nationals

Smashing home run a good way for Keyes to start run with P-Nats

April 25, 2013, 2:01pm

It has not been the fastest start for Potomac Nationals first baseman Kevin Keyes. But Wednesday's home run at Carolina may change that. His first home run of the season, and 42nd of his minor league career, was a mammoth blast at Five County Stadium in Zebulon, N.C. that smashed a light bulb on the outfield light tower. Here is the description from Potomac Nationals Web site: "Keyes' majestic, Ruthian blast was a high-arching drive that collided with a band of bulbs on the left field...

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Rosenbaum's success could offer Nationals another spot start option

April 28, 2013, 5:32pm

Nationals

Syracuse Chiefs starter Danny Rosenbaum is off to a great beginning for 2013. Fresh off his return to the Nationals from the Colorado Rockies, who plucked him in the Rule 5 draft, Rosenbaum is 2-1 with a 1.14 ERA in four starts. Rosenbaum has tossed 23 2/3 innings and allowed only three runs, 16 hits, one homer, eight walks and has struck out five. Saturday's gem over Durham was the best of all the starts so far this season. Against the Bulls, Rosenbaum went seven innings, allowing only...

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Zimmerman to rehab tonight in Woodbridge

April 30, 2013, 9:11am

Nationals

Zimmerman to rehab tonight in Woodbridge

Nationals third baseman Ryan Zimmerman (hamstring) is expected to make a rehab appearance tonight for high Single-A Potomac. The first game of the doubleheader is set to begin at 6 p.m. Zimmerman would most likely just play the first game and try to get a least three at-bats. He will wear jersey No. 33. * Hagerstown Suns right-hander Ivan Pineyro put in a gem of a start last weekend with 12 strikeouts in a 3-0 win over the Hickory Crawdads. Pineyro went six innings, allowed three hits, no...

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Zimmerman scratched from lineup in Potomac rehab start

April 30, 2013, 3:53pm

Nationals

Zimmerman scratched from lineup in Potomac rehab start

Nationals third baseman Ryan Zimmerman was scratched from Tuesday's doubleheader for the high Single-A Potomac Nationals at Pfitzner Stadium in Woodbridge, Va. Zimmerman is expected to be in the lineup Wednesday for the P-Nats, to test his hamstring under live game conditions. If everything goes well, Zimmerman is likely to join the Nationals in Pittsburgh when they start a weekend series with the Pirates on Friday. Rain in the area forced postponement of Monday's game at Potomac. The...

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Solis and Purke return timeline updated to late May

May 01, 2013, 10:13am

Nationals

Solis and Purke return timeline updated to late May

Left-hander Sammy Solis (Tommy John) and left-hander Matt Purke (shoulder) continue their mound progressions in Florida as they work their way back from surgeries. Solis threw a few innings in extended spring training last week and looked good, according to club source. Updating his return, another source reports Solis is still "several weeks" from returning to games, and it appears that will take place in the "second half of May." Meanwhile, Purke is a "tick behind the Solis timeline."...

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Hagerstown catcher Severino surging to prospect status with Nationals

May 01, 2013, 10:46am

Nationals

19-year old Dominican catcher Pedro Severino has made a nice step up to Low Single-A Hagerstown Suns, and is off to a good start in his first profesional season. In 70 games for Gulf Coast Nationals from 2011 and 2012, Severino hit .201 with 11 extra base hits and 17 RBIs. Focusing on last season, he hit .220 in 38 games, dwindling his strikeout total from 27 down to nine. Nationals director of player development Doug Harris said Severino is a "high energy kid who is really throwing well. He...

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Zimmerman on rehab game: "Hammy felt great"

May 01, 2013, 6:54pm

Nationals

Zimmerman on rehab game: "Hammy felt great"

WOODBRIDGE, Va. - Nationals third baseman Ryan Zimmerman looked back to 100 percent health on the field, his hamstring returning to full strength, during his rehab assignment with the high Single-A Potomac Nationals on Wednesday night. "Everything went great," Zimmerman said. "It was good to get back out there. Everything felt fine so I will work out tomorrow at the stadium and fly to Pittsburgh tomorrow night. "I came here and got ready for a game (doing) everything that I would...

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Harper diagnosed with bad bruise on left side

May 01, 2013, 6:31pm

Nationals

Harper diagnosed with bad bruise on left side

ATLANTA - The medical update on Bryce Harper is one that should allow Nationals fans to breathe easy, even if Harper had trouble breathing for a couple of seconds after a sixth-inning check-swing. Harper, who left tonight's game midway through the sixth after grounding out to first base, was diagnosed with a bad bruise on his left side, manager Davey Johnson said following tonight's 2-0 Nats win. It appears that Harper has avoided any serious injury, including anything affecting his...

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Rachel Levitin: Unassuming Zimmermann the stopper the Nats need

May 02, 2013, 5:46am

Nationals

Rachel Levitin: Unassuming Zimmermann the stopper the Nats need

Jordan Zimmermann's 2-0 win over Atlanta last night helped the Nationals snap the team's nine-game losing streak against the Braves. It's already apparent that the Nats have a few growing pains in their transition from the 2012 season to 2013, but that's the thing about baseball - you never quite know exactly how a singular game is going to shake out, let alone an entire season, until it's all said and done. What's great about Zimmermann's success this season thus far is that his work...

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Another Zimmermann gem snaps Nats' mini-funk (with Werth note)

May 01, 2013, 7:15pm

Nationals

Another Zimmermann gem snaps Nats' mini-funk (with Werth note)

ATLANTA - Twice already this season, Jordan Zimmermann has taken the mound with the Nationals riding a three-game mini losing streak and gotten things back on track. Tonight, it was eight stellar, two-hit innings from Zimmermann that propelled the Nats to a 2-0 win over the Braves, their first victory against Atlanta in their last 10 tries. "We needed that one bad and he went out there and pitched a blueprint game," manager Davey Johnson said. "That was outstanding. Some good fastball...

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Desmond enjoying the cleanup spot

May 01, 2013, 4:22pm

Nationals

ATLANTA - In 487 career major league games played, tonight is the first time that Ian Desmond has hit cleanup. Talking with reporters about it before the game, Desmond downplayed the significance of his place in the order, joking that he hit cleanup two days ago - when he came up fourth in the fourth inning. Jokes notwithstanding, Desmond seems to be having a decent time in the No. 4 spot tonight. Desmond followed a Bryce Harper walk in the fourth inning by smoking a Paul Maholm curveball...

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Bryce Harper leaves game with apparent injury (Nats win 2-0)

May 01, 2013, 4:48pm

Nationals

Bryce Harper leaves game with apparent injury (Nats win 2-0)

ATLANTA - This is just about the last thing the Nationals needed right now. Bryce Harper has been removed from tonight's game in the middle of the sixth inning with an apparent injury. Roger Bernadina has taken over for Harper in right field. Harper suffered a bad bruise up on his left side last night when he collided with the right field wall attempting to catch Tim Hudson's fly ball. The ball went off Harper's glove and bounced over the fence for a home run. Harper showed the bruise to...

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The latest injury updates on Werth and Zimmerman (updated)

May 01, 2013, 3:27pm

Nationals

The latest injury updates on Werth and Zimmerman (updated)

ATLANTA - There was a bit of a scary moment here at Turner Field this afternoon, when a stadium worker named Reuben collapsed with an apparent heart attack. Nationals head trainer Lee Kuntz and training assistant John Hsu rushed to the man's aid and revived him. Word is that Reuben is recovering in a local hospital now. Good on Kuntz and Hsu for rushing to the man's aid. Update: We've been told here in the press box that the man that Kuntz and Hsu revived, Reuben Porras, has passed away...

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Espinosa on his struggles: "I know I'm way better than that"

May 01, 2013, 2:47pm

Nationals

Espinosa on his struggles: "I know I'm way better than that"

ATLANTA - Danny Espinosa showed up at Turner Field this afternoon, took a look at the Nationals' lineup card and didn't see his name in the starting lineup. Instead, Steve Lombardozzi was written in with the number "4" next to his name, indicating Lombardozzi will start at second base tonight. "Haven't been playing well, got benched," Espinosa said at his locker earlier today. "I guess it just kind of is what it is. That's the decision they made and they don't have to explain...

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Lombardozzi to start at second base for rest of Braves series (with Werth note)

May 01, 2013, 7:59am

Nationals

Lombardozzi to start at second base for rest of Braves series (with Werth note)

ATLANTA - Danny Espinosa struggled offensively during the month of April, batting .173 with a .212 on-base percentage. When the Nationals open their May schedule tonight against the Braves, Steve Lombardozzi will be their starting second baseman and Espinosa will be on the bench. Nats manager Davey Johnson said during an appearance on 106.7 The Fan this morning that he plans to start Lombardozzi at second base for the final two games of the Nationals' series against the...

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Offense not living up to its billing

May 01, 2013, 6:08am

Nationals

ATLANTA - The good news for the Nationals, maybe some of the only good news they've got going right now, is that Jordan Zimmermann will be taking the ball tonight as the Nats look to finally pick up a win over the Braves and snap a three-game losing streak. Is there anyone else the Nats would rather have on the mound right now than Zimmermann, who is 4-1 with a 2.00 ERA and is coming off a one-hit shutout his last time out? Ross Detwiler has pitched really well this season, but with...

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Nats at a bit of a loss when trying to explain rocky start

April 30, 2013, 7:30pm

Nationals

Nats at a bit of a loss when trying to explain rocky start

ATLANTA - The Nationals know they're a talented team. They know they're better than what their 13-14 record indicates. So why is their play slacking? Why the 0-5 record against the Braves? What can't this team do that needs to be done right now? "I feel like we can, we're just not," said Ian Desmond, who went around to a number of players after the game to have brief one-on-one chats with them. "I mean, everyone's trying to do better for the team, but I feel like you have to put...

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Johnson discusses another loss to Braves

April 30, 2013, 7:00pm

Nationals

Johnson discusses another loss to Braves

ATLANTA - For the fifth time this season, Davey Johnson met with reporters following a loss to the Braves. "Do we have to talk about this one?" Johnson said with a smirk on his face. Had the Nationals not just finished the month of April with a disappointing 13-14 record, Johnson might've been in full-blown smile mode when making that comment. Knowing how long the season is and how many games remain, he's usually fairly jolly at this point in the year, even after a loss. Instead,...

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David Huzzard: Advanced metrics place Harper in select company

April 30, 2013, 7:08pm

Nationals

David Huzzard: Advanced metrics place Harper in select company

As a disappointing 13-14 April comes to an end for the Nationals, the only thing that went right was Bryce Harper. An April OPS of 1.150 is only so impressive on its own, but consider that the tops in all of baseball last season was Miguel Cabrera with .999 and the only regulars with better than that in April 2012 were Matt Kemp, Bryan LaHair, Josh Hamilton and David Ortiz. Harper is off to a hot start, but there are signs that it won't be ending anytime soon. Watch Harper at the plate....

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An incredibly bizarre outing for Gio Gonzalez (Nats lose 8-1)

April 30, 2013, 4:39pm

Nationals

An incredibly bizarre outing for Gio Gonzalez (Nats lose 8-1)

ATLANTA - This is one of the more bizarre outings I've seen turned in by a starting pitcher in some time. Gio Gonzalez has struck out nine batters through four innings. His stuff has been good, his velocity is there and his pitches have plenty life. Outside of the strikeout numbers, however, everything else has gone wrong for Gonzalez. The Nationals left-hander has allowed five runs in his four innings of work. He's allowed seven hits. He's walked five Braves batters. He threw a wild...