nationals

Harper thumb update and P-Nats notes

June 19, 2011, 4:19pm

Nationals top prospect Bryce Harper sat out the last two games of the first half of the South Atlantic League season continuing to nurse his sore left thumb. He originally jammed the thumb during last Sunday's game and has missed four games off and on during the last week as a precautionary measure. Harper will travel to Salisbury, Md., and is expected to play in the South Atlantic League All-Star Game on Tuesday. He batted .330 with 14 home runs and 45 RBIs in 64 games for the Single-A...

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2011 Dream Gala

June 20, 2011, 6:52am

Nationals

I've always found it a little strange to see baseball players out of uniform. We're so accustomed to watching them take the field on a daily basis, recognizable only by their last name and corresponding number on the back of their jersey. In fact, if you're fortunate enough to bump into a player on the street or outside of the ballpark, it can sometimes take a minute to realize who you've just seen. So as players, coaches and members of the Washington Nationals organization dressed up in...

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Rodriguez, Ramos catching runners at high percentage

June 18, 2011, 1:25pm

Nationals

Rodriguez, Ramos catching runners at high percentage

There are many factors to explain why a team goes on a roll. The big reasons usually center around timely hits, solid defense and quality pitching. Two other factors are veteran leadership and a bench that contributes. The Nationals are in the midst of an eight-game winning streak, the longest streak in almost two seasons, dating to an eight-game streak in August 2009. In Saturday's 4-2 victory over the Orioles, Washington displayed one of those key ingredients in successful teams: a...

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Father of the Year

June 17, 2011, 1:37pm

Nationals

First off, I would like to extend a very happy Father's Day to all dads out there, particularly those currently away from their families serving in the military. For me, the word "dad" conjures up memories of grilling outside, weekend bike rides and, of course, trips to the ballpark. In fact, if not for my dad introducing me to the sport, I'm not sure I would be as passionate about baseball as I am today. This weekend will be no different for a lot of families, as the Battle of the...

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Kimball feels no pain after two throwing sessions

June 18, 2011, 11:12am

Nationals

Kimball feels no pain after two throwing sessions

Nationals right-handed reliever Cole Kimball had two throwing sessions Saturday under the supervision of bullpen coach Jim Lett and head athletic trainer Lee Kuntz to test his injured shoulder. He said the sessions went very well and his throwing shoulder showed no pain during the workouts. Kimball has been on the disabled list since June 10 with shoulder inflammation. Kimball threw two sessions and 60 feet and felt "pretty good" afterward. "There was no pain," Kimball said. "I am...

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Desmond continues to steal bases even with sore leg

June 18, 2011, 8:24am

Nationals

Desmond continues to steal bases even with sore leg

Nationals shortstop Ian Desmond stole two bases Friday and now has a career-high 20 stolen bases in his first 64 games of the season. Last year, he had 17 stolen bases in 154 games. The Nationals are being more aggressive on the basepaths and taking advantage of Desmond's speed to put pressure on the opposition to not make mistakes. Nationals manager Jim Riggleman said the team is running more this season, but they have to be careful with Desmond because he is still nursing a sore left...

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Short-season Auburn Doubledays win 2011 opener

June 17, 2011, 7:00pm

Nationals

Short-season Auburn Doubledays win 2011 opener

There were some very impressive performances from a few of the minor league affiliates in the Nationals' chain Friday, including the debut of the short-season Single-A Auburn Doubledays, managed by Gary Cathcart, as a Washington affiliate. Doubledays catcher Adrian Nieto went 3-for-3 with two runs, a homer and two RBIs as Auburn started its season with 11 hits and a 6-1 win over Batavia. Ryan Demmin went five innings for the win. At Double-A, Nationals prospects Josh Johnson and Chris Rahl...

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Nationals and Orioles all even at 1-1 early

June 18, 2011, 9:53am

Nationals Orioles

Nationals and Orioles all even at 1-1 early

The Nationals and Orioles under way in their fifth meeting of the season. Orioles left-hander Brian Matusz is facing Nationals right-hander Jordan Zimmerman. With a victory, the Nationals can guarantee at least a season split with the Birds. Washington has won both series hold on,openers by a combined score of 25-9. The Orioles got to Zimmermann early with a solo homer by Adam Jones in the top of the first. The blast to left field came with two men out. The Nationals countered with the...

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Nationals' Desmond finding all kinds of ways to contribute

June 17, 2011, 8:43pm

Nationals

Nationals' shortstop Ian Desmond was back to batting in the second hole after hitting ninth Thursday. Desmond's timely hitting, speed on the bases and crafty glove helped guide Washington to an 8-4 win in their series opener against the Baltimore Orioles at Nationals Park. Desmond had two hits, two stolen bases, a run and two RBIs in his final three at-bats as the Nationals came back from an early 2-0 deficit to beat the Birds. Even with Desmond batting all over the lineup, he feels the...

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Wizards' Wall bounces first pitch, excited to see first Nationals' game

June 17, 2011, 5:06pm

Nationals

The Washington Wizards star point guard John Wall threw out the first pitch before Friday's matchup with the Baltimore Orioles at Nationals Park. It didn't quite do what he had planned. Wall's pitch bounced twice before the Nationals closer Drew Storen made a nice play to catch it. Wall said the 56-minute rain delay allowed him to cool down too much and affected the throw. "That was my All-Star game bounce pass right there," Wall said. "I will come back out and redeem myself sometime...

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Potomac's Kobernus replaces Hood as Carolina League All-Star

June 17, 2011, 9:27am

Nationals

Potomac's Kobernus replaces Hood as Carolina League All-Star

Single-A Potomac Nationals second baseman Jeff Kobernus has been named to the 2011 Carolina league All-Star team, replacing his teamate, outfielder Destin Hood. Hood was placed on the disabled list Wednesday with a knee injury. Hood has been recovering from a knee issue and needs some rest. Kobernus has gotten hot at the right time, batting .333 (37-for-111) with 18 runs and 12 steals in the last 28 games. He is batting .266 overall, with 13 doubles, two home runs and 24 RBIs. Kobernus leads...

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Hagerstown's Harper invited to SAL All-Star home run derby

June 17, 2011, 11:14am

Nationals

Hagerstown's Harper invited to SAL All-Star home run derby

The Nationals' top prospect, outfielder Bryce Harper, will participate in the home run derby prior to the South Atlantic League All-Star game on Tuesday in Salisbury, Md. The event is billed as the 2011 BB&T All-Star Game Home Run Derby at Arthur W. Perdue Stadium and begins at 5:30 p.m. The winner receives $500 courtesy of BB&T. Harper has hit 14 home runs with a .601 slugging percentage during the first half of the season for the Single-A Hagerstown Suns. He will be joined by Northern...

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Nationals announce "MVP Dad" winner, Wayne Schlauch

June 17, 2011, 11:00am

Nationals

Major League Baseball announced the winners of the 2011 "My Dad, My MVP" contest to recognize extraordinary fathers and father figures as part of the MLB Father's Day celebration. The Washington Nationals are proud to announce that Wayne Schlauch, of College Park, Md will be honored as their "MVP Dad." As the Nationals' winner, Wayne will have the unique opportunity to deliver the lineup card during Sunday's game against the Baltimore Orioles on Father's Day, June 19, 2011. Wayne is a...

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Confidence in Burnett gave Nationals chance to sweep Cards

June 16, 2011, 7:32pm

Nationals

The Nationals were looking good with a 4-2 lead over the St. Louis Cardinals late Thursday night. In the eighth inning, they called upon their set-up man, Tyler Clippard, to get three outs. But an Albert Pujols' home run cut the lead to 4-3. The Nats still had the lead into the ninth frame. As usual, closer Drew Storen was summoned to finish off another game, as he had done 16 times this season. But, Yadier Molina's home run to lead off the inning changed that plan quickly. So, how big...

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Will Yoder: Nationals' rotation still one of the best

June 17, 2011, 3:19am

Nationals

Entering the 2011 season, many felt the Nationals dropped the ball over the winter in a rather public attempt to shore up their starting rotation. General manager Mike Rizzo made no secret that he was out to get another major league-level starter, and when he failed to sign even one of his targets, many were worried about the rotation the Nats had to offer. Quite surprisingly, the Nats' starting pitching has actually been a bright point for the club this season, with one of the more...

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Patience at the plate has fueled Nationals' win streak

June 16, 2011, 9:41am

Nationals

Earlier this season I was talking to a writer of a struggling opposing team and I asked him why they were losing. He said it was because they were not being patient at the plate. They were going after the first pitch. They weren't taxing the pitcher. They were going for bad pitches and innings were short and uneventful. While watching the Nationals during this current win streak, you can see one of the reasons the team is playing well. They are waiting for their pitch and fighting through...

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Riggleman: Personnel changes key to defensive turnaround

June 16, 2011, 1:07pm

Nationals

Riggleman: Personnel changes key to defensive turnaround

The Nationals are tied with the Phillies for fewest errors in the national league with 33 through 68 games (the Phillies have now played 70). That is a significant step forward for the Nationals team defense after leading the majors, alongside the Pirates, last season with 127 miscues. What might be even more impressive is what the team has done in the first summer month of 2011. The Nationals have the longest current errorless streak in the major leagues at 122 2/3 innings, dating back to...

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Look for the same broadcast team this weekend

June 16, 2011, 9:48am

Nationals

Look for the same broadcast team this weekend

Am I the only one who thinks a Battle of the Beltways logo would look pretty cool? I don't have an artistic bone in my body, so I'm certainly not the one to design it, but I'm picturing the two highways tangled together, steel entrenched with gridlock traffic popping out all over. Hey, it's just an idea, but for anyone who has to travel along either the Baltimore Beltway or Capital Beltway on a regular basis, you know there's enough congestion and construction to make any decent driver...

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Three-man booth on weekend O's-Nats broadcasts will feature Hunter, Flanagan

June 15, 2011, 1:14pm

Nationals Orioles

Three-man booth on weekend O's-Nats broadcasts will feature Hunter, Flanagan

When the Orioles travel to Washington, D.C., to face the Nationals in an interleague series beginning Friday night, MASN viewers will again have the opportunity to enjoy a rarity in broadcast sports television: a three-man booth featuring a collection of play-by-play announcers and color analysts from both teams. Orioles play-by-play veteran Jim Hunter and his D.C. counterpart, Bob Carpenter, will both call portions of the game. Carpenter will work the first two and a half innings, followed by...

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Will Yoder: Is Yunesky Maya running out of chances?

June 16, 2011, 4:49am

Nationals

Will Yoder: Is Yunesky Maya running out of chances?

The Washington Nationals optioned starting pitcher Yunesky Maya to Triple-A Syracuse yesterday in order to add another bullpen option for Jim Riggleman until Tom Gorzelanny makes his next expected start Sunday. While the demotion was expected, Maya didn't exactly do much to inspire the Nationals to make room on the roster to keep the 29-year-old Cuban. In four starts, Maya went 0-1 and posted a 6.88 ERA and a .325 batting average against. While some viewed his call-up as a chance for him to...