Hagerstown Suns invited to tonight's South Atlantic League All-Star Game

June 17, 2014, 9:39am

Nationals

Six Hagerstown Suns invited to tonight's South Atlantic League All-Star Game

Six low Single-A Hagerstown Suns are invited to play in tonight's South Atlantic League All-Star game in Hickory, N.C. The six Suns players matches the number invited from the Greensboro Grasshoppers as the most for any team from the Northern Division. Right-hander Nick Pivetta, left-hander Jake Walsh, right-hander Austin Voth, catcher Spencer Kieboom, infielder John Wooten and second baseman Wilmer Difo were the Nationals prospects invited to tonight's contest on June 3. Walsh, a Missouri...