Byron Kerr

Hood has shown power potential during latest surge at Triple-A Syracuse

May 28, 2014, 5:40am

The Triple-A Syracuse Chiefs have won seven of their last eight games as Destin Hood and Steven Souza, Jr., heat up. It is great to see Hood excelling. Hood has been through some slumps and injuries, but has steadily made the climb within the Nationals organization. Now he is rolling. In his last 10 games, Hood has gone 17-for-40 (.425), with four doubles, two walks, three homers and four RBIs. In his first 26 games at the Triple-A level, Hood is batting .347 with a .949 OPS. In the Chiefs...

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Marlins-Nats postponed due to rain (Zimmermann to pitch Wednesday)

May 27, 2014, 3:17pm

Nationals

Marlins-Nats postponed due to rain (Zimmermann to pitch Wednesday)

The Marlins-Nationals game for Tuesday night has been postponed due to inclement weather. No makeup date has been set. Manager Matt Williams should be available to update this week's pitching matchups, so stay tuned here. Tuesday's matchup was intended to be right-hander Blake Treinen facing Marlins right-hander Henderson Alvarez, and Wednesday's pitching matchup was supposed to be right-hander Jordan Zimmermann versus the Marlins Tom Koehler. Update: Williams announced that Zimmermann...

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Hearing from LaRoche, Roark and Ramos after 3-2 setback

May 26, 2014, 1:34pm

Nationals

Hearing from LaRoche, Roark and Ramos after 3-2 setback

Nationals first baseman Adam LaRoche played his first home game since coming off the disabled list and delivered a two-run homer to cut the Marlins' lead to 3-2. But the Nationals were unable to get anything else going and settled for three hits, leaving four men on base. "Feels great to be back, no doubt," LaRoche said. "I had to sit there and watch for two weeks. Great to come back, frustrating game today. I felt we didn't give ourselves a ton of opportunities. Not sloppy. We didn't...

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Marlins get early 3-0 lead against Roark (Nats fall 3-2)

May 26, 2014, 9:53am

Nationals

Marlins get early 3-0 lead against Roark (Nats fall 3-2)

The Nationals begin a nine-game home stand with a Memorial Day matinee against the division rival Miami Marlins, and are in the midst of a stretch of 15 of 19 at home. So far, they are just 4-6 in this stretch. The Marlins come into the series in second place in the National League East, three games back of the Braves. The Nationals, despite losing three of their last four games, are 3 1/2 games off the pace. But Miami has struggled on the road. The Marlins are 6-17 on the road, worst on the...

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Williams says Espinosa looking to rein in aggressiveness at plate

May 26, 2014, 8:23am

Nationals

Williams says Espinosa looking to rein in aggressiveness at plate

Nationals second baseman Danny Espinosa has had a difficult May at the plate and is working on adjusting his approach, manager Matt Williams said prior to Monday's series opener against the Marlins at Nationals Park. Espinosa has just four hits in his last 10 games, going 4-for-36 (.111) since May 11. In the month of May, Espinosa has just nine hits for a .127 batting average. He hit .291 in April and his overall batting average to date is now .212. He struck out 20 times in April, and has...

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Williams updates Zimmerman, Gonzalez and Harper recoveries

May 26, 2014, 7:57am

Nationals

Williams updates Zimmerman, Gonzalez and Harper recoveries

Nationals third baseman Ryan Zimmerman is scheduled for another X-ray today to check the progress on his broken right thumb, according to manager Matt Williams. "Doc will take a look at (the X-ray)," Williams said. "Expectation is it will be good. Hopefully, he will get cleared to take baseball activity and get the splint off of there, starting taking some batting practice. ... Been throwing a little bit, he will throw out to 90 (feet) today. That would include grounders. "Then we will...

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Jordan not the only Taylor making waves in Nats farm system

May 25, 2014, 7:18am

Nationals

Jordan not the only Taylor making waves in Nats farm system

Triple-A Syracuse right-hander Taylor Hill continues to excel. He got off to a very good start in April and has been consistent in May. The first 10 games of the season have been close to masterful for the 6-foot-3 former Vanderbilt hurler. Hill has gone 6-1 with a 1.63 ERA in 10 outings, nine of them starts. In 60 2/3 innings, Hill has surrendered only 11 runs and struck out 47 batters with just eight walks. In eight of those 10 games, he has allowed six or fewer hits. He also has given up...

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LaRoche's return can provide calmness to struggling lineup

May 25, 2014, 4:17am

Nationals

LaRoche's return can provide calmness to struggling lineup

First baseman Adam LaRoche has been activated and returns to the Nationals lineup this afternoon for the series finale at Pittsburgh. Infielder Zach Walters was sent to Triple-A Syracuse in the corresponding move. With LaRoche back in the lineup, the bench gets better, with power hitter Tyler Moore now returning to a utility role. Maybe Moore's return to the bench will also help ignite the backup crew. But the bigger statement is that with LaRoche returning, the Nationals get a consistent bat,...

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Could Giolito pitch Sunday for Hagerstown? (updated)

May 24, 2014, 3:53am

Nationals

Could Giolito pitch Sunday for Hagerstown? (updated)

The low Single-A Hagerstown Suns have now placed a "to be determined" for Sunday's starting pitcher against Asheville. Previously, Nick Pivetta was in that spot, but he was placed on the disabled list Friday. Pivetta is 7-2 with a 3.27 ERA. Nationals top pitching prospect Lucas Giolito, who hasn't pitched in a game since May 11, is a candidate for Sunday's start. Monday's pitching probable is also listed as "TBD", so that could also be Giolito's turn. The Nationals told me they are...

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Williams, Span like idea of manufacturing runs with big boys out

May 23, 2014, 7:08am

Nationals

Williams, Span like idea of manufacturing runs with big boys out

Manager Matt Williams said earlier this week that nine-run games are rarities, and that if a team could score that many runs every game, they would be champions. Of course, every team would love to score that many times every game out. The pressure would be taken off the pitchers and the team would have much easier games. It is so easy to say, but much harder to accomplish, especially without your top offensive producers. I saw another statistic this week that makes sense as to where the...

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Team source: Top prospect Giolito skipping starts to have innings managed, not because of injury

May 22, 2014, 12:46pm

Nationals

Team source: Top prospect Giolito skipping starts to have innings managed, not because of injury

Nationals top right-handed pitching prospect Lucas Giolito is not injured, despite not pitching since May 11. The low Single-A Hagerstown Suns starter is having his innings managed, according to a team source. Giolito has racked up 32 1/3 innings in seven starts this season and has pitched well. Giolito is 2-0 with a 2.51 ERA with 36 strikeouts and 14 walks. In his last start on May 11 versus Kannapolis, Giolito went six innings, allowing only one hit, no runs and one walk while striking...

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Zimmerman could play the outfield before he plays first base

May 22, 2014, 10:42am

Nationals

Zimmerman could play the outfield before he plays first base

One way the Nationals could add the most power to their lineup prior to Bryce Harper's July return would be to get Ryan Zimmerman back on the field and keep Anthony Rendon at third base. So Zimmerman would play at first base? Nope. Adam LaRoche returns Sunday and he would be back at his usual spot on the right corner of the infield. So where would Zimmerman play? How about left field? Zimmerman is more of a power hitter than Nate McLouth, who is a better defender in left field....

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Span on his first home run of season and loss to Reds

May 21, 2014, 5:14pm

Nationals

Span on his first home run of season and loss to Reds

Nationals center fielder Denard Span had himself a series. He finished the three games with nine hits against the Reds, including a 5-for-5 performance Tuesday and a leadoff solo shot Wednesday. It was his first homer of the season. The home run off of Reds starter Alfredo Simon gave the Nationals a 1-0 lead. Unfortunately, they could not muster much else offensively, leaving two men on only one time. That chance arrived in the second inning, when Ian Desmond and Tyler Moore led off with...

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Williams on Roark, Simon, Treinen and homestand

May 21, 2014, 4:57pm

Nationals

Williams on Roark, Simon, Treinen and homestand

After the 2-1 loss to the Reds on Wednesday night, Nationals manager Matt Williams addressed the media and announced that Blake Treinen will be called up from Triple-A Syracuse for Thursday's opener at Pittsburgh. Right-hander Ryan Mattheus will be sent back to Syracuse to make room for Treinen on the 25-man roster. Nationals first baseman Adam LaRoche confirmed he will play in a rehab game for high Single-A Potomac on Thursday night in Woodbridge, Va., as he recovers from a right quad...

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Span picks up where he left off in series finale (Reds win 2-1)

May 21, 2014, 12:29pm

Nationals

Span picks up where he left off in series finale (Reds win 2-1)

"I had a good day," Nationals center fielder Denard Span said Tuesday night. "Today was my day. I saw the ball good, and got to do it again tomorrow." Wednesday arrived and he did it again. Fresh off a career-high-matching 5-for-5 performance in Tuesday's 9-4 Nationals win over the Reds, Span launched the second pitch from Reds right-hander Alfredo Simon into the Nationals bullpen in right field, and the Nationals lead 1-0. Span now has eight hits in the series. Right-hander Tanner...

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Williams updates LaRoche, Harper and Gonzalez's recoveries

May 21, 2014, 10:54am

Nationals

Williams updates LaRoche, Harper and Gonzalez's recoveries

Manager Matt Williams said Wednesday during pregame that first baseman Adam LaRoche is right on target to be activated Sunday or Monday from the 15-day disabled list. LaRoche has been nursing a right quad strain. He has been on the disabled list since May 10. He is expected to play rehab games in the next day or two. "Adam is going to go play," Williams confirmed. "He has got another test today. We are not sure on what exact day he is going to start playing. Could be tomorrow, could be...

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Former adversaries, Fister and Span, team up to take it out on the Reds

May 20, 2014, 7:20pm

Nationals

Former adversaries, Fister and Span, team up to take it out on the Reds

If you ask Doug Fister, Denard Span was always a tough hitter to face. If you ask Span, Fister always got great movement on his pitches, which were incredibly deceptive to the hitter in the box. Unfortunately for the Reds, they had to face both of them Tuesday. The Nationals, led by Fister's seven strong innings and Span's 5-for-5 performance, cruised past Cincinnati 9-4. Fister went seven innings and allowed just six hits and two runs. He walked only one batter, and struck out five. Span...

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Reds go after first pitches against Fister, grab early lead (Nats win 9-4)

May 20, 2014, 3:23pm

Nationals

Reds go after first pitches against Fister, grab early lead (Nats win 9-4)

The Reds picked up where they left off on Tuesday against the Nationals. Fresh off a 4-3, 15-inning marathon win Monday night (Tuesday morning), Cincinnati scored a run in its first at-bat. With one out, Skip Schumaker went after the first offering from Nationals starter Doug Fister and laced the two-seam fastball for a double to left field. Brandon Phillips and Todd Frazier also went after the first pitch from Fister, both of which were two-seam fastballs. Phillips grounded out. But...

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Williams updates Zimmerman's latest X-ray and LaRoche's on field progress

May 20, 2014, 1:58pm

Nationals

Williams updates Zimmerman's latest X-ray and LaRoche's on field progress

Manager Matt Williams had another update on third baseman Ryan Zimmerman's recovery from a right thumb fracture. Williams reported the latest X-ray showed the thumb was getting "better". "He is seeing the occupational therapist to get a splint that will allow him to start throwing a baseball a little bit," Williams said. "It is not really throwing, but it puts his thumb in a position where he can start working his arm which is good, which he needs to do. "I don't know if he will be...

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Nats source: Purke on disabled list with elbow injury

May 20, 2014, 1:30pm

Nationals

Nats source: Purke on disabled list with elbow injury

Double-A Harrisburg starting left-hander Matt Purke has been placed on the disabled list with an elbow injury, according to a club source. The Nationals are "still gathering information" regarding the injury and do not know yet what the next step will be. Purke was listed as the No. 10 Nationals prospect according to Baseball America. Elbow injuries in pitchers usually are rarely easy fixes. Recently, fellow left-hander Danny Rosenbaum under went Tommy John surgery. Purke's career has...