Byron Kerr

Solis "looked sharp" in return to Potomac as P-Nats beat Salem 9-4

July 15, 2013, 6:23pm

Left-hander Sammy Solis returned from the disabled list to throw four shutout innings in the Potomac Nationals' 9-4 win at Salem on Monday night. Richie Mirowski (8-3) pitched two solid innings for the victory. He allowed one hit and struck out three batters. Solis allowed just an infield single, no runs, one walk and struck out two. In his eight innings against Salem this season, Solis has given up just the single Monday night. He retired the first five batters he faced, allowed the infield...

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A.J. Cole earns save as U.S. defeats World 4-2 at All-Stars Futures Game

July 14, 2013, 1:42pm

Nationals

A.J. Cole earns save as U.S. defeats World 4-2 at All-Stars Futures Game

Right-hander A.J. Cole pitched got the final two outs to earn the save as Team U.S.A. defeated Team World 4-2 at the All-Star Futures Game from Citi Field in Flushing, N.Y., on Sunday. With one out in the top of the ninth, Cole got a called third strike versus Ji-Man Choi. Then, Jesus Galindo grounded out to second base to end the game. Team U.S.A. held Team World to three hits in the game. High Single-A Potomac Nationals pitcher Cole was a replacement for Nationals right-hander Taylor...

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Potomac's Solis returns from DL, to start Monday at Salem

July 14, 2013, 9:56am

Nationals

Potomac's Solis returns from DL, to start Monday at Salem

Left-hander Sammy Solis has recovered from shoulder soreness and will start Monday night for the high Single-A Potomac Nationals at Salem, confirmed director of player development Doug Harris. Solis has been out since the middle of June. He returned July 5 and pitched two shutout innings for the rookie-level Gulf Coast Nationals. He had three strikeouts, no walks and has allowed just one hit. He was supposed to have another GCL rehab start this week, but it was rained out. Solis made four...

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Krol, Cole and Treinen working out well as return on Morse trade

July 14, 2013, 4:23am

Nationals

Krol, Cole and Treinen working out well as return on Morse trade

The three-team trade that sent outfielder Michael Morse to the Seattle Mariners and brought three players to the Nationals, including the return of right-hander A.J. Cole, has provided a very positive addition to the strength of the pitching in the Nationals' minor leagues that has reached all the way up to the big club. Cole, left-handed reliever Ian Krol and starter Blake Treinen were sent to the Nationals in the Morse deal. Ironically, Krol was the player to be named, and he has made it...

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Who's the Nationals' top prospect right now?

July 11, 2013, 7:03pm

Nationals

When the Nationals promoted second baseman Anthony Rendon to the majors, it meant the next edition of their top prospect list will change a bit at the top. Rendon was the No. 1 prospect, so his promotion elevated right-hander Lucas Giolito and outfielder Brian Goodwin on the list. Baseball America executive editor Jim Callis believed that Giolito and Goodwin were definitely at the top of the list of Nationals prospects, but his new list won't come out until after the season. In my opinion,...

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Senators' Goodwin, Barrett and Souza part of Western All-Stars' 5-0 win

July 11, 2013, 4:18am

Nationals

Senators' Goodwin, Barrett and Souza part of Western All-Stars' 5-0 win

The Western Division easily defeated the Eastern Division 5-0 in the Eastern League All-Star Game at New Britain, Conn., on Wednesday night. Double-A Harrisburg's Brian Goodwin, Steven Souza and Aaron Barrett all played in the win. Goodwin walked and scored a run in a three-run first inning for the West. They tacked on two more runs in the fourth inning. The Western Division was 4-for-5 with runners in scoring position. The Eastern Division managed five hits and no runs thanks to nine...

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Notes on Cole, Solis, Espinosa and more

July 10, 2013, 4:57pm

Nationals

More accolades for high Single-A Potomac Nationals right-hander A.J. Cole, who has been selected to compete for the United States in the 2013 All-Star Futures Game at Citi Field in Flushing, N.Y. on Sunday, July 14. Cole has gone 5-3 with a 4.47 ERA in 17 starts this season. He already has 99 strikeouts to only 22 walks. He started Wednesday night. Cole went three innings, allowed two hits, no runs and struck out one batter. * Left-hander Sammy Solis' second rehab start was rained out...

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Top prospect Giolito fares well in second GCL start, Solis update

July 09, 2013, 11:37am

Nationals

Top prospect Giolito fares well in second GCL start, Solis update

In his second professional start this season, top prospect right-hander Lucas Giolito fared very well for the Gulf Coast League Nationals in their 11-3 win over the GCL Cardinals today. The GCL Nats are now 12-4 and in first place in the East division. Giolito went two innings, allowing one hit, no runs, no walks and striking out three. In the first inning, the 18-year-old Giolito fired a pair of swinging strikeouts in a 1-2-3 inning. In the secobd frame, Giolito allowed a leadoff single and...

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Prospect Purke roughed up in second start for P-Nats

July 08, 2013, 6:11pm

Nationals

Prospect Purke roughed up in second start for P-Nats

Left-hander Matt Purke did not have a good outing in his second start for high Single-A Potomac on Monday night, a 12-9 loss at Winston-Salem. Purke (0-1) allowed two home runs to shortstop Chris Curley in three 2/3 innings, totaling 11 hits, nine runs, one walk, two wild pitches and three strikeouts. His ERA jumped from 1.80 to 10.38 in the loss. Purke had allowed only one run in his first start for the P-Nats on July 3, also against Winston-Salem. Winston-Salem scored two runs in the first...

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Top prospect Giolito on schedule for second start Tuesday

July 07, 2013, 12:53pm

Nationals

Top prospect Giolito on schedule for second start Tuesday

Right-hander Lucas Giolito, the top prospect in the Nationals system, will make his next start for the Gulf Coast Nationals on Tuesday afternoon against the GCL Cardinals, according to Nationals director of player development Doug Harris. In his season debut last week, Giolito was pulled after only 1/3 of an inning in which he allowed two hits, two runs, one earned, two walks and one strikeout. This is positive news on two fronts. First, this means that Giolito was not pulled the first...

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Pitching for GCL Nationals, Brad Meyers fares well in first pro start since early 2012

July 07, 2013, 8:04am

Nationals

The Rookie-level Gulf Coast Nationals have started off well, going 11-3 in their first 14 games, including winning seven of their first eight contests. Right-hander Brad Meyers made the start Saturday, going two innings, allowing one hit and no runs with one strikeout and no walks. He faced six batters and induced three groundouts. To put it in perspective, it was his longest outing since 2011. He last pitched in 2012 for a Yankees affiliate, when he lasted just 1 2/3 innings, surrendering in...

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All-Star Souza playing for today in Harrisburg

July 06, 2013, 5:45am

Nationals

All-Star Souza playing for today in Harrisburg

Outfielder Steven Souza is having an outstanding first half for Double-A Harrisburg, and his play has been rewarded with an invitation to the Eastern League All-Star Game on July 10. "It is an honor," Souza said recently. "It is going to be a fun experience. I just thank the lord for blessing me with such a good season and some good teammates to help me through the year. I am looking forward to spending it with my family and my agent." Souza is batting .280 through 48 games, with 11...

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Goodwin making strides as All-Star appearance approaches

July 04, 2013, 6:46pm

Nationals

Goodwin making strides as All-Star appearance approaches

Double-A Harrisburg Senators outfielder Brian Goodwin has been named to the Eastern League All-Star team. He will play for the Western Division on July 10 in New Britain, Conn. It also comes at a time when Goodwin is starting to get into a nice rhythm at the plate. He has cut down on his strikeouts, with only five in his last 38 at-bats. He has had 10 hits in his last eight games, including a home run July 3, his seventh round-tripper of the season. Harrisburg manager Matt Lecroy said Goodwin...

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Rendon making strides at second base on tough night for Nats

July 03, 2013, 5:46pm

Nationals

Rendon making strides at second base on tough night for Nats

Second baseman Anthony Rendon is responsible for the only run the Nationals have scored in an 18-inning span of two losses to Milwaukee. His solo homer off of winning pitcher Kyle Lohse cut the Brewers lead to 4-1, which turned out to be the final score. Rendon said he finally got a good look at a curveball after struggling against Lohse in earlier at-bats. "I knew he was throwing it at me the whole previous at-bats," Rendon said. "He got me on the first couple and he happened to hang one...

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Giolito and Purke updates on their new team debuts

July 03, 2013, 5:33pm

Nationals

Giolito and Purke updates on their new team debuts

Right-hander Lucas Giolito faced only five batters in his GCL Nationals debut in Florida. It was his first professional game since recovering from Tommy John surgery. Giolito went 1/3 of an inning, allowed one hit, two runs, one earned run, two walks and one strikeout. He walked the first two batters he faced, the Cardinals' Eliezer Alvarez and Jhohan Acevedo. Giolito was replaced by Ryan Ullmann who struck out the next two hitters to get out of the inning. No specifics were available on...

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Johnson on Espinosa's struggles at the plate: "He will get it"

July 03, 2013, 1:29pm

Nationals

Johnson on Espinosa's struggles at the plate: "He will get it"

Danny Espinosa has continued to struggle at the plate for Triple-A Syracuse as he rehabs from wrist and shoulder injuries. He is batting .094 (6-for-64) in 19 games, with 33 strikeouts in 64 at-bats. Recently he has improved his strikeouts per game, down to four in the last five contests. Manager Davey Johnson has kept up on Espinosa in the team reports and has been able to watch a lot of his at-bats on video. "I saw his approach," Johnson said. "He has changed a little bit in his...

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Zach Walters named to International League All-Star Game

July 03, 2013, 7:41am

Nationals

Zach Walters named to International League All-Star Game

The Triple-A Syracuse Chiefs have announced that shortstop Zach Walters has been named to the International League All-Star Game to be played in Reno, Nev., on July 17. Walters has hit a career-high 18 home runs and 44 RBIs in his first 77 games this season for the Chiefs. The 23-year-old Walters has collected 40 extra-base hits, 20 of those doubles and two triples. He has been trending well recently at the dish. Walters is batting .316 since late May, with eight home runs and 20 RBIs. He has...

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Storen will focus on holding runners, controlling pitches after loss

July 02, 2013, 8:01pm

Nationals

Storen will focus on holding runners, controlling pitches after loss

A lot happened to Nationals reliever Drew Storen to make everything unravel in Tuesday's four-run eighth inning for Milwaukee. On paper, it was a pair of doubles, and a pair of singles that did him in, as Milwaukee turned a tight pitchers' duel into a 4-0 victory. But it was how quickly it all changed for Storen and how Milwaukee attacked his delivery to the plate - to gain extra bases - that was so shocking. Brewers outfielder Logan Schafer led off with a single and then stole second...

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Johnson would place no restrictions on Harper in All-Star game

July 02, 2013, 1:34pm

Nationals

Johnson would place no restrictions on Harper in All-Star game

Despite missing 31 games with a knee injury, outfielder Bryce Harper continues to be in the top four in National League outfield voting for the All-Star Game, which is July 16 at Citi Field. Harper returned to the lineup Monday for the first time since late May, cranking a solo homer in his first at-bat in a 10-5 Nationals victory over Milwaukee. Major League Baseball welcomed him back with open arms. Returning at the beginning of July, many started asking if Harper would play in the All-Star...

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Top 2012 pick Giolito to make season debut Wednesday for GCL Nats

July 02, 2013, 11:59am

Nationals

Top 2012 pick Giolito to make season debut Wednesday for GCL Nats

Right-hander Lucas Giolito will make his season debut for the rookie league Gulf Coast League Nationals on Wednesday, according to Nationals director of player development Doug Harris. The 2012 first-round selection, who is 12 days short of his 19th birthday, has recovered from Tommy John surgery and has looked good in workouts at the Nationals' training facility in Viera, Fla. The 6-foot-6, 225 lb., Giolito "has thrown the ball well," Harris said. "Ball is coming out of his hand with...