Byron Kerr

Hearing from Strasburg, Detwiler, Storen, Rendon and Frandsen after marathon loss to Reds

May 19, 2014, 9:10pm

Nationals starter Stephen Strasburg did not factor in the decision of Monday's 4-3 loss in 15 innings to the Reds. But Strasburg was able to go seven innings and allowed just two runs. "Felt pretty good, battled," Strasburg said. "Fastball was up a little bit tonight. Trying to keep it close." A key play in the game came in the seventh when the Nationals were able to get Billy Hamilton caught between third and home plate. Strasburg could see Hamilton leading off of third base. "I...

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Strasburg and Leake control game early (Reds win 4-3 in 15)

May 19, 2014, 3:47pm

Nationals

Strasburg and Leake control game early (Reds win 4-3 in 15)

Monday's series opener paired a matchup of two of the top eight overall selections from the 2009 first-year player draft as the Reds arrived in D.C. to face the Nationals. Top overall selection Stephen Strasburg faced off against the eighth overall pick Mike Leake. Strasburg had to deal with a runner in scoring position in each of the first two innings, but escaped unscathed. In the first, Skip Schumaker doubled with one out. Strasburg was then able to retire Brandon Phillips and Devin...

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Williams updates Zimmerman, LaRoche, Treinen

May 19, 2014, 2:03pm

Nationals

Williams updates Zimmerman, LaRoche, Treinen

Nationals manager Matt Williams said third baseman Ryan Zimmerman will have another x-ray today to check on his recovering right thumb fracture. Zimmerman, on the 15-day disabled list since April 13, has been seen shagging fly balls in the outfield the last few batting practices. "He also has been taking grounders in the infield too," Williams said. "We have to be very careful with him because it is a fracture. His natural tendency in the infield is to catch the ball with two hands. So in...

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Solis will make another progression start Wednesday for Potomac (updated)

May 19, 2014, 6:54am

Nationals

Solis will make another progression start Wednesday for Potomac (updated)

Left-hander Sammy Solis is making progress following his first pro start of the season Friday for Single-A Hagerstown Suns. His next start is Wednesday at 5:30 p.m. for Single-A Potomac, a club source confirmed. Solis went six innings, allowing only four hits, no runs, no walks and struck out seven batters to notch the victory last week for the Suns. The 6-foot-5 southpaw had been transferred to Double-A Harrisburg Senators. He worked out with the team the past couple of days. Solis had...

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Ramos' request to play on Sunday pays big dividends for Nats

May 18, 2014, 1:45pm

Nationals

Ramos' request to play on Sunday pays big dividends for Nats

You have to think Wilson Ramos was trying to make up for lost time on Sunday. Way back on opening day, March 31 in New York against the Mets, the Nationals catcher had only three at-bats before he was removed with a hand injury. That hand injury turned out to be a fractured hamate bone in his left hand. Ramos missed 32 games. On Sunday, in only his eighth game since returning from injury, Ramos had a big day at the plate against those very same Mets. Ramos had a two-run double in the third and...

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Williams says Gonzalez's shoulder is fine, but Gonzalez is not so sure

May 17, 2014, 3:58pm

Nationals

Williams says Gonzalez's shoulder is fine, but Gonzalez is not so sure

Manager Matt Williams said in his postgame news conference following a 5-2 loss to the Mets Saturday that Gio Gonzalez's shoulder issue from earlier in the season is not the reason for the Nationals left-hander's two rough outings in a row. But if it is not a health reason for Gonzalez's problems on the hill, what is it? "I can't put a finger on that because I don't know," Williams said. "There's no difference in velocity. He's running it in there at 94 mph. It doesn't feel like...

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Werth and Ramos on 5-2 win over the Mets

May 16, 2014, 7:41pm

Nationals

Werth and Ramos on 5-2 win over the Mets

The Nationals returned home with a 5-2 victory over the New York Mets, thanks to timely hits by Jayson Werth, Scott Hairston and Tyler Moore. Wilson Ramos also had a big RBI sac fly and scored a run in support of winning pitcher Tanner Roark. Werth went 2-for-4 with a first inning run-scoring single. But his catch at the right field wall to prevent a three-run shot by Daniel Murphy, that would have tied the contest in the ninth inning, turned into a game-changing moment. "When it was hit, I...

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Hagerstown spotlight: Starters and bullpen getting it done

May 16, 2014, 5:48am

Nationals

Hagerstown spotlight: Starters and bullpen getting it done

It is amazing the amount of talent that is building up from rookie-level to low Single-A for the Nationals this season. A good amount of the players that helped guide the Gulf Coast Nationals to a 52-9 record and a league championship now play for the Hagerstown Suns. So far, the success this team had at the GCL level is translating to the South Atlantic League. Sixteen of the players on the current roster played for the GCL Nats, 10 of them pitchers. The Suns are managed by Patrick Anderson....

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Williams: Desmond getting better defensively, doesn't need days off

May 15, 2014, 7:26am

Nationals

Williams: Desmond getting better defensively, doesn't need days off

Nationals shortstop Ian Desmond had a home run early in the Arizona series. On Wednesday, he delivered a clutch two-run single to put the Nationals ahead for good in a 5-1 series-clinching victory over the Diamondbacks. He finished with five RBIs in the three-game set. Thursday marks a rare day off for Desmond. Despite this week's recent uptick at the plate, does manager Matt Williams believe Desmond needs a day or two off? "I want to give him some time, but we have had a lot of off-days,"...

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Williams: Fister needs to sink the ball; updates LaRoche's recovery

May 14, 2014, 11:00am

Nationals

Williams: Fister needs to sink the ball; updates LaRoche's recovery

Wednesday's starter Doug Fister would like nothing more than to put aside his season debut from last Friday in an 8-0 loss at Oakland. Manager Matt Williams believes Fister will have a better showing in today's start against Arizona. "I think he just needs to be down in the strike zone," Williams said. "I anticipate that today being on normal rest. We pushed him through an inning the last time out just to make sure his pitch count stayed up there and all of that worked the way we wanted it...

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Desmond with another extra-base hit to get Nationals on board (D-backs win 3-1)

May 13, 2014, 6:07pm

Nationals

Nationals shortstop Ian Desmond slammed a home run on Monday for his first extra-base hit since May 2. Sometimes when a hitter finally puts a charge in the ball, it can start something bigger. Desmond continued his good feeling at the plate in the second inning Tuesday in Arizona. After Wilson Ramos singled off of Diamondbacks starter Bronson Arroyo, Desmond hit a RBI triple to deep right field to give the Nationals a 1-0 lead. It was Desmond's first triple of the season. Right-hander Stephen...

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Right-hander Suero advances to Potomac, continues to impress

May 13, 2014, 5:00pm

Nationals

Right-hander Suero advances to Potomac, continues to impress

Right-hander Wander Suero was called up to high Single-A Potomac last week. And for good reason. All he has been is impressive. Suero went 3-0 with one save and a 1.98 ERA in six games for the low Single-A Hagerstown Suns. In 27 1/3 innings, Suero allowed 24 hits, six earned runs, two walks and struck out 19 batters. Suero also went 8-1 with a 1.65 ERA for the Rookie-level champion Gulf Coast Nationals last season, striking out 46 batters in 49 innings over 13 games. The 2010 non-drafted...

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Williams updates Zimmerman, McLouth, Ramos, Desmond, Storen and Frandsen

May 13, 2014, 4:43pm

Nationals

Williams updates Zimmerman, McLouth, Ramos, Desmond, Storen and Frandsen

Nationals manager Matt Williams received X-ray results on third baseman Ryan Zimmerman and his broken thumb. Zimmerman has been on the disabled list since April 13. Unfortunately, Zimmerman will not be able to begin strength exercises yet. "X-rays were good, but it is not fully healed yet," Williams said. "So the doctor is not comfortable with him starting any strengthening stuff yet. I imagine we will go back to that in about a week and see where he is at. It's only four weeks, doesn't...

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Nationals look to forget Oakland at Arizona (Nats rally for 6-5 win)

May 12, 2014, 5:54pm

Nationals

After being unable to ever get comfortable against the Oakland A's and getting swept, the Nationals could ask for nothing more than to get off to a quick start in Arizona against the vulnerable Diamondbacks, a team that has won just three of their first 18 games at home. Facing Josh Collmenter, leadoff hitter Denard Span fought through four straight cutters before getting a changeup and lacing it for a triple to center field to begin the game. Anthony Rendon brought him home on a sacrifice fly...

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Williams on being back in Arizona, updates Zimmerman and Harper injuries

May 12, 2014, 4:56pm

Nationals

Williams on being back in Arizona, updates Zimmerman and Harper injuries

Tonight, Matt Williams makes his return to Phoenix where he was a coach for the Diamondbacks, but now he is in his new role as the manager of the Nationals. Diamondbacks manager Kirk Gibson was excited to see his old friend back in Arizona, but that doesn't change his competitive fire to try to beat the opponent. "I want to beat his (butt), too," Gibson said. "That is mutual. But (Williams) does it right. We have a lot in common. Just the way we were brought up. We talked a lot when he was...

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Nats down to 67 percent of opening day offense

May 12, 2014, 3:17am

Nationals

Nats down to 67 percent of opening day offense

With the news the Nationals will be without first baseman Adam LaRoche for what could be until the end of the month of May, the offense is now without three of its top hitters. It feels like catcher Wilson Ramos just got back from a left hand fracture. Now, LaRoche takes his place on the sidelines, out with a quad injury on the 15-day disabled list. And it is not like any of the three players will be coming back any time soon. Third baseman Ryan Zimmerman is likely out until mid-June with a...

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Nationals need confident Detwiler to solidify left side of bullpen

May 10, 2014, 8:26am

Nationals

Losing 8-0 is never fun. But getting Ross Detwiler some extended work is a promising sign. Doug Fister struggled in his first start for the Nationals, surrendering seven runs, five of them earned runs, in 4 1/3 innings. Detwiler had a very difficult May 6 against the Dodgers, giving up four runs on three hits himself, over one inning. But Friday he was able to hang in there, getting out of the fifth inning for Fister. Detwiler went 2 1/3 frames, scattering three hits, one hit batter, striking...

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Notes on LaRoche, Zimmerman, Rendon, Rosenbaum and more

May 09, 2014, 3:34am

Nationals

Notes on LaRoche, Zimmerman, Rendon, Rosenbaum and more

First baseman Adam LaRoche delivered one of the biggest hits of Wednesday's 3-2 won over the Dodgers, but then had trouble moving around the bases. LaRoche was unable to score from first following a long double. This was a clear sign that he can hit with his very sore quad, but he can't run as fast as he would like. It also bothers other parts of his game. "That is another frustrating thing part there," LaRoche said. "It obviously hinders me on the base paths. It is tough to move...

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Strasburg erases tough first and bears down to beat Dodgers

May 08, 2014, 4:00am

Nationals

Strasburg erases tough first and bears down to beat Dodgers

Right-hander Stephen Strasburg has had trouble this season getting off to quick starts in the first inning. Before Wednesday's game against the Dodgers, he had allowed nine runs, six earned, in seven previous opening innings. Same thing happened again in his eighth start. Four consecutive hits and two runs and the Dodgers led 2-0. But then that is when something unusual happened. All season it was the Nationals that had to find a way to come back. Down 2-0, this time they didn't wait until...

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Matt Williams on Strasburg, Ramos, LaRoche and win over Dodgers

May 07, 2014, 2:43pm

Nationals

Matt Williams on Strasburg, Ramos, LaRoche and win over Dodgers

Manager Matt Williams said Stephen Strasburg did not have to make any changes to his strategy after four hits and two runs allowed in the first inning. "He got what he wanted in the first inning, couple of grounders that got through," Williams said. "Just found holes. I don't think there was any major adjustments after inning No. 1. He had good location the rest of the game, good breaking balls. But I don't think it was any different than inning No. 1." Williams said Strasburg is up to...