Byron Kerr

Nationals Storen says command was "good" in first rehab start

July 05, 2012, 6:52pm

Nationals right-hander Drew Storen was pleased with his first appearance in a minor league rehab game since his recovery from elbow surgery to remove a bone chip. Storen started for high Single-A Potomac against Frederick on Thursday. He pitched a scoreless first inning, facing three batters and not allowing a hit or run. Storen induced a groundout and flyout in the short stint at Pfitzner Stadium in Woodbridge, Va. After the outing, Storen said there is still work to do, but said he is on...

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Minor notes: Karns does well against Bundy, Meyer short stint "planned"

July 04, 2012, 5:41pm

Nationals

Minor notes: Karns does well against Bundy, Meyer short stint "planned"

The low Single-A Hagerstown Suns have put together an incredible start, which culminated in their 50th victory of the season on July 4. Hagerstown dropped Lexington 3-2, rallying for two runs in the eighth frame. Catcher

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Nationals' offense starting to keep up with Zimmermann

July 03, 2012, 8:09pm

Nationals

Manager Davey Johnson had preached just two weeks ago about how he wanted his hitters to be "patiently aggressive at the plate." He sensed the hitters were a little anxious and were trying too hard sometimes to make things happen. From the Orioles series to the first game in Colorado, the Nationals managed just seven runs in four games. But Denver is always a good place to start hitting when you get to swing the bat in Coors Field. And the Nationals did just that. The trend continued in...

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Nationals' All-Stars Strasburg, G. Gonzalez, Desmond sense "new standard"

July 03, 2012, 2:04pm

Nationals

The Nationals have made headlines and statements with the way they have played this season because of the amount of talent the organization has accrued the past few seasons. It is unchartered territory for the Nationals. The franchise used to be challenging for a top draft pick. Now, they are challenging for the NL East crown. One reason? Or should I say three reasons? I.D., Gio and Stras, of course. The three Nationals honored with invitations to next week's All-Star game represent the...

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Updates on Kimball, Karns, Paul and Hague

July 03, 2012, 12:39pm

Nationals

Updates on Kimball, Karns, Paul and Hague

Right-hander Cole Kimball has continued his rehab from a torn rotator cuff at Double-A Harrisburg. Kimball has made stops with the Gulf Coast League Nationals, Single-A Hagerstown and Single-A Potomac, accumulating an 0-1 record with a 6.75 ERA in five games, four of them starts, totaling 5 1/3 innings. His roughest outing was June 28 at Salem, when he allowed three homers in 2/3 of an inning. It will be a good move for Kimball because he will be reunited with Harrisburg pitching coach Paul...

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Potomac's Karns making case for best arm in organization

July 01, 2012, 7:13am

Nationals

Potomac's Karns making case for best arm in organization

Potomac Nationals right-hander Nathan Karns is on the best streak of his career, pitching somewhat under the radar as his team looks to gain momentum in the second half of the season. Karns has posted three consecutive double-digit strikeout performances in three straight victories, two on the road, dating to June 15. During this amazing run, the numbers are close to astounding: 32 strikeouts in three starts over 21 2/3 innings. He allowed just nine hits and two runs with only six walks in...

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Nationals take lead in Atlanta thanks to Detwiler, Desmond (Nats win)

June 29, 2012, 4:32pm

Nationals

The Nationals were able to get a few hits early on against Braves right-hander Randall Delgado. Nationals left-hander Ross Detwiler got off to a good start and contributed offensively for one of the few times in his career. Detwiler's RBI single plated Michael Morse in the second, giving the Nationals a 1-0 lead. In the third inning with two outs, Ian Desmond smacked a single to left field that scored Adam Laroche and Morse. Desmond was tagged out at third. Nationals lead 3-0. Desmond...

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Potomac's Pfitzner Stadium sustains damage from fire, all employees accounted for

June 29, 2012, 3:00pm

Nationals

Potomac's Pfitzner Stadium sustains damage from fire, all employees accounted for

Pfitzner Stadium, home of the high Single-A Potomac Nationals, was damaged by a fire today in Woodbridge, Va. A team official, who was at the stadium when the fire broke out, said the fire originated in the front office area, which is one story above the concession stands. He said the fire began around 4:40 p.m. The fire has been extinguished. "There was a fire located on the front office level. Everyone is accounted for and has been evacuated. No one is unaccounted for," according to the...

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Five Senators invited to Eastern League All-Star game

June 29, 2012, 9:11am

Nationals

Five Senators invited to Eastern League All-Star game

Five Harrisburg Senators have been invited to play for the Western Division in the Eastern League All-Star Game, known as the Baseballtown All-Star Classic. The game will be July 11 at FirstEnergy Stadium in Reading, Pa., beginning at 7:05 p.m. The Nationals' Double-A representatives include two pitchers, one infielder and two outfielders. Right-handed pitchers Kevin Pucetas and left-hander Danny Rosenbaum have been invited. Pucetas has a 6-3 record with a 2.63 ERA in 19 games with five...

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Bryce Harper hopes big hit will be big boost into Atlanta

June 29, 2012, 7:42am

Nationals

Bryce Harper hopes big hit will be big boost into Atlanta

The Nationals did not win the game, but they did get a key ninth-inning play from an important player that could open the door to a surge before the All-Star break. The Rockies ended up beating the Nationals 11-10 in 11 innings Thursday, but it would not have been that way had it not been for Bryce Harper. Throughout the series against Colorado, Harper wasn't getting much to hit or, he felt, many calls. "The whole series they were pitching me out and up," Harper said. "They didn't throw...

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Ryan Perry and Cole Kimball both start tonight; Destin Hood returns

June 28, 2012, 12:52pm

Nationals

Ryan Perry and Cole Kimball both start tonight; Destin Hood returns

Right-hander Ryan Perry gets his second professional start tonight as Double-A Harrisburg plays host to Altoona. Perry went three innings in his first start and was very solid. If Perry can have some "easy" innings tonight, as Senators pitching coach Paul Menhart termed them, he will likely be extended to four innings. Harrisburg right fielder Destin Hood returns to the lineup after getting a day off this week. Hood hit the ball well in his first game back, but the Nationals want to monitor...

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Skole, Hague, Demny and Higley highlight Nats' prospects Wednesday work

June 27, 2012, 6:11pm

Nationals

Skole, Hague, Demny and Higley highlight Nats' prospects Wednesday work

News and notes from Wednesday around the Nationals organization. Low Single-A Hagerstown Suns lost to Delmarva 8-4, but got a three-run homer from third baseman Matt Skole, who now has a league-leading 18 round-trippers. Billy Burns swiped three bases to raise his season total to an amazing 28. The lineup is littered with guys buzzing at the plate: Brian Goodwin (.315), Burns (.307), Caleb Ramsey (.299), Skole (.293), Cutter Dykstra (.293), Steven Souza, Jr. (.286) and Bryce Ortega...

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Clown decision: big oversight not having Bryce Harper in home run derby

June 27, 2012, 7:33am

Nationals

Clown decision: big oversight not having Bryce Harper in home run derby

OK. It is time for someone to step in here. Please don't let the All-Star Game Home Run Derby go the way of the NBA slam dunk contest. Calling on commissioner Bud Selig or Cardinals manager Mike Matheny. Someone step in with a "sponsor" exemption. Nationals slugger Bryce Harper needs to be in the home run derby. This event needs a kick. Nothing like the spice of "that's a clown question, bro" to ignite this made-for-TV spectacle. Something has to happen, because National League captain...

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H. Rodriguez to Harrisburg for rehab (update); Hood gets day off

June 27, 2012, 6:25am

Nationals

H. Rodriguez to Harrisburg for rehab (update); Hood gets day off

Right-hander Henry Rodriguez continues his path back to the Nationals as he recovers from a finger injury. Today, Rodriguez is expected to make a rehab appearance for the Harrisburg Senators in a relief role. Outfielder Destin Hood went 2-for-4 with a run scored, an RBI and a walk in last night's game. It was his first game with Harrisburg in over a month. But for today's early game, Hood has the day off. The plan with Hood appears to not have him on an everyday schedule as he gets his...

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Nationals' Tyler Moore signals he should stay with another monster blast

June 27, 2012, 3:50am

Nationals

This just in. There is another future star in the Nats' clubhouse. He hits home runs that bounce off Pikes Peak and he plays left field like he was born for that position. The thumper. The bulldog. He is Tyler Moore. What a shot. Moore's fifth-inning three-run homer landed 15 to 20 rows up at Coors Field in the left-center stands. A thunderous swing that highlighted the Nationals' best offensive output of the season in a 21-hit, 12-5 shellacking of the defenseless Colorado...

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Outfielder Destin Hood returns to lineup; Marrero update in Syracuse

June 26, 2012, 12:08pm

Nationals

Outfielder Destin Hood returns to lineup; Marrero update in Syracuse

Right fielder Destin Hood has recovered from his wrist injury and returns to the Double-A Harrisburg Senators' lineup. Hood completed his rehab assignment with the short-season Single-A Auburn Doubledays, going 3-for-17 (.176) with a double, two walks and seven strikeouts. Hood was hitting .220 in 41 games with the Senators, but injured his wrist and had a bout with the flu that slowed his season. He has just one homer, but had 19 RBIs and five stolen bases before the time off. But his...

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Strasburg not affected after hitting Scutaro, but upset with Rockies rally

June 25, 2012, 8:48pm

Nationals

Strasburg not affected after hitting Scutaro, but upset with Rockies rally

Right-hander Stephen Strasburg looked pretty good again Monday, but allowed three runs in the 4-2 loss to the Rockies in Denver. A loss by Strasburg is as rare as oxygen at the higher elevations of the Mile High City. It was his first setback since May 15. Fresh off of striking out the side in the fifth and his team clinging to a 2-1 advantage, Colorado put together three hits and benefited from a hit batter to start a rally that would end up winning the game. Following a Dexter Fowler...

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Nationals reliever Cole Kimball will start tonight for Potomac (updated)

June 25, 2012, 9:11am

Nationals

Right-hander Cole Kimball continues to make his way back to the Nationals. The 26-year-old will start for the high Single-A Potomac Nationals tonight when they host Wilmington. Kimball, recovering from rotator cuff surgery last July, was 1-0 with a 1.93 ERA over 14 innings with the Nationals in 2011. He has appeared in two games so far at low Single-A Hagerstown and the Gulf Coast Nationals. During his rehab assignments, Kimball has gone two innings without allowing a run, with just two...

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This one goes to 11: Meyer and Karns shine with spectacular strikeout tallies

June 25, 2012, 7:21am

Nationals

This one goes to 11: Meyer and Karns shine with spectacular strikeout tallies

High Single-A Potomac right-hander Nathan Karns turned in another sterling performance Sunday for the P-Nats. Karns, with a career high 11 strikeouts in his longest outing of his career, worked eight innings in a 7-1 victory over the Wilmington Blue Rocks from Woodbridge, Va. The 24-year-old Karns (2-2) allowed only two hits and just one run in his fourth start with Potomac, dropping his ERA from 4.15 to 3.00 and making a case to win Carolina League Pitcher of the Week for the second...

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Hagerstown's Goodwin, Skole shine; Perry solid in Double-A; Marrero optioned to Chiefs

June 23, 2012, 7:54pm

Nationals

Hagerstown's Goodwin, Skole shine; Perry solid in Double-A; Marrero optioned to Chiefs

The Single-A Hagerstown Suns put on another offensive show Saturday night with a 10-8 victory over the Lakewood Blueclaws. A big part of that power display was from outfielder Brian Goodwin, the 34th overall selection in 2011, who smashed two homers and drove in four runs. Goodwin has four homers in the past five games with nine RBIs. It was his first four-hit game of the season. Hagerstown pitching coach Mark Harris said the 21-year-old has made good progress at the plate since returning...