Byron Kerr

Harper manages base hit in Scottsdale's 3-1 loss to Salt River

October 14, 2011, 2:09am

Thursday was a pretty quiet night for the Scottsdale Scorpions as they fell again to the first-place Salt River Rafters 3-1 in Arizona Fall League play. Left fielder Bryce Harper, the Nationals' top prospect, returned to the lineup, going 1-for-4 with a single. He is batting .087 and left a man in scoring position. Harper singled to center field with one out in the seventh, but was erased when the next batter grounded into an inning-ending double play. Then in the ninth, representing the...

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Solis allows four runs in four innings; Scottsdale falls 10-5

October 13, 2011, 2:59am

Nationals

Solis allows four runs in four innings; Scottsdale falls 10-5

Left-hander Sammy Solis has sometimes allowed runs early and then settled down during his first year of professional ball. That scenario again played out Wednesday as Salt River scored four runs in the first three frames off the Scottsdale southpaw in a 10-5 setback in Arizona Fall League competition. Solis allowed a two-run single by Nolan Arenado and a pair of RBI outs in the third as the Rafters took a 4-3 advantage. The nearby Avondale, Ariz., product did have scoreless second and...

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Solis zeroes in on strike zone for tonight's second Arizona start

October 12, 2011, 9:41am

Nationals

Solis zeroes in on strike zone for tonight's second Arizona start

Scottsdale Scorpions left-hander Sammy Solis makes his second start of the Arizona Fall League campaign tonight as he takes to the mound against Salt River. Solis went three innings, allowing one run on two hits with three walks and no strikeouts in a no-decision against the very same Salt River Rafters, Oct. 6. Despite the three walks, Solis was pleased with the outing and came away confident. Scorpions pitching coach Paul Menhart agreed, saying Solis threw "quality pitches, Solis was...

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Lehman allows two runs, Walters RBI hit, Harper plays right field in Scottsdale loss

October 12, 2011, 2:53am

Nationals

Lehman allows two runs, Walters RBI hit, Harper plays right field in Scottsdale loss

Mesa dropped Scottsdale 3-2 in Arizona Fall League play Tuesday with George Washington product pitcher Pat Lehman getting knocked around for four hits and two runs. An Aaron Hicks triple, which glanced off the glove of Bryce Harper in right field, and a home run by Brandon Short were the big hits for the Solar Sox off Lehman in two innings of work. Rafael Martin finally got into an AFL game for the Scorpions, pitching one inning in front of Lehman, allowing no hits, one walk and one...

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Harper tallies first hit, RBI as Scottsdale comes back to win in Arizona

October 10, 2011, 11:36pm

Nationals

Harper tallies first hit, RBI as Scottsdale comes back to win in Arizona

The Nationals' top prospect, left fielder Bryce Harper, contributed in a big way as the Scottsdale Scorpions ralled to beat the Mesa Solar Sox 4-3 in the Arizona Fall League Monday night. Harper had a single for his first hit in the fall and added an RBI groundout. He showed off his speed with a pair of stolen bases. Harper's batting average is now 1-for-16 (.063). Zach Walters went 0-for-4 as the designated hitter. Derek Norris had the night off. Harper flew out and grounded out in his...

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Scottsdale rebounds with two wins, Harper still hitless in AFL

October 09, 2011, 5:10am

Nationals

Scottsdale rebounds with two wins, Harper still hitless in AFL

The Scottsdale Scorpions, the Arizona Fall League team partially stocked by the Nationals, has won two in a row over Phoenix as the hitting has come around and the pitching has improved. George Washington University product Patrick Lehman pitched the last inning of a 7-3 victory Saturday, going one inning, allowing one hit, no runs, one walk, two strikeouts and hitting one batter. Lehman tossed 30 pitches, 16 for strikes. Derek Norris has gone 2-for-8 the last two games with a run scored....

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Solis struggles with command; Harper hitless as Scottsdale falls again

October 06, 2011, 6:26pm

Nationals

Solis struggles with command; Harper hitless as Scottsdale falls again

The Scottsdale Scorpions were able to get the early lead they needed, but left-hander Sammy Solis was not able to last long enough to earn the victory Thursday. The Scorpions led at one point 2-1, but fell 3-2 at Salt River in the Arizona Fall League, after allowing two late runs. Scottsdale is now 0-2. Solis allowed only one run, but walked three hitters in three innings, throwing 53 pitches, 30 for strikes. He allowed two hits with no strikeouts. Bryce Harper went 0-for-5 and is now...

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Solis will work on breaking pitches in first AFL start

October 05, 2011, 6:22pm

Nationals

Solis will work on breaking pitches in first AFL start

Scottsdale Scorpions left-hander and former University of San Diego standout Sammy Solis makes his 2011 Arizona Fall League debut today against Salt River Rafters. The Scorpions (0-1) fell to Surprise 10-1 in the season opener Wednesday. Nationals prospect Zach Walters went 1-for-3, but Bryce Harper (0-for-3, one strikeout) and Derek Norris (0-for-3) did not register a hit in the first game. Reliever Pat Lehman faced one batter and recorded an out. Solis is in his second season in the AFL,...

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Martin's big leap earns ticket to Arizona Fall League

October 05, 2011, 11:08am

Nationals

Martin's big leap earns ticket to Arizona Fall League

Right-handed pitcher Rafael Martin had one of the best seasons for a reliever in the Nationals' chain in 2011. It all clicked for the 27-year-old, who mesmerized hitters in the Double-A Eastern League. After starting the season at Single-A Potomac, Martin rolled at Harrisburg, earning a spot on the Scottsdale Scorpions of the Arizona Fall League. The 6-foot-2,195-lb., San Fernando, Calif., native went 5-1 with a career-best 1.65 ERA in 38 games, striking out 54 batters and allowing just 11...

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GW product Lehman ready to showcase stuff in Arizona

October 05, 2011, 3:28am

Nationals

GW product Lehman ready to showcase stuff in Arizona

Right-hander Patrick Lehman, a George Washington University product, advanced very well in 2011 from Single-A Potomac to Double-A Harrisburg and now looks to cap off the season with a good run in the Arizona Fall League. Lehman had such a quality campaign that he was selected to the Scottsdale Scorpions roster as one of the representatives from the Nationals organization. Lehman went a combined 3-2 with a 3.08 ERA and 45 strikeouts in 42 games in 2011. He had 34 strikeouts and only four free...

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Purke to join AFL soon, Rendon to stay at instructional league

October 04, 2011, 7:21am

Nationals

Purke to join AFL soon, Rendon to stay at instructional league

Left-hander Matt Purke, the former Texas Christian star, will join the Scottsdale Scorpions of the Arizona Fall League at the conclusion of fall instructional league in Viera, Fla., according to a Nationals source. Former Rice third baseman Anthony Rendon, however, will stay at instructional league for now, and the Nationals' future plans for him are not known. Rendon, the team's first-round selection in June's First-Year Player Draft, was previously announced as part of the Scorpions'...

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Instructional prospect updates: Keyes, Hood, Perez, Goodwin

October 03, 2011, 3:09am

Nationals

Instructional prospect updates: Keyes, Hood, Perez, Goodwin

While in Hagerstown to see Stephen Strasburg rehab, one of the outfield stories that really caught my eye was the power displayed by Kevin Keyes. Keyes is continuing his season at the Nationals' instructional camp in Florida. Single-A Potomac Nationals hitting coach Mark Harris is one of the many coaches at instructs and likes what he sees from the former Texas Longhorn. "I think he opened some eyes with his production," Harris said. "A lot of coaches are anxious to see how he will do at...

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Nationals' instructional prospect updates: Walters, Leon, Skole

October 01, 2011, 4:06am

Nationals

The intructional league season, which continues for two more weeks at the Nationals complex in Florida, benefits players who have not had much time in the Nationals' organization, and others who are getting back from injury and need extra at-bats under the watchful eye of the coaching staff. Shortstop Zach Walters, acquired in the July trade from Arizona for Jason Marquis, started to get on a roll with the Single-A Potomac Nationals at the end of the season and that has carried over into...

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Triple-A Syracuse gets eight extra "home" games in 2012

September 30, 2011, 12:37pm

Nationals

Triple-A Syracuse gets eight extra "home" games in 2012

Due to renovation construction on the Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre's home PNC Field during the 2012 baseball season, 10 of the Yankees "home" games will be played at Alliance Bank Stadium, home of the Washington Nationals' Triple-A affiliate, the Syracuse Chiefs. The International League made the announcement Friday that eight of the games will be against the Chiefs and the other two against Buffalo. Scranton/Wilkes-Barre will be the home team in Syracuse on April 14-15, June 14-17, and...

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Nationals 2011 season: By the numbers

September 30, 2011, 8:51am

Nationals

The Washington Nationals' season is over and the team improved its record by 11 wins since 2010. The 80 wins is also 21 victories better than 2009's low water mark. Manager Davey Johnson was asked what 80 wins meant in Wednesday's postgame interview on MASN, and he certainly was not jumping for joy. That showed to me how determined he is to get this team to the next level. "Not a whole lot," Johnson said. "We are not playing in postseason. But it shows how far these guys have come. I...

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Harper, Rendon, Solis and others arrive at Arizona fall league

September 28, 2011, 6:24pm

Nationals

Harper, Rendon, Solis and others arrive at Arizona fall league

Nationals instructional league camp continues for another couple of weeks, but few notables left Wednesday for the Arizona fall league. Bryce Harper, Sammy Solis, Derek Norris, Pat Lehman, Rafael Martin and Anthony Rendon head the list of Nationals prospects playing this year for the Scottsdale Scorpions. The groups traveled to Arizona on Wednesday. The Scorpions won the league championship last fall. Harper has looked good in instructional camp, swinging the bat well, according to Potomac...

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Rizzo: Nationals' pitching depth necessary currency to pull off major trade

September 28, 2011, 7:36am

Nationals

The Nationals' September call-ups of left-hander Tommy Milone and right-hander Brad Peacock signal a big step in the organization from a talent perspective. Since the Nationals arrived in D.C., never has the team been able to bring up a pair of starters at this point of the season who show they are ready to pitch right now at the major league level. Couple that with the resurgence of Ross Detwiler, the re-emergence of Chien-Ming Wang and steady pitching of veteran John Lannan, and general...

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Stammen states case for long relief role in 2012

September 27, 2011, 7:41am

Nationals

Stammen states case for long relief role in 2012

Nationals right-handed reliever Craig Stammen has quietly put together a nice month of pitching as he gears up for the offseason and 2012 spring training. That is not the way the year started off for Stammen. He was sent to Triple-A Syracuse out of spring training, then struggled in his first call to the majors this season. On June 6 in San Francisco, Stammen gave up two hits and a costly earned run in two-thirds of an inning. But since that night, he has not allowed a run in six straight...

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Morse singing a different tune

September 26, 2011, 8:00am

Nationals

Nationals manager Davey Johnson has been pleased with progress his hitters have made this season. The best story has to be Michael Morse, who has hit 29 homers and has 91 RBIs, both career highs and team-leading totals. "He is one of the great surprises," Johnson said. "He has been the most consistent guy all year long. He has had to play left field, then first base, then back to left field. He has been given the opportunity, and he has made the most of it. The same could be said for Ian...

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Rizzo: Nationals have ongoing dialogue in pursuit of re-signing Wang

September 25, 2011, 9:32am

Nationals

Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo said Sunday the team continues to speak with pitcher Chien-Ming Wang's representatives as they look to nail down a contract extension. Wang finished up his return to baseball after two seasons away with a serious shoulder injury, by throwing six innings of one run ball and contributing an RBI single in the Nationals 4-1 win over the Atlanta Braves Saturday. Wang's record is an impressive 4-3 with a 4.04 ERA. He recorded 16 strikeouts in his final four...