Byron Kerr

Inability to produce clutch hit haunts Nats vs. Cleveland

June 16, 2013, 12:24pm

Even with though he was struggling with his command, Stephen Strasburg gave the Nationals a chance. But in the end, the offense could not deliver the clutch hit, and the Nationals fell 2-0 at Cleveland on Sunday. The Nationals had no outs and runners on first and third in the sixth, but could not score. A Ryan Zimmerman strikeout and an Adam LaRoche double play groundout ended the threat. In the seventh, the Nationals loaded the bases with nobody out. Jhonatan Solano lined into a double play...

Tags:

Nationals-Indians lineups (Strasburg returns, Cedeno back to Syracuse)

June 16, 2013, 6:53am

Nationals

It's a Father's Day special at Progressive Field, as the Nationals seek their third straight series win. Last night, the Nationals come back to beat the Indians 7-6 on the first major league home run by Anthony Rendon. Sunday is special in many ways, but for the Nationals, the top return of Stephen Strasburg (3-5, 2.54 ERA) is at the top of the list. Xavier Cedeno was optioned to Triple-A Syracuse to make room on the 25-man roster. The Indians counter with Corey Kluber (4-4, 4.08 ERA) Here...

Tags:

byron kerr nationals lineups stephen strasburg

Nationals' power display answers many questions

June 15, 2013, 7:21pm

Nationals

Saturday's thrilling 7-6 comeback victory over the Indians reveals a lot about what this 2013 version of the Nationals are capable of. Ryan Zimmerman, Jayson Werth, Ian Desmond, Chad Tracy and Anthony Rendon all hit homers. All of them solo shots. That power is both a strength and a weakness. There have not been enough two-run or three-run homers this season as compared to last season. But it cannot be underreported that this team crushed five home runs Saturday. The three shots by...

Tags:

anthony rendon byron kerr nationals frontfeatured_nationals

Espinosa and Moore updates from Syracuse

June 15, 2013, 9:08am

Nationals

Espinosa and Moore updates from Syracuse

Second baseman Danny Espinosa has played two games for Triple-A Syracuse as he recovers from a wrist injury. He has been subbed out after two or three at-bats in each game by Will Rhymes. Espinosa is hitting .200 (1-for-5) in two games with two runs, no walks and two strikeouts. Left fielder Tyler Moore has started three games, and is hitting .182 (2-for-11) with a double, one homer and seven RBIs. He has had six RBIs in the last two games. Moore has struck out five times. Numbers are...

Tags:

byron kerr danny espinosa nationals farm report tyler moore frontstory_nationals3

Inconsistent offense needs spark Rendon provides

June 15, 2013, 1:22am

Nationals

Inconsistent offense needs spark Rendon provides

The Nationals' only run in Friday's opening series 2-1 loss to the Indians came on a bases-loaded wild pitch in the third inning. Cleveland's Justin Masterson was able to strike out 10 batters. Indians pitchers combined for 13 strikeouts. The Nationals managed just two hits, from Ryan Zimmerman and Steve Lombardozzi. Neither of those hits came after the third inning. The Nationals had their chances, as did the Indians, to get some scoring going. "We had right guys up with runners in...

Tags:

anthony rendon bryce harper byron kerr davey johnson nationals ryan zimmerman frontstory_nationals3

Zimmerman to DH; Nats lineup tonight vs. Indians

June 14, 2013, 11:36am

Nationals

Zimmerman to DH; Nats lineup tonight vs. Indians

For only the fifth time in his career, Ryan Zimmerman will be the designated hitter as the Nationals take on the Cleveland Indians. Ironically, on June 13, 2010, Zimmerman was the designated hitter and batted third as the Nationals beat the Indians, 9-4, in Cleveland. The game was Stephen Strasburg's second start of his career and his second win. The lineup also has Steve Lombardozzi at second base. That means this will be Anthony Rendon's first day off since returning to the roster for a...

Tags:

byron kerr indians nationals ryan zimmerman stephen strasburg frontstory_nationals3

Strasburg flashback: June 13, 2010, Nationals 9, Indians 4

June 14, 2013, 11:27am

Nationals

The last time the Nationals ventured to Cleveland was 2010. The weekend series was June 11-13, 2010, almost the exact same time of the year. Cleveland was hoping LeBron James would stay with the Cavaliers and the Indians were a below-.500 ball club. The Indians won the first two games of the series pretty easily - 7-2 and 7-1. The Nationals' first two starters were Luis Atilano and J.D. Martin. The highlight early in the series was former Nationals outfielder Austin Kearns' two Friday night...

Tags:

byron kerr drew storen nationals ryan zimmerman stephen strasburg frontstory_nationals3

Jordan, Martinson and Cole shine in Nats minor league wins

June 13, 2013, 6:23pm

Nationals

Jordan, Martinson and Cole shine in Nats minor league wins

The high Single-A Potomac Nationals clinched the first-half division crown with a 8-0 win at Frederick. Jason Martinson hit three homers with four RBIs. He has 11 homers on the season. Right-hander A.J. Cole went seven innings, scattered four hits, no runs, two walks and struck out 10. He fired 92 pitches, 60 for strikes. Cole is now 4-2 with a 4.16 ERA. He has won three consecutive starts. It is looking pretty good for Taylor Jordan. He is the early leader for the organization's minor...

Tags:

byron kerr nationals farm report frontstory_nationals2

Rendon mixing up his tendencies to confuse pitchers

June 13, 2013, 8:37am

Nationals

Rendon mixing up his tendencies to confuse pitchers

Nationals second baseman Anthony Rendon continues to prove he can hit at the big league level. In just 14 games, Rendon is hitting .306 (15-for-49) with five doubles, five RBIs, six walks and 12 strikeouts. In the last 10 games, Rendon is hitting .382 (13-for-34) with four RBIs, seven strikeouts and all six of his walks. So that shows he is getting used to pitches he is seeing and is finding a way to make contact. His hand speed and balance at the plate are impressive. His approach can make...

Tags:

anthony rendon byron kerr nationals

Minor league notes on Hill, Purke and Burns

June 12, 2013, 12:31pm

Nationals

Minor league notes on Hill, Purke and Burns

High Single-A Potomac Nationals right-hander Taylor Hill has performed well in his last two starts, following his two roughest starts of the season. On back-to-back starts, May 24 and 29, Hill allowed a combined 20 hits and 14 runs in nine innings of work. But, on June 3 and 9, Hill rebounded to go 14 2/3 innings and gave up only one earned run. He struck out 12 and walked five in a pair of no decisions. The highlight of the two starts was Hill's 8 2/3 innings on June 3 at Myrtle Beach. The...

Tags:

byron kerr nationals farm report frontstory_nationals2

Sammy Solis has shoulder fatigue, injury does not appear serious

June 11, 2013, 12:25pm

Nationals

Sammy Solis has shoulder fatigue, injury does not appear serious

Left-hander Sammy Solis was placed on the disabled list Monday with "shoulder fatigue," according to Nationals director of player development Doug Harris. Solis is 0-0 with a 3.38 ERA in four starts for the high Single-A Potomac Nationals. He has thrown 16 innings and allowed 15 hits, six earned runs, five walks and nine strikeouts. In a text message, Harris said Solis' injury "does not appear significant at this point. He's been working very hard and will benefit from a few days off. We...

Tags:

byron kerr nationals farm report sammy solis frontstory_nationals2

Potomac's Sammy Solis placed on the disabled list

June 10, 2013, 6:18pm

Nationals

Potomac's Sammy Solis placed on the disabled list

The high Single-A Potomac Nationals announced late Monday that left-hander Sammy Solis has been placed on the disabled list. Right-hander Brian Rauh was called up from low Single-A Hagerstown Suns to take the roster spot. Solis, ranked as the No. 8 Nationals prospect by Baseball America, has started four games this season for the P-Nats since his return from rehabbing Tommy John surgery: May 21, 27, June 1 and 6. He had been rehabbing for months at the Nationals' extended spring training...

Tags:

brian rauh byron kerr nationals farm report sammy solis frontstory_nationals1

Strasburg return would change a lot for the Nationals

June 10, 2013, 5:38pm

Nationals

The Nationals need their leader back. Injuries hit the Nationals pretty hard this season. Bryce Harper being out has made it difficult for the offense to look scary. Every opposing pitcher has to contend with how to pitch Harper or pitch around him. Several times when others were not rolling, Harper was the igniter for the offense. His homer when others can't even connect on a base hit made all the difference to altering the momentum of a game and giving the Nationals a chance. Stephen...

Tags:

byron kerr davey johnson nationals stephen strasburg frontstory_nationals2

Bullpen success a big part of series win over the Twins

June 09, 2013, 7:42pm

Nationals

Bullpen success a big part of series win over the Twins

One theme that helped the Nationals stay in, and then eventually win, the series against the Minnesota Twins was the bullpen getting the job done. In Game 1 and Game 3, the Nationals went to their bullpen 13 separate times. On Saturday, the Nationals used everyone in the bullpen but Xavier Cedeno. After Gio Gonzalez pitched through six innings, manager Davey Johnson employed, in order, Fernando Abad, Drew Storen, Tyler Clippard, Rafael Soriano, Erik Davis, Ian Krol and Craig Stammen. The...

Tags:

byron kerr craig stammen ian desmond nationals tyler clippard frontstory_nationals1

Detwiler rehab goes well, on track for June 13 return

June 09, 2013, 10:16am

Nationals

Detwiler rehab goes well, on track for June 13 return

Left-hander Ross Detwiler's injury rehab assignment for high Single-A Potomac went well Saturday in Woodbridge, Va. Detwiler went 3 2/3 innings, scattering seven hits and allowing one earned run with no walks and four strikeouts. He tossed 60 pitches, 38 for strikes. Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo said the rehab was a positive step for Detwiler. "Yeah, he felt good during the start and after the start," Rizzo said. "We'll see how he feels today and if all checks out today, he...

Tags:

byron kerr nationals ross detwiler nationals farm report frontstory_nationals3

Nationals draft selections for Rounds 16 through 33

June 08, 2013, 12:13pm

Nationals

Following the selection of center fielder William Ballou in the 15th round, the Nationals picked another center fielder in the 16th round. At No. 496, the Nationals picked Willie Allen out of Western Oklahoma State College. The 6-foot-2, 191-pounder, is in his second season at the JuCo level, and throws and bats right-handed. In the 17th round, the Nationals selected catcher Geoffrey Perrott out of Rice University. The 22-year-old batted .271 in 57 games, with nine doubles, one triple, one...

Tags:

byron kerr nationals draft frontstory_nationals2 nationals farm report

Nationals go after Division I talent as final draft day continues

June 08, 2013, 10:09am

Nationals

Following the selection of Cody Gunter, the Nationals have made these selections: At No. 226 in the seventh round, the Nationals selected University of Delaware first baseman James Yezzo, the Colonial Athletic Association Player of the Year. The 21-year-old Yezzo is 6-foot-1 and 190 lbs., bats left and throws right. Yezzo hit .410 and slugged .714 for the Blue Hens this past season. At No. 256 in the eighth round, the Nationals picked left-hander David Napoli out of Tulane University. The...

Tags:

byron kerr nationals draft nationals farm report frontstory_nationals2

Potomac sends three players to California-Carolina All-Star game

June 07, 2013, 5:02pm

Nationals

Potomac sends three players to California-Carolina All-Star game

The high Single-A Potomac Nationals announced that three of their players have been selected to play in the 2013 California-Carolina League All-Star game on June 18 in San Jose, Calif. Left-hander Robbie Ray, right-hander Blake Schwartz and outfielder Billy Burns will represent the P-Nats in California. The 21-year old Ray leads the Carolina League with 81 strikeouts over 12 starts. He is 4-2 with a 2.32 ERA. The 6-foot-2, 170-lb., southpaw struck out a career-high 10 hitters on April 21...

Tags:

blake schwartz byron kerr nationals farm report robbie ray frontstory_nationals3

Nationals select two more pitchers and two third basemen in early rounds

June 07, 2013, 12:33pm

Nationals

After the selection of pitcher Jake Johansen Thursday night at pick No. 68, here are thumbnails on the Nationals' next four selections - a pair of right-handers and two third basemen. One of the infielders can also pitch. With pick No. 105, the Nationals selected third baseman Drew Ward from Leedey High School in Oklahoma. The 18-year-old is graduating high school early so he could be eligible for the 2013 draft. Ward is 6-foot-4 and 200 lbs., and played shortstop, but his range would profile...

Tags:

byron kerr nationals frontstory_nationals1 nationals farm report

Kline: Johansen more than just a fastball pitcher

June 06, 2013, 8:31pm

Nationals

Kline: Johansen more than just a fastball pitcher

The Nationals' No. 68 selection in the First-Year Player Draft is a big boy - 6-foot-6, 235-pounds right-hander Jacob Johansen, from Dallas Baptist University, has a 99 mph fastball and tallied 75 strikeouts as a redshirt junior. Some believe that fastball is all Johansen can throw, and that it is a straight pitch. Nationals scouting director Kris Kline disagrees, and believes the 22-year-old from Allen, Texas, can bring a lot to the mound, projecting him as a future Nationals...