Byron Kerr

With Zimmerman out, can Morse move to third base?

April 30, 2011, 6:01pm

Now that Nationals third baseman Ryan Zimmerman is going to be out of the lineup for an extended period of time, what can the team do to add some punch to an offense that continues to struggle to put runs on the board? I started to think of possible solutions available right now on the current 25-man roster. One possible avenue is more playing time for Laynce Nix, who has had some big hits in limited duty this season. Nix has cranked game-winning home runs against the New York Mets and San...

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Bryce Harper hot streak continues in West Virginia

April 29, 2011, 8:42pm

Nationals

Bryce Harper hot streak continues in West Virginia

Single-A Hagerstown Suns outfielder Bryce Harper continues on a tear since the team left Maryland for road trip in West Virginia. Harper has hit .438 (14-for-32) with five doubles, four homers and 12 RBIs in his last 10 games. During that span, his slugging percentage has reached .969. Harper's season average is up to .333 (22-for-66) with six doubles, five homers and 18 RBIs. With runners on base, Harper is .412 with two homers and 15 RBIs. In five games from April 21 to April 27, Harper...

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Desmond remains hot since returning to team

April 29, 2011, 8:18pm

Nationals

Desmond remains hot since returning to team

This has been a pretty good week for Nationals shortstop Ian Desmond. As has been well documented, on Tuesday, his first child Grayson was born. In two games since returning to the ball club, Desmond is 5-for-7 with two doubles, one triple, one homer, three runs, one stolen base and one RBI. Friday, in the 3-0 win over the San Francisco Giants, Desmond went 3-for-3. Along with a Laynce Nix two-run homer, the offense provided just enough cushion for Jason Marquis to do his job. Marquis...

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Lannan focused on not changing plan versus Giants

April 29, 2011, 7:43pm

Nationals

Lannan focused on not changing plan versus Giants

Nationals starting left-hander John Lannan takes on the Giants' southpaw Jonathan Sanchez (2-1, 3.21 ERA) in Game 2 today at Nationals Park. The Nationals are seeking their third win in a row. The Giants have been shutout in two of their last three games. Lannan will look to keep the pitching momentum going for the Nats following Jason Marquis' amazing complete game five-hit shutout Friday night, 3-0. Lannan (2-2, 4.05) is coming off a tough loss in a rain-delayed game at Pittsburgh Monday,...

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New dad Desmond delivers game-winner against Mets

April 28, 2011, 8:12pm

Nationals

New dad Desmond delivers game-winner against Mets

Just two days after his wife gave birth to their new baby boy, Nationals shortstop Ian Desmond returned to the lineup and ignited the offense in the Nationals' 4-3 win over the New York Mets on Thursday night. Desmond slammed a triple in the fourth and later scored. In the fifth, Desmond blasted a solo home run over the fence in left-center for his third homer of the season. "It was nice to be back," Desmond said. "(I was) watching the games the last two days and it seemed like the team...

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Cancer scare behind him, Tyler Moore wielding big bat for Harrisburg

April 28, 2011, 11:46am

Nationals

Cancer scare behind him, Tyler Moore wielding big bat for Harrisburg

Double-A Harrisburg Senators first baseman Tyler Moore feels very fortunate to be back and healthy on the diamond this season. The Carolina League Player of the Year put together the most memorable season of his career in 2010, slugging 31 homers and 110 RBIs as the Single-A Potomac Nationals won the Mills Cup championship. But despite all the success on the field and at the plate last season, Moore was in pain. Before and after games his right leg would be sore. He would wake up early with...

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Detwiler rolling through April in Syracuse; the hip a distant memory

April 28, 2011, 11:20am

Nationals

Detwiler rolling through April in Syracuse; the hip a distant memory

Triple-A Syracuse Chiefs left-handed starter Ross Detwiler may not want April to end. It has been a month to remember. In four starts, Detwiler has gone at least six innings each time, allowed only six total runs, struck out 20 and walked only six. Detwiler has compiled a 2-0 record with a 2.22 ERA. Even more amazing has been his two no decisions. In those two starts, he allowed just two runs in 12 1/3 innings. In his most recent outing, April 25 at Scranton, Detwiler tossed six and...

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Burnett gets roughed up in ninth, suffers first loss

April 27, 2011, 8:02pm

Nationals

Burnett gets roughed up in ninth, suffers first loss

The Nationals had worked their way into a chance to win it in the ninth inning on Wednesday. After scoring a run on a sacrifice fly by catcher Wilson Ramos, Washington led 3-2. Heading into the top of ninth inning, the Mets had hitters five, six and seven coming up next. The Nationals manager Jim Riggleman elected to give the ball to lefthander Sean Burnett to get three outs. Sean Burnett discusses his blown save with the media after the Nats' 6-3 loss New York had a different idea,...

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Minor league starting lineups 4/27/11

April 27, 2011, 3:44pm

Nationals

Here is a look around the Nationals system at the starting lineups put on the field of play for Wednesday, April 27, 2011. Harrisburg lineup Steve Lombardozzi 2B Josh Johnson SS Jesus Valdez LF Tyler Moore 1B Derek Norris C Bill Rhinehart RF Tim Pahuta 3B Jonathan Tucker CF Ryan Tatusko P Potomac lineup Game 1 Cutter Dykstra 3B Jeff Kobernus 2B Destin Hood RF Steven Souza 1B Stephen King DH J.P. Ramirez LF Sandy Leon C J.R. Higley CF Francisco Soriano SS Syracuse lineup Boomer...

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Ramos makes case to be regular catcher

April 26, 2011, 7:43pm

Nationals

The Nationals catcher Wilson Ramos provided most of the offense for the Nationals Tuesday against the New York Mets and continues to make a case to be the regular backstop for this team going forward. This case doesn't have to go to an arbitrator. The numbers don't lie. Ramos is now batting .378 which is 128 points better than the next offensive starter (Danny Espinosa .250) and well over 150 points better than Jayson Werth (.220) and Adam LaRoche (.219). On Tuesday, Ramos had one of...

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Gorzelanny feeling good about start against Mets

April 26, 2011, 3:48pm

Nationals

Gorzelanny feeling good about start against Mets

Left-hander Tom Gorzelanny looks to earn his first win as a Washington National Wednesday night when he takes to the hill against the New York Mets, who send knuckleball right-hander R.A. Dickey (1-3, 4.10) to the mound. Gorzelanny (0-2, 4.96) is coming off a tough loss last week in St. Louis in which he went five innings and allowed two runs. He surrendered only two hits, but struggled with control, giving up four walks and striking out three batters in a 5-0 setback. The Nats lefty allowed...

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Shane McCatty off to solid start for Suns

April 25, 2011, 7:38pm

Nationals

Shane McCatty off to solid start for Suns

Single-A Hagerstown Suns right-hander Shane McCatty is coming off his best outing of the season Saturday. He tossed 4 1/3 innings, allowing just one run on three hits with no walks and a pair of strikeouts against the Hickory Crawdads. The 6-foot-3, 205-lb., McCatty now has a 3.27 ERA in four relief appearances with seven strikeouts, two walks and four earned runs allowed. Imagine being the 23-year-old. You have to answer to two pitching coaches every night - one in Hagerstown and another...

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Bryce Harper hits another homer; Daubach compares him to Chipper Jones

April 24, 2011, 6:03pm

Nationals

Bryce Harper hits another homer; Daubach compares him to Chipper Jones

Single-A Hagerstown Suns right fielder Bryce Harper had a night to remember - likely not his last - Friday night in a 17-1 thumping of the Hickory Crawdads at Municipal Stadium. Harper went 3-for-3 with a double, two walks and a two-run homer. It was his third home run of the season and first time he has hit a homer in the professional ranks in back-to-back games. Harper registered a career-high six RBIs. Harper is now batting .306 with three doubles, three homers and 14 RBIs In 15 games. In...

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Chiefs' Stammen wins, Milone falls in doubleheader split

April 23, 2011, 2:38pm

Nationals

Chiefs' Stammen wins, Milone falls in doubleheader split

Triple-A Syracuse Chiefs righthander Craig Stammen earned his first win of the season Saturday with a 2-0 complete-game shutout of the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees at PNC Field in the nightcap of an afternoon doubleheader. The Chiefs lost the opener 4-2. Stammen threw 94 pitches with 66 for strikes, going seven innings and scattering four hits. He walked none and struck out seven to improve to 1-0 with a 1.93 ERA. One key to his win was getting ahead of the hitters. "I had a good sinker...

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Oduber flying for the Suns in April

April 22, 2011, 10:21am

Nationals

If Randolph Oduber can make it to the big leagues, he will truly be that diamond-in-the-rough that all scouts are looking for every time they sit down to watch a prospect. Hailing from the island of Aruba, Oduber was a 32nd-round selection by the Washington Nationals in the 2010 amateur draft. "It was a great draft," Nationals director of player development Doug Harris said. "Our scouts did a tremendous job. Oduber is a very athletic kid with a strong makeup." Oduber quickly signed...

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Harper hits first homer at home and later crashes into outfield wall, is unhurt

April 22, 2011, 9:44am

Nationals

Harper hits first homer at home and later crashes into outfield wall, is unhurt

Hagerstown Suns right fielder Bryce Harper crushed his first home run of the season at Municipal Stadium Thursday. It is his second home run of the year after hitting one on a road trip at Lexington last week. Harper is batting .261 (12-for-46) in 14 games with two home runs and eight RBI. He is tied for the team lead in RBI with Blake Kelso. The home run was another of the line drive variety. The wind was moving left to right across the field and that aided the left-handed hitters...

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Prospect Souza grateful for second chance, taking full advantage

April 21, 2011, 5:33am

Nationals

Prospect Souza grateful for second chance, taking full advantage

Single-A Potomac Nationals third baseman Steven Souza feels like he has a new lease on his baseball life and he is taking full advantage of it. In July 2010, Souza made a mistake. Souza was feeling tired and worn down after a long road trip, so he took a pill to get himself up for an early doubleheader. That day he was tested for performance-enhancing drugs. Souza tested positive, and subsequent suspension ended his season with Double-A Hagerstown. Also implicated was teammate J.R....

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Offense catching up to pitching boosts Nats' confidence

April 19, 2011, 10:16am

Nationals

Offense catching up to pitching boosts Nats' confidence

The Nationals begin their second road trip of the season tonight in St. Louis against the Cardinals, looking for their first four-game win streak of the campaign and their first back-to-back series triumphs. It will be a difficult task at Busch Stadium, where the Nats haven't won a game since 2007. First baseman Adam LaRoche said a major reason for their modest win streak is the offense finally helped out the pitching in a weekend sweep of the Milwaukee Brewers. "I think what is really...

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Prospect Norris activated from DL

April 19, 2011, 7:01am

Nationals

The Double-A Harrisburg Senators announced that catcher Derek Norris has been activated from the seven-day disabled list and has returned to the roster. The Senators roster now stands at 24 active and one on the disabled list. Catcher Brian Peacock has been returned to the Single-A Potomac Nationals. Jeremy Mayo heads back to the Gulf Coast League. A Nationals source reports Norris is "ready to go." Weather permitting, Norris is expected to start tonight. Norris injured his ankle running...

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McCatty: Balester "has grown up"

April 18, 2011, 11:17am

Nationals

The Nationals recalled 24-year-old right-hander Collin Balester from Triple-A Syracuse to replace Todd Coffey. Coffey has been placed on the 15-day disabled list with a left calf strain. Balester has thrown five scoreless innings of relief for Syracuse this season. In his most recent outing last Monday at Lehigh Valley (Phillies), Balester allowed one hit over two innings with three strikeouts. Last year he was very impressive in 17 appearances, averaging 12 strikeouts per nine innings and...