Byron Kerr

Johnson says Detwiler rehab June 8 for Potomac

June 06, 2013, 12:49pm

Manager Davey Johnson said left-hander Ross Detwiler felt good today after yesterday's bullpen session, and he's been given the green light to go on a rehab assignment. Detwiler, on the disabled list with a back strain, will pitch for high Single-A Potomac Nationals on Saturday night against the Frederick Keys in Woodbridge, Va., at Pfitzner Stadium. "He is doing fine," Johnson said. "He is on target to pitch in Potomac on (June) 8th. He will be limited to 40 to 50 pitches. That should...

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Report: Hagerstown Suns to Fredericksburg possible in 2015

June 06, 2013, 9:46am

Nationals

Report: Hagerstown Suns to Fredericksburg possible in 2015

The discussion of the future of the low Single-A Hagerstown Suns and possible stadium deals in Virginia or Maryland steered toward Fredericksburg, Va., today. According to a report by Zac Boyer in the Free-Lance Star, Suns ownership said if Fredericksburg can approve a new stadium deal, the Suns will move there and begin play in 2015. It is no secret that Municipal Stadium in Hagerstown could use a face lift and the field has some quirky undulation in parts. But the critical decision of a new...

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Draft always a big event for the Nationals (updated)

June 06, 2013, 9:30am

Nationals

How important is the draft to the makeup and success of a major league team? The Nationals are the best current example. Being able to draft No. 1 overall two years in a row to get pitcher Stephen Strasburg and outfielder Bryce Harper completely altered the outlook for the Nationals. Even with his recovery from Tommy John surgery, Strasburg was a difference-maker in 2012. Harper was named NL Rookie of the Year and made a huge splash last season. They were major players in the Nationals'...

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Krol on major league debut: "I didn't take a breath until the seventh inning"

June 05, 2013, 7:26pm

Nationals

Krol on major league debut: "I didn't take a breath until the seventh inning"

One highlight in a 10-1 loss to the Mets was the major league debut for left-handed reliever Ian Krol. After allowing a double to lead off the sixth inning, Krol struck out the side. The three hitters he struck out? Daniel Murphy, David Wright and Lucas Duda - the heart of the Mets order. The three combined for five hits, five runs, two doubles and a home run in the game. Just not against Krol. "I was just trying to go out there and throw strikes," Krol said. "A little different with the...

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Report: Ohlendorf will start Saturday for Nationals

June 05, 2013, 1:10pm

Nationals

Left-hander Danny Rosenbaum and right-hander Ross Ohlendorf are two solid candidates to take Stephen Strasburg's Saturday start. Strasburg will be placed on the disabled list Wednesday, retroactive to June . He would be eligible to come off the list June 16. The Nationals said they will call up a starter for Saturday, and could even add a reliever for the next three days, but that would mean the reliever would not be available until at least Thursday. The 25-year-old Rosenbaum is a former...

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Lombardozzi: "Those are the situations you dream of"

June 04, 2013, 6:35pm

Nationals

Lombardozzi: "Those are the situations you dream of"

The Nationals had a few scoring chances in their series opener against the Mets, but were never able to sustain a rally, managing just four hits in the first eight innings. New York led 2-1 heading into the bottom of the ninth and suddenly, the Nationals bats came alive against Mets reliever Bobby Parnell. Ryan Zimmerman started the rally with a leadoff double. After a wild pitch, Adam LaRoche added a single that scored Zimmerman for the tying run. Ian Desmond laced a double to put men on...

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Rendon has tough Monday at second base, but turns a pair of double plays

June 04, 2013, 8:26am

Nationals

Rendon has tough Monday at second base, but turns a pair of double plays

Triple-A Syracuse Chiefs second baseman Anthony Rendon had a tough game Monday, going 0-for-5 with two strikeouts at Pawtucket in an 11-inning 6-5 victory. Rendon committed an error on a throw, his second error in as many games. He was involved in turning two double plays between shortstop Will Rhymes and first baseman Chris Marrero. Rendon is now batting .182 (2-for-11) in three games for Syracuse, but has an overall average of .307 in 36 games between Double-A and Triple-A. He has now...

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Werth, Rendon and Garcia updates

June 02, 2013, 5:48pm

Nationals

Right fielder Jayson Werth made the biggest noise Sunday, crushing a pair of three-run homers in high Single-A Potomac's 10-6 win over Lynchburg. It was the best offensive output Werth had contributed this week, having played five consecutive games with the P-Nats as he recovers from a tender hamstring. Werth had made a rehab appearance on May 15, but his hamstring did not feel good the next day and he was shut down. This time, Werth played in five straight games, from five, seven, to nine...

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McCatty: Karns set for next step in series finale versus Braves

June 02, 2013, 2:54am

Nationals

McCatty: Karns set for next step in series finale versus Braves

Right-hander Nathan Karns gets his second major league start for the Nationals today in Atlanta. After yesterday's excruciating 2-1, 10-inning setback against the Braves, a solid outing and a win are huge to the psyche of a banged-up team. His opening start was solid, as he went 4 1/3 innings, allowing three runs. He kept his team in the game and the Nats eventually won. Really, that is all he needs to do today. But, of course, he would like more than that. Nationals pitching coach Steve...

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The importance of Nathan Karns

June 01, 2013, 7:25am

Nationals

Right-hander Nathan Karns made it through his first start with the Nationals and did his job, keeping his team in the game. Karns gets his second start Sunday in Atlanta. With lingering injuries to Ross Detwiler (oblique) and now Stephen Strasburg (oblique), Karns is not going anywhere. Suddenly, the right-hander with only 10 starts above high Single-A ball is critical to the Nationals, who are treading water as June begins. "The first one just came by and it was a complete shock," Karns...

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Report: Rendon promoted to Triple-A Syracuse (with Garcia update)

May 31, 2013, 7:34pm

Nationals

Report: Rendon promoted to Triple-A Syracuse (with Garcia update)

At Double-A Harrisburg, Anthony Rendon returned to the lineup after missing eight days while recovering from having his wisdom teeth removed. He went 0-for-4 with a pair of strikeouts as the designated hitter. But the bigger news came after the game, where Geoff Morrow and Dave Sottile of PennLive.com wrote Rendon had been promoted to Triple-A Syracuse. Rendon was batting .319 in 33 games with six homers and 24 RBIs for Harrisburg. He also played eight games and hit .240 with the Nationals...

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Werth plays seven innings in Potomac, goes 2-for-4

May 31, 2013, 7:11pm

Nationals

Werth plays seven innings in Potomac, goes 2-for-4

Right fielder Jayson Werth went 2-for-4 with a double, walk, RBI and two runs scored in the high Single-A Potomac Nationals 10-1 thumping of the Lynchburg Hillcats on Friday night. Werth played seven innings. It was the longest Werth had played in his third straight rehab assignment with the P-Nats as he tested his tender hamstring. Werth has gone 6-for-11 in four rehab games since May 15, but the last three games have been since Tuesday. Werth had a line drive single in center field in the...

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Werth plays into sixth with Single-A Potomac as rehab for sore hamstring continues

May 30, 2013, 8:15pm

Nationals

Werth plays into sixth with Single-A Potomac as rehab for sore hamstring continues

Nationals right fielder Jayson Werth got a bigger test on his sore hamstring and appears to have passed. Playing for the high Single-A Potomac Nationals for the second straight night, Werth went 2-for-3 with two singles, one RBI and one run scored in a 7-3 win over the Salem Red Sox. Werth had to make a pair of catches on flyballs in right field and ran the bases two times on his base hits. His final at-bat came in the sixth inning. Manager Davey Johnson had said Thursday in Baltimore that...

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Haren optimistic Nationals can still get going after hard-luck loss

May 30, 2013, 6:32pm

Nationals Orioles

Haren optimistic Nationals can still get going after hard-luck loss

BALTIMORE - Freddy Garcia outdueled Dan Haren on Thursday night, but not by much. Garcia used his split-finger fastball "60 percent of the time," shortstop Ian Desmond estimated, and the pitcher was on target in beating the Nationals 2-0. But Haren (4-6) hung in there against one of the hottest-hitting offenses in the majors, allowing just two runs and taking the hard-luck loss. "(Baltimore has) an exhausting lineup, one through nine, anybody can get you," Haren said. "I am glad I threw...

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Johnson: "I feel like the offense is making strides"

May 30, 2013, 2:17pm

Nationals

Johnson: "I feel like the offense is making strides"

It is a small sample size for the Nationals hitters, and some of the Orioles starters have been struggling a bit, but 15 runs, 21 hits and eight home runs in two games is impressive. The Nationals offense has been desperate to get going all season. With four homers in each of the last two games, including three in one game by Ryan Zimmerman, it is possible to see a little glimmer of sunshine at the end of the tunnel. This has also arrived with the big bats of Bryce Harper and Jayson Werth....

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Zimmerman was just trying to "hit the ball hard" in three-homer game

May 29, 2013, 7:03pm

Nationals

Zimmerman was just trying to "hit the ball hard" in three-homer game

BALTIMORE - On most nights, three homers in one game by a single player would be something to talk about, especially if you have never accomplished such a feat in your career. But Wednesday, the Orioles scored seven unanswered runs, capped off by a two-run homer from Chris Davis in a 9-6 comeback win over the Nationals. Earlier, it was Ryan Zimmerman who had staked the Nationals to a 6-2 lead through five frames, highlighted by three well-hit home runs to left, center and right field of...

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Johnson always has fond memories in his visits to Baltimore

May 29, 2013, 2:15pm

Nationals Orioles

Johnson always has fond memories in his visits to Baltimore

BALTIMORE - With manager Davey Johnson making his final run through major league ballparks in his final season at the helm of the Nationals, Baltimore is certainly a place that holds a special place in his heart. Johnson broke into the majors with the Orioles and was also their manager, with a great deal of success at each stop. Johnson played for the Orioles from 1965-72. He was their manager from 1996-97. In 1997, he was named American League Manager of the Year and guided the Orioles to a...

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Karns wouldn't let rain delay deter his focus in debut

May 28, 2013, 8:24pm

Nationals

Karns wouldn't let rain delay deter his focus in debut

The best news of Nathan Karns' young career got even better following his major league debut. After tossing 4 1/3 innings in which he scattered five hits and allowed the hot-hitting Orioles attack only three runs, Karns found out he will get another start for the Nationals on Sunday in Atlanta. "I got the first one out of the way," Karns said. "I am just going to go back to work tomorrow. And do what I do to get back to my next start and go from there." His first major league start was...

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Johnson on Karns: "He needs to go right after them"

May 28, 2013, 1:14pm

Nationals

Johnson on Karns: "He needs to go right after them"

Right-hander Nathan Karns will make his major league debut tonight with the Nationals, starting against the Baltimore Orioles. Karns has a 4-2 record in nine starts this season for Double-A Harrisburg, with an ERA of 4.60. Karns had a couple of games where he was hit pretty hard. His troubles stemmed from a mechanical issue that has since been worked out. My sources in Harrisburg tell me Karns is a "competitor" and won't be "bothered by the situation." He throws a mid-90s fastball, a...

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Good progress in second start for Solis

May 28, 2013, 9:40am

Nationals

High Single-A Potomac Nationals left-hander Sammy Solis made a nice step forward in his second start since returning from Tommy John surgery. Building off his start at Frederick, Solis went four innings Monday night against Salem, allowing no hits, no runs and three walks while striking out four. He struck out the side in the third. If his week goes well, including bullpen sessions, Solis would probably be able to go to five innings and 60-65 pitches in his third start. He is on an innings...