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

April 24, 2011, 6:03pm

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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Nationals reinstate RHP Todd Coffey from 15-Day DL

April 24, 2011, 6:24am

Nationals

The Washington Nationals today reinstated right-handed pitcher Todd Coffey from the 15-Day Disabled List. Nationals Executive Vice President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcement. Coffey missed the last 12 games after going on the DL with a strained left calf on April 17, retroactive to April 9. The 30-year-old is 1-0 with a 6.23 ERA in five relief appearances this season.

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Nats option Collin Balester to Triple-A Syracuse

April 23, 2011, 7:25pm

Nationals

Nats option Collin Balester to Triple-A Syracuse

Following tonight's game, the Washington Nationals optioned right-handed pitcher Collin Balester to Syracuse of the Triple-A International League. Nationals Executive Vice President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcement. Balester, 24, allowed three earned runs in 3.1 innings during three relief appearances with Washington.

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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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MASN adds new affiliates in Virginia, North Carolina

April 22, 2011, 3:06pm

Nationals Orioles

MASN adds new affiliates in Virginia, North Carolina

BALTIMORE -- MASN, the television home of the Washington Nationals and Baltimore Orioles, has reached affiliate agreements with two Virginia-based cable television providers as well as two new affiliates in North Carolina. Chatmoss Cablevision in Danville and Nelson Cable in Wintergreen are now broadcasting the popular regional sports network in Virginia. Chatmoss is carrying MASN on Channel 6.80, MASN HD on Channel 680, MASN 2 on Channel 6.81 and MASN2 HD on Channel 681. Nelson is...

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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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Will Yoder: Stairs embraces niche to prolong productive career

April 22, 2011, 6:15am

Nationals

Will Yoder: Stairs embraces niche to prolong productive career

Sticking out like a sore thumb on the youthful Washington Nationals is 43-year-old Matt Stairs, a former All-Star turned pinch-hitting specialist who gets woken up once every 18 innings to attempt to hit a home run. It's a role he has come to embrace over the course of an incredible and arguably underappreciated 19-year-career. One of the greatest minds in baseball history, Bill James, once wrote of Stairs: "Look at it. Somebody decided he was a second baseman, he tears through the minor...

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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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Nationals option C Jesus Flores to Syracuse

April 21, 2011, 12:39pm

Nationals

The Washington Nationals today optioned catcher Jesus Flores to Syracuse of the Triple-A International League. Nationals Executive Vice President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcement. Flores, 26, appeared in two games and went 1-for-2 at the plate during his 10-day stint with Washington.

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Will Yoder: An early look at the June draft

April 21, 2011, 5:09am

Nationals

Will Yoder: An early look at the June draft

The last two seasons have been unique for the Nationals in that they have realistically had to do little to no research for their first-round pick in the June first-year player draft. They became the first team in history to have back-to-back first overall selections, and they were fortunate enough to have those picks somehow coincide with two of the most hyped pre-draft prospects of all time. As a result, in 2009 and 2010, the question was never who the Nats were going to pick, but whether or...

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Will Yoder: On rain delays, empty seats and anticipation

April 20, 2011, 5:07am

Nationals

Will Yoder: On rain delays, empty seats and anticipation

The Nationals game was rained out last night in St. Louis and I was struck with an empty feeling in my gut. For the first time since opening day I would be forced to sit two consecutive nights without enjoying a baseball game, quite a disappointment, to say the least. As I scrolled through the tweets from the Nationals beat reporters about the massive rainstorm they were waiting out, I got to thinking about all of the rain delays I've sat through as a baseball fan. It's an experience with...

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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...

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Nationals retain Gordon as physical therapist

April 19, 2011, 11:12am

Nationals

The Washington Nationals have renewed their working agreement with Angela T. Gordon, MPT, ATC, retaining her as the team's physical therapist. Nationals Executive Vice President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcement. Gordon provides comprehensive outpatient physical therapy services for the Washington Nationals' players, covering the team's pre-season evaluations in Florida and 40 home games during the regular baseball season. Among the job...

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Will Yoder: After 15 games, three predictions for the Nats

April 19, 2011, 5:19am

Nationals

Will Yoder: After 15 games, three predictions for the Nats

The Nationals just finished up an exciting homestand that saw them go 4-2 against two teams that were picked by many to win their respective divisions. The club's only losses came to two pitchers who can easily claim the title as the best right- or left-handed starters in baseball, Roy Halladay and Cliff Lee, and by winning both games of the doubleheader Sunday, the Nationals are now 8-7 on the season. With 15 games under their belt, they are just about 10 percent of the way through the year,...

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Injury updates on Hague and Norris

April 17, 2011, 3:56pm

Nationals

A quick update on Potomac Nationals shortstop Rick Hague, who was injured last week sliding into second base. Hague suffered a slight labrum tear in his right shoulder and had been placed on the seven-day disabled list. A team official expects it to be a 10-day recovery period for Hague. After recovery, he would most likely head to Florida to get some at-bats at the minor league camp before returning to Potomac, but nothing is imminent for Hague at this time. Harrisburg Senators catcher...

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Hairston example of bench importance to Nats' run

April 17, 2011, 5:31pm

Nationals

Hairston example of bench importance to Nats' run

Nationals third baseman Jerry Hairston Jr. had just one hit in 23 at-bats to start the season before breaking out with a 3-for-3 performance in Game Two of Washington's 5-1 doubleheader sweep of the Milwaukee Brewers. Hairston got the offense going for the Nationals with a solo home run against Brewers right hander and former Nationals pitcher Marco Estrada. His round-tripper, only the 60th of his career, came in the middle of four consecutive strikeouts by the Milwaukee starter and lifted...

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Rachel Levitin: Nats need to put Phils in rear-view mirror

April 15, 2011, 5:15am

Nationals

Rachel Levitin: Nats need to put Phils in rear-view mirror

"If you have played a game and lost it, you cannot erase that loss; but if you have not played a game, there is still an opportunity to win it. A loss is as loss is a loss. Only a game not yet played can become a victory," the late New York-based Hall of Fame baseball scribe Jack Lang once wrote. The Nationals lost their first 2011 series to the Philadelphia Phillies after starting strong Tuesday night by beating right-hander Joe Blanton 7-4. It stings a little extra for the team and for...