Byron Kerr

Ramos returns and instantly helps deliver Nats' win over Dodgers (Moore optioned)

May 07, 2014, 2:16pm

Wilson Ramos waited 38 days for a chance to get back with the Nationals. The catcher had a double, a walk and a sac fly that drove in the winning run in a 3-2 Nationals win over the Dodgers, which gave Washington a series victory. The double came on the first pitch he saw from Dodgers starter Dan Haren. I think the Nationals are glad he is back as well. "I am excited to be back with the team," Ramos told MASN's Dan Kolko. "I know I can help the team a lot. That is what I want to do. I want...

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Dodgers get to Strasburg early again (Nats win 3-2)

May 07, 2014, 11:03am

Nationals

Dodgers get to Strasburg early again (Nats win 3-2)

First innings have not been kind to Stephen Strasburg this season. Prior to Wednesday's game in seven starts this season, Strasburg had allowed nine runs, six of them earned, with an opponent batting average of .394 in the first inning. The Dodgers added to that trend with two runs on four hits to take a 2-0 lead early in the final game of the series. Carl Crawford, Hanley Ramirez, Adrian Gonzalez and Yasiel Puig all had singles in the first. Gonzalez and Puig contributed the RBIs. It was...

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Ramos back in lineup, batting fifth against Dodgers

May 07, 2014, 7:28am

Nationals

Ramos back in lineup, batting fifth against Dodgers

March 31. May 7. Finally. Nationals manager Matt Williams announced that Wilson Ramos returns to the lineup today against the Dodgers, batting fifth and catching for Stephen Strasburg. Just like he did on opening day March 31. Ramos suffered a left hamate fracture in his hand in that first game against the Mets, had surgery and now has rehabbed to the point that he's ready to return to the lineup. Ramos said his hand feels strong and he has done enough running to be ready to return. "Feels...

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Treinen suffers tough loss to Dodgers in first major league start

May 06, 2014, 7:48pm

Nationals

Treinen suffers tough loss to Dodgers in first major league start

In your first major league start, you hold the Los Angeles Dodgers to no earned runs over five-plus innings. Your fielding error allows the opponent to start a rally. But it is just three runs. Nationals right-hander Blake Treinen took the loss in an 8-3 defeat, but it was not because he wasn't ready or didn't have the stuff to compete. He did. "Obviously, I am excited to get an opportunity to come up here and play with this team," Treinen said. "Not so much nerves, as it was just trying...

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Treinen gets help from defense early against Dodgers (L.A. wins 8-3)

May 06, 2014, 3:27pm

Nationals

Treinen gets help from defense early against Dodgers (L.A. wins 8-3)

It is a pretty big night for Blake Treinen. In one day, he is called up again to the big leagues and later that night he makes his first major league start. Oh, and he has to face the Los Angeles Dodgers' potent offense and ace left-hander Clayton Kershaw. The Nationals right-hander has pitched well for Triple-A Syracuse to begin this season, with four starts and a 1.59 ERA. Last season, he made 22 starts for the Chiefs, going 6-7 with a 3.47 ERA. As a reliever for the Nationals this season,...

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Minor league injury updates on Solis, Taylor, Rivero, Kobernus and Renda (Solis arrival update)

May 06, 2014, 8:11am

Nationals

Minor league injury updates on Solis, Taylor, Rivero, Kobernus and Renda (Solis arrival update)

Left-hander Sammy Solis threw four innings Monday in Florida and the club's offseason facility and everything looked good, according to a team source. Solis' velocity is there. He is playing extended spring training games against teams from the Braves, Astros and Tigers. Solis had a minor back strain right before end of spring training which set him back. Update: A Nats source confirms that Solis will likely headed north, presumably to Double-A Harrisburg in the next week. Harrisburg...

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Barrett and Williams on bullpen's finishing of marathon game, Nats win

May 05, 2014, 10:18pm

Nationals

Barrett and Williams on bullpen's finishing of marathon game, Nats win

It was a game that officially took two hours and 59 minutes to play. But, in reality, it had another three hours and 17 minutes of a rain delay sandwiched inside the regular game. The Nationals ended up winning the opener against the Dodgers, 4-0. The pair of two-run shots by Anthony Rendon and Danny Espinosa were critical. Also crucial to the victory was the bullpen's ability to stay focused and hold the Dodgers scoreless for the final five innings of the game. Nationals reliever Aaron...

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Ramos completes nine innings in rehab game for Harrisburg

May 05, 2014, 6:47pm

Nationals

Ramos completes nine innings in rehab game for Harrisburg

Nationals catcher Wilson Ramos caught nine innings of a rehab game for the Double-A Harrisburg Senators on Monday night in their 8-2 loss to Richmond. Ramos went 0-for-4 and grounded into a pair of double plays, but called 149 pitches from four Senator pitchers. On Sunday, he was the designated hitter for the Hagerstown Suns and hit a three-run homer. Ramos has been out since opening day with a left hamate fracture. He has had a few extended spring training games and now a pair of rehab games...

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Nationals score first, courtesy of long homer by Rendon (Nats win)

May 05, 2014, 3:35pm

Nationals

In two starts against the Nationals last season, Dodgers starter Zack Greinke won both times and allowed a grand total of two earned runs. The Nationals managed to score two earned runs in their first inning against Greinke in 2014. After a double by Denard Span to lead off the bottom of the first, Anthony Rendon got a hold of a 1-2 offering from Greinke and deposited it into the red porch seats over the wall in left-center. It was Rendon's first ever hit against Greinke in three recorded...

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Nats source: Purke to stay in rotation despite slow start

May 05, 2014, 3:28pm

Double-A Harrisburg left-hander Matt Purke has had a tough start to the season, but the Nationals have no immediate intention of removing him from the starting rotation, a team source told MASNSports.com. They also confirm Purke's shoulder is fine. Purke was a third-round 2011 selection for the Nationals who missed most of the 2012 season because of a shoulder injury. He had left shoulder surgery in August of that season and pitched in 18 games in 2013 between high Single-A Potomac and the...

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Updates on Ramos, Hairston and Zimmerman

May 05, 2014, 2:34pm

Nationals

Updates on Ramos, Hairston and Zimmerman

Manager Matt Williams is excited at the prospect of getting three starters back by the end of the week. He got one back Monday. Nationals catcher Wilson Ramos (hand) started for Double-A Harrisburg on Monday night. Scott Hairston (oblique) was activated off the disabled list before Monday's opener against the Dodgers. Doug Fister (lat) is expected to make his Nationals debut Friday night at Oakland. But Williams would like it even more if no one else gets hurt for a little while. "We just...

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Relief pitching one major key to Hagerstown's success

May 05, 2014, 3:02am

Nationals

Relief pitching one major key to Hagerstown's success

The low Single-A Hagerstown Suns, a Nationals affiliate playing in the South Atlantic League, have started the season 21-7 with big hitting and some good games from the starters. But another reason for their fast start has been the relievers holding leads from the fifth inning on most nights. Hagerstown director of broadcasting Eli Pearlstein told me on 106.7 The Fan's "Nats Insider" that this crew has won a lot of games for the Suns to begin this season. "Two relievers just got promoted...

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Wilson Ramos making rehab appearance tonight for Hagerstown (updated)

May 04, 2014, 6:25am

Nationals

Wilson Ramos making rehab appearance tonight for Hagerstown (updated)

Catcher Wilson Ramos (left hand fracture) will be making his first rehab start tonight for the low Single-A Suns against the Lexington Legends at 5:05 p.m. at Municipal Stadium in Hagerstown. Ramos has not appeared in a game since opening day against the Mets on March 31. He had surgery soon after to remove the hamate bone in his left hand. Ramos will serve as the designated hitter while Nationals top pitching prospect Lucas Giolito (1-0, 2.95 ERA) makes his sixth start. Giolito has 24...

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Drew Ward providing depth at third base in Nats system (updated)

May 03, 2014, 7:15am

Nationals

Drew Ward providing depth at third base in Nats system (updated)

Low Single-A Hagerstown third baseman Drew Ward is in the midst of a scorching run. The 6-foot-4, 210 lb. lefty-hitting Ward had a 4-for-4 performance May 1. He hit a home run in that game and is batting .425 his last 10 games. In the first game of the doubleheader that day, Ward drew three walks. Ward has made his way to pro ball similar to Bryce Harper's run - he did not go to college, graduating from high school early - so the 19-year-old is on a nice track. So far this season for the Suns,...

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Fister works strong first two frames in second rehab start at Reading

May 02, 2014, 7:01pm

Nationals

Fister works strong first two frames in second rehab start at Reading

Nationals right-hander Doug Fister (lat strain) completed 3 2/3 innings for Double-A Harrisburg Friday night at Reading in his second rehab start. Harrisburg defeated Reading 9-4. Fister worked a "very strong first two" innings according to Reading Phillies broadcaster Steve Degler. He allowed two hits, two runs, three walks and struck out five, firing 76 pitches, 46 for strikes. Fister threw 25 pitches in the fourth inning. He went 1-for-2 at the plate with a single. Degler said Fister...

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Hairston smacks RBI double in rehab start for Triple-A Syracuse

May 02, 2014, 4:11am

Nationals

Hairston smacks RBI double in rehab start for Triple-A Syracuse

Nationals outfielder Scott Hairston (oblique strain) had a positive rehab start Thursday for Triple-A Syracuse. Hairston played left field, going 1-for-3, with an RBI double and a walk. He also grounded into a double play. His double scored Josh Johnson from second to tie the game in the third inning. The Chiefs went on to win the game, 4-3. The rehab assignment is expected to last four games, which would take him through the weekend with Syracuse, He could then return to D.C. with the Nats...

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Rendon and Espinosa keys to Nats offensive consistency

May 01, 2014, 3:45am

Nationals

Rendon and Espinosa keys to Nats offensive consistency

I had a feeling Anthony Rendon would feel comfortable back in his native Texas. And he did. Rendon contributed four hits for the second time in his last five games as the Nationals shut out the Astros 7-0. He also had two doubles and his forth home run of the season. Rendon has also displayed his glovework at third, making more than a few great plays on shots to the hot corner. Then there is Danny Espinosa. He went 3-for-8 in the series and also smacked a home run Wednesday. He is a well-known...

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Barrett's solid start is making people take notice

April 30, 2014, 4:18pm

Nationals

Barrett's solid start is making people take notice

As April winds to a close, Nationals right-hander Aaron Barrett has to be pretty pleased with his first month in the majors. There is still one game to go, but he has been able to post solid numbers. He allowed a run on two hits against the Angels on April 23 and two walks with the bases loaded against the Padres April 27. Overall, Barrett is 1-0 with a 1.17 ERA in nine games over 7 2/3 innings. He has given up four hits, one run and five walks in that span, and has struck out 11 batters. He...

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Minor league updates: Skole, Taylor, Keyes, Solano and Fister news

April 29, 2014, 5:20am

Nationals

Minor league updates: Skole, Taylor, Keyes, Solano and Fister news

Center fielder Michael Taylor announced his presence with a three home run game Sunday for Double-A Harrisburg against Bowie. He went 3-for-4 with three home runs and four RBIs, becoming the first Nationals organizational player to his three homers in one game since Danny Espinosa. Taylor is batting .250 with four doubles, five home runs and 18 RBIs in 22 games. He has struck out 39 times, but has walked 11 times and stolen five bases. He is hitting .351 at home and .170 on the road. Taylor is...

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McLouth's value rises as Harper goes down to injury

April 28, 2014, 8:10am

Nationals

McLouth's value rises as Harper goes down to injury

Outfielder Nate McLouth had a nice breakthrough late in Sunday's game when he hit a solo shot, his first homer for the Nationals. McLouth said the homer might be a signal that he is starting to feel good in each at-bat. "I felt good all day," McLouth said. "For the most part, I felt halfway decent at the plate. Just wasn't getting any results. It happens sometimes like that. You can't change your approach. You got to just trust your process." McLouth said they tried several tactics to...