Byron Kerr

Bernadina gets back in lineup, delivers clutch hit

April 18, 2012, 7:43pm

Left fielder Roger Bernadina returned to the starting lineup for the first time since Friday. He had been struggling at the plate to start the season, hitting a paltry .143 with just one RBI. But Bernadina hasn't sulked or moped around the clubhouse during the past few games. He continued to take extra swings to get his rhythm back. "I have been hitting a lot in the cage," Bernadina said. "I didn't feel rushed or anything. I was seeing the ball good. That was an important part to see the...

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Could Nationals prospect Tyler Moore be called up before September?

April 18, 2012, 8:00am

Nationals

Much has been made of when Bryce Harper will be called up to the majors. But what about Tyler Moore? Just this week, the career first baseman got his first taste of playing left field. He made one catch with no problems. Triple-A Syracuse manager Tony Beasley said they will get Moore more playing time in the outfield. Tuesday he was back at first base. He has played 425 games at first base and now one in left field. But Moore has been scorching the ball. The last 10 games, Moore is batting...

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Experience helps Lidge survive rocky ninth to send Nationals to another victory

April 17, 2012, 6:45pm

Nationals

The scenario has played out many times for Brad Lidge. The starter hands off the lead and the bullpen pushes the game to the deciding ninth frame. This time, the margin of error was extremely small, a 1-0 advantage over a hungry Houston Astros squad that had only three hits all night. Astros shortstop Jed Lowrie led off the inning with a double just inside the right field line. Left fielder J.D. Martinez followed with a walk. Houston had men on first and second with nobody out. The Nationals'...

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Nationals' DeRosa and Nady will continue to work their way around the outfield

April 17, 2012, 2:09pm

Nationals

With last year's starting left fielder Michael Morse nursing his way back from a left lat injury, the Nationals have used several different lineups in the outfield. Manager Davey Johnson has employed an outfield by committee early on, with injuries and rough starts contributing to the alterations, even from game to game. For instance on Monday, Xavier Nady played left field, Rick Ankiel played center and Jayson Werth was in right. On Tuesday, by contrast, Johnson called for Nady in left,...

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Lombardozzi steps in with career night in Nationals' win

April 16, 2012, 8:00pm

Nationals

If Steve Lombardozzi is an example of the depth of talent that is on the bench for the 2012 Nationals, this team is heading in the right direction and fast. Playing in only his 19th major league game, Lombardozzi tallied four consecutive hits, including a dramatic go-ahead two-run double that lifted the Nationals back in the lead over the Astros, 4-2 in the sixth. Washington ended up winning the game, 6-3. Lombardozzi was a late-season call-up last year for manager Davey Johnson and the...

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Nationals' Desmond playing well, looking straight ahead

April 16, 2012, 2:26pm

Nationals

So far, Nationals shortstop Ian Desmond has looked and played the part of a leadoff man. In the first 10 games, Desmond has reached based 19 times with 17 hits and two walks, almost reaching a clip of twice per game. Desmond's numbers have been impressive at the plate, hitting .354 with three doubles, one homer and four RBIs. In 10 games, his on-base percentage is .380 and slugging percentage is at .479. Desmond said one reason for his accelerated start has been a clear mind and a trust in...

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Nationals' Clippard says shoulder is fine, Johnson will rest him tonight

April 16, 2012, 1:35pm

Nationals

Nationals reliever Tyler Clippard said his shoulder is not bothering him as much as manager Davey Johnson might have led on after Sunday's loss to the Reds. Clippard said he has the usual stiffness in his shoulder, but he feels that after any outing and says he is fine. Johnson said he will look to rest Clippard and closer Brad Lidge tonight against the Astros. The pitching staff had to endure three extra-inning affairs in the four game set against Cincinnati, and Johnson wants to rest some...

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Nationals minor league roundup: Tonight's starting lineups

April 16, 2012, 1:10pm

Nationals

Low Single-A Hagerstown Jason Martinson SS Bryce Ortega 2B JP Ramirez LF Matt Skole 3B Adrian Nieto C Brett Newsome 1B Justin Miller RF Hendry Jimenez DH Billy Burns CF Starting pitcher - Brian Dupra High Single-A Potomac Michael Taylor CF Blake Kelso SS Sean Nicol 3B David Freitas C Justin Bloxom 1B Kevin Keyes LF Randolph Oduber RF Adrian Sanchez 2B Francisco Soriano DH Starting pitcher - RHP Matt Swynenberg (1-0, 6.43) Double-A Harrisburg Eury Perez CF Jeff Kobernus 2B Chris Rahl LF...

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It's official: Tyler Moore to start in left field Monday night for Syracuse (updated)

April 15, 2012, 6:01pm

Nationals

It's official: Tyler Moore to start in left field Monday night for Syracuse (updated)

As first reported on MASNSports.com on Saturday, the Triple-A Syracuse Chiefs will start Tyler Moore in left field Monday night against the Pawtucket Red Sox. It will be Moore's first start in the outfield. Appearing on Sports Radio 106.7 The Fan's "Nats Insider" Sunday night, Chiefs manager Tony Beasley confirmed that Moore would start in left field Monday. Veteran Mark Teahan is expected to move to first base for the first game against Pawtucket. "Starting (Monday), he's is going to...

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Despite loss to Reds, 7-3 start marks best in recent D.C. history, but is it the schedule?

April 15, 2012, 1:21pm

Nationals

Despite loss to Reds, 7-3 start marks best in recent D.C. history, but is it the schedule?

Despite the 8-5 loss Sunday against the Cincinnati Reds, the Nationals are still off to their best start since arriving in Washington, D.C., for the 2005 season. Since baseball returned to D.C. seven years ago, the Nationals have never been 7-3 in their first 10 games. Their second best total was a 6-4 record after 10 games in 2005. The Nationals have also never won their first three series to start a season in D.C. The second best was again in 2005, when they won road series at Florida,...

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Jackson's gem gives taxed bullpen needed rest

April 14, 2012, 4:00pm

Nationals

Jackson's gem gives taxed bullpen needed rest

Nationals starter Edwin Jackson's complete game was a gem unto itself: nine frames, two hits, one run, one walk and nine strikeouts. In only 92 pitches, Jackson handed the Nationals their first complete game of the season and a five-game win streak. He also gave a taxed bullpen a full day off. Following 23 innings of pitching, nine of those frames from the bullpen in the past two days, Saturday was a game for the relievers to be spectators, Jackson. "Because of the extra innings, this was...

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Club source: Triple-A prospect Tyler Moore to play left field in "near future"

April 14, 2012, 2:05pm

Nationals

Club source: Triple-A prospect Tyler Moore to play left field in "near future"

The Tyler Moore-to-the-outfield experience is about to begin. MASNsports.com has learned that Triple-A Syracuse Chiefs prospect Tyler Moore will switch from first base to the outfield for some games in the "near future." According to a club source, Moore will play left field. The exact game or games the power hitting prospect will assume his new position is still to be determined and the move to the outfield is not considered a permanent adjustment. Moore is off to a scorching start with...

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Johnson confident Flores can deliver as best backup catcher in the league

April 14, 2012, 11:27am

Nationals

Johnson confident Flores can deliver as best backup catcher in the league

Nationals manager Davey Johnson has felt since the beginning of spring training that Wilson Ramos and Jesus Flores would share catching responsibilities. Ramos would get the lion's share of the starts, but Flores would also play more than on a token basis. The Ramos/Flores catching depth is a big strength for the Nationals this season. Both players are healthy and both are capable of breaking out a little bit. Both are capable of hitting home runs. Both call great games and have excellent...

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Nady shines as Nationals strong bench again shows its new-found strength

April 13, 2012, 8:31pm

Nationals

Nationals outfielder Xavier Nady was hoping for the call Friday. Just like he was hoping for a call few months back when the Nationals called him to spring training. With the team struggling to get anything off of Reds starter Bronson Arroyo, the door opened slightly when lefty and former Nationals' property Bill Bray was called on to pitch with one out in the bottom of the eighth and Cincinnati leading, 1-0. Manager Davey Johnson had selected left-handed batter Chad Tracy to face Arroyo....

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Words of wisdom from Hall of Famer helped Davey Johnson mold his pitchers of today

April 13, 2012, 2:16pm

Nationals

Words of wisdom from Hall of Famer helped Davey Johnson mold his pitchers of today

"Nats Xtra" analyst Ray Knight talked on air last week about the Nationals' starting pitching staff in 2012 and how they could have at least three starters with the possibility of throwing 200 or more innings this season. Gio Gonzalez, Jordan Zimmermann and Edwin Jackson add up to a trio that could combine for well over 600 innings this campaign, something that has recently been unheard of from the Nationals. After all, southpaw John Lannan was the best last year, reaching 184 2/3...

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Zimmerman knows what Morse faces next two months

April 13, 2012, 7:46am

Nationals

Zimmerman knows what Morse faces next two months

Nationals outfielder Michael Morse will be shut down from baseball activities for at least six weeks as he recovers from reaggravating the lat injury that has forced him to miss the start of the 2012 baseball season. Morse will be reevaluated after six weeks, and if everything checks out, he will start a rehab program with games. That would peg a possible return in June or just before the All-Star break. Nationals third baseman Ryan Zimmerman missed 58 games last season with an abdominal...

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Long and short of it, Nationals' Stammen relishes his role

April 12, 2012, 2:05pm

Nationals

Craig Stammen is pegged as the long right-handed reliever out of the bullpen for the Nationals. But Thursday his role became that of closer as he struck out the side in the 10th inning to help lift the Nationals over the Reds, 3-2. Stammen (1-0) struck out Willie Harris, Drew Stubbs and Zach Cozart. The last strike out of Cozart was particularly emphatic. It was of the looking variety, which brought with it a huge roar from the partisan 40,907 at Nationals Park on home opening day. That...

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Storen in good spirits after surgery, expects to return this season

April 12, 2012, 9:09am

Nationals

Storen in good spirits after surgery, expects to return this season

Nationals closer Drew Storen was at Nationals Park with his arm in a sling and in good spirits following surgery to remove a loose body in his right elbow that was causing him severe pain. Storen said the experience has been a new one for him as he has never even suffered a broken arm growing up. "The whole not being able to use one arm is kind of weird," Storen said. "Putting on socks is not exactly easy." General manager Mike Rizzo said the surgery went as well as expected and feels...

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Rendon has partial fracture of ankle, Goodwin with quad injury

April 12, 2012, 8:21am

Nationals

$Rendon has partial fracture of ankle, Goodwin with quad injury$

High Single-A Potomac third baseman Anthony Rendon has a partial fracture of his left ankle, according to Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo. Rendon was injured Saturday at Lynchburg and was helped off the field. "Rendon is in a boot and he is immobilized," Rizzo said. "He is going to see a foot and ankle specialist Friday." Rizzo was optimistic that this is not the worst case scenario for Rendon, and that he will be able to return this season. "They tell me his season is not in...

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Minor league roundup: P-Nats score early in win; Ankiel another base hit

April 12, 2012, 4:01am

Nationals

Minor league roundup: P-Nats score early in win; Ankiel another base hit

Here'S a look at how the Nationals' minor league affiliates fared Wednesday: Single-A Hagerstown: The Suns managed four hits, but struck out 10 times in a 3-0 loss at home to Lexington. Rick Ankiel got two at-bats in as the designated hitter, walking and smacking a single. Single-A Potomac: The P-Nats tallied four runs in the first innings to cruise past Myrtle Beach 6-3. Catcher David Freitas had three hits, including an RBI single. Justin Bloxom walked with the bases loaded and later...