Byron Kerr

Harper's defensive play continues to progress

September 08, 2012, 5:16am

The Marlins challenged the arm of Bryce Harper late in the game and came up short. In the ninth inning, on a short fly out to mid-center field, Harper fired home to catcher Kurt Suzuki. Greg Dobbs slid right into Suzuki's tag. Suzuki held the ball with two hands, one inside the glove, and blocked the plate with his right foot. The ball beat the runner by three to five feet and Suzuki easily tagged him out. "Harp has got a good arm," Suzuki said. "It wasn't hit fairly deep. But, who...

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After short outing, Nationals "might" consider delaying Strasburg's shutdown

September 07, 2012, 6:17pm

Nationals

Nationals right-hander Stephen Strasburg lasted three innings in a no-decision Friday against the Marlins, giving up five runs on two doubles and two home runs, matching the shortest outing of his career. The Marlins eventually outlasted the Nationals 9-7 in 10 innings. It was the third time in his career he pitched only three innings, and the second time this season, equaling the three innings he pitched in a 7-5 loss in sweltering 104-degree heat at Atlanta on June 30. But manager Davey...

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Top 100 prospect list features three Nationals in Meyer, Goodwin and Rendon

September 07, 2012, 3:02pm

Nationals

Nationals prospects Anthony Rendon, Brian Goodwin and Alex Meyer all were promoted this season, and with good reason. All three have top-of-the-line talent and have excelled at each level they have played this season. MLB.com recognized the trio in its latest Top 100 list. Prospect expert Jonathan Mayo had Rendon at No. 37, Meyer at No. 57 and Goodwin No. 75. Mayo said of Rendon: "When healthy, he is a plus defender at third. At the plate, (Rendon) has the kind of advanced approach that...

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Minor leaguers Skole and Karns honored at Nationals Park

September 07, 2012, 2:02pm

Nationals

The Nationals' Minor League Pitcher and Player of the Year were honored and picked up their awards during a pregame ceremony at Nationals Park before Friday's series opener against the Miami Marlins. Third baseman Matt Skole, a 2011 fifth-round selection out of Georgia Tech, was the Nationals' Minor League Player of the Year. His power numbers were jaw-dropping - he had 27 homers and 92 RBIs for low Single-A Hagerstown. He was named the South Atlantic League Player of the Year and was named...

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Benches empty, Nationals' resolve is strengthened

September 07, 2012, 5:44am

Nationals

My thoughts from Thursday's two benches-clearing incidents against the Chicago Cubs in a game the Nationals won 9-2: * Nationals third base coach Bo Porter is not one to be messed with. The dude calmly walked over to the Cubs dugout, where there were close to three dozen enemy personnel and told bench coach Jamie Quirk in no uncertain terms to (all my guesses, of course) keep his big trap shut and the Nationals were just playing baseball. You have to admire the cool, collected, but emphatic...

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Zimmermann "stayed more on line" in dispatching reeling Cubs

September 06, 2012, 7:45pm

Nationals

Zimmermann "stayed more on line" in dispatching reeling Cubs

Right-hander Jordan Zimmermann gave up three extra-base hits in the first two innings Thursday against the Chicago Cubs. After that, it was almost smooth sailing in a 9-2 Nationals sweep of the Cubs. The first big hit was the home run by Anthony Rizzo off a fastball in the first. But Zimmermann was able to settle in later, striking out three straight hitters following Darwin Barney's second-inning triple off Zimmermann's slider. "I went off the game plan to Barney and I threw a slider...

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Nats now have three starters with 10 + wins following J. Zimmermann

September 06, 2012, 1:10pm

Nationals

Nats now have three starters with 10 + wins following J. Zimmermann

Right-hander Jordan Zimmermann is attempting to join teammates Gio Gonzalez and Stephen Strasburg with double figure wins if he can down the Chicago Cubs Thursday night. Gonzalez picked up his 18th win Wednesday with a 9-1 win over the Cubs. Strasburg takes his 15 wins into his final home start Friday against the Marlins, facing Jacob Turner, who comes in with a 6.55 ERA. Lefty Ross Detwiler now has a career-high nine wins, so he could hit 10 if he takes care of the Marlins Saturday...

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Gio on target again as talented southpaw reaches 18 wins

September 05, 2012, 7:26pm

Nationals

Gio on target again as talented southpaw reaches 18 wins

With left-hander Gio Gonzalez on the mound, it appeared it would be difficult for the light-hitting Chicago Cubs offense to generate much in the way of runs. Or even hits. Gonzalez was on target Wednesday, carrying a no-hitter into the sixth inning, and finishing with seven shutout innings, on three hits, no walks and striking out nine. The Nationals allowed only four hits in the 9-1 dispatch of the Cubs. Gonzalez matched the Mets' R.A. Dickey for the major-league lead with win No. 18. The...

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Davey excited to see both Nationals and Orioles play so well

September 05, 2012, 1:40pm

Nationals Orioles

Davey excited to see both Nationals and Orioles play so well

It is the rarest of moments in the baseball lore for the D.C. and Maryland surrounding areas to have the Orioles and the Nationals both in first place at the same time. It is happening right now. Manager Davey Johnson, who used to be a player and manager for the Orioles, has noticed how well the team to the north has done this season and is excited for both clubs. "I think it is great," Johnson said. "I grew up in this area. I grew up an Oriole fan, seeing them playing like I always think...

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Hitting catching up with pitching, helping Nationals win again

September 04, 2012, 8:12pm

Nationals

Starting pitching carried the Nationals for most of the first half of the season, but if this team is going to go far in the postseason, the offense will have to also carry a heavy load. On Tuesday, they looked like they could carry that burden with ease. The Nationals tied a team record with six homers in one game, two from Adam LaRoche, and cruised past the overmatched Chicago Cubs 11-5. "It feels good," LaRoche said. "On top of that, having guys surrounding us in the lineup, the way...

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In his 15th baseball season, and first time with Nationals, Slowes calls a winner

September 04, 2012, 3:05pm

Nationals

He has been the voice of the Nationals since their inception. His calls of "Bang! Zoom!" and "another curly W is in the books!" have become catch phrases every Nationals fan yearns to hear when their favorite team is on the airwaves. But something happened this year that has never happened in the 19-plus years Charlie Slowes has called professional baseball. Following Monday's win over the Chicago Cubs, the Nationals were guaranteed to end the season with more curly Ws than losses....

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Johnson: Lannan will get relief "tuneup" before returning to rotation

September 04, 2012, 2:08pm

Nationals

Johnson: Lannan will get relief "tuneup" before returning to rotation

The plan for the Nationals moving forward after September 12 is starting to take shape. On Sunday, manager Davey Johnson announced that Stephen Strasburg would have two more starts. During the season, many believed left-hander John Lannan would take Strasburg's place in the rotation once Strasburg was shut down. Tuesday, Johnson talked about the schedule for Lannan and when his first start will be since returning. "I talked to John today," Johnson said. "I gave him a rough idea of when...

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82 wins are nice, but there's still work to do

September 03, 2012, 1:18pm

Nationals

82 wins are nice, but there's still work to do

The Nationals were certainly pleased to win 2-1 over the Chicago Cubs on Monday. And getting to 82 victories for the first time since arriving in D.C., and guaranteeing a winning season, is a nice milestone. But there are no banners waving or confetti falling from the ceiling. No balloons or noise makers. C'mon, 82 wins! Celebration time, right? Not quite. Veteran first baseman Adam LaRoche, who hit home run No. 25 for the Nationals' first run, said getting to 82 victories is...

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Garcia confident he can make an impact

September 03, 2012, 9:19am

Nationals

Right-handed power arm Christian Garcia is the ultimate example of resiliency. The 6-foot-5, 215 lb. reliever has endured a pair of Tommy John surgeries and has fought all the way back to have an amazing season in the Nationals' system. Garcia allowed only five earned runs in 45 games between Double-A Harrisburg and Triple-A Syracuse. He allowed just two earned runs with the Chiefs. He was selected by the New York Yankees in the third round in 2004, the 99th pick overall, and stayed with...

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Davey Johnson confirms meeting with Strasburg on shutdown date

September 03, 2012, 7:48am

Nationals

Davey Johnson confirms meeting with Strasburg on shutdown date

Manager Davey Johnson confirmed that he, general manager Mike Rizzo and pitching coach Steve McCatty met with Stephen Strasburg about shutting the right-hander down for the season. "We were able to have a nice little conversation,. He hates McCatty more than before the meeting, and me and Rizzo," Johnson said with a laugh. "It is not secret that Stras is an intense competitor. He wants to be here, wants to be contributing, wants to be helping." Johnson said the shutdown is tough and will...

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Strasburg won't get shut down without a "fight ... to the end"

September 02, 2012, 2:38pm

Nationals

Strasburg won't get shut down without a "fight ... to the end"

It is not what Stephen Strasburg wanted to hear, but it appears the decision has been made. Fresh off an outstanding bounceback performance, where Strasburg subdued the world champion St. Louis Cardinals for six innings, manager Davey Johnson announced postgame how many games Strasburg would pitch the rest of the season. "I think two starts, unless I let him pitch 10 (innings) in the next one out, which I am not going to," Johnson confirmed. "So I think his last start will be on (Sept.)...

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Bryce Harper leans on Werth to improve his outfield defense

September 02, 2012, 10:07am

Nationals

Bryce Harper leans on Werth to improve his outfield defense

A lot has been made of rookie center fielder Bryce Harper's offense since the All-Star break, and how he had been struggling with off-speed pitches down in the zone. But recently, Harper has had four consecutive multi-hit games. In his last five games, he has nine hits, three homers and eight RBIs. His average has been raised to .256, after hitting .222 in July and .243 in August. And what about his defense in the outfield? He has made strides on defense with every chance and learned from...

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Zimmerman keeps wins and losses in perspective

August 31, 2012, 7:36pm

Nationals

Zimmerman keeps wins and losses in perspective

During the Nationals' five-game losing streak, the Nationals managed six runs. Since that spiral, the Nationals have won three in a row, and have scored at least eight runs in each of the wins, outscoring opponents 26-5 in that span. Third baseman Ryan Zimmerman went 2-for-5 with two-run home run in the eighth off of the Cardinals' Jason Motte as the Nationals went on to shutout the Cardinals 10-0 on Friday night. Zimmerman said every losing streak has a message. The Nationals did not...

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September call-ups can help Nationals win games now

August 31, 2012, 2:25pm

Nationals

Manager Davey Johnson announced today that left-hander John Lannan, catcher Sandy Leon and outfielder Eury Perez will join the team tomorrow. Lannan won two games for the Nationals this season, and has recently come on strong at Triple-A Syracuse. He had not surrendered a run in his last two outings, scattering 11 hits in 18 innings, both victories. "It's great," manager Davey Johnson said of Lannan. "He's had a great attitude down there and come up and really been excited about coming...

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Jackson's fast start fuels big win for Nats over Cardinals at home

August 30, 2012, 7:08pm

Nationals

Jackson's fast start fuels big win for Nats over Cardinals at home

Former Cardinals starter Edwin Jackson got his old buddies Thursday with an 8-1 victory for the Nationals over visiting St. Louis. The right-handed Jackson (8-9) struck out 10 hitters, allowed no earned runs, four hits, and lasted eight innings with a season-high 123 pitches, notching his eighth win of the season. It also marked his first win at home since July 4 and snapped a three-game skid at home. "I wouldn't have any problem letting him go to 130 pitches," manager Davey Johnson said....