Lombardozzi and Espinosa hot as Desmond nears return

Lombardozzi and Espinosa hot as Desmond nears return
Nationals infielders Danny Espinosa and Steve Lombardozzi have become quite a pair on defense the last two weeks. They have also delivered at the plate, combining for 34 hits. Espinosa said he doesn't even think twice about Lombardozzi at second base. That is the best compliment he could give to his gifted teammate. "Good, it is comfortable," Espinosa said on "Nats Xtra" recently. "I don't even think about it, actually. You just go out there and you know what he can do. I feel 100...
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Potomac's Ray struggles early in loss, but team maintains drive

Potomac's Ray struggles early in loss, but team maintains drive
WOODBRIDGE, Va. -- Potomac Nationals left-hander Robbie Ray had his shortest outing of the season Wednesday in a 9-1 loss to Wilmington. Ray managed to get only two of the first eight batters out as the Blue Rocks scored seven runs in the first inning. Ironically, before the game manager Brian Rupp said one rocky inning had been the southpaw's undoing recently. Unfortunately, that inning was the first frame on Wednesday afternoon at Pfitzner Stadium. "He has been pretty good," Rupp said....
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Under new rules, Rendon eligible to play in Arizona Fall League

Under new rules, Rendon eligible to play in Arizona Fall League
The Nationals announced Tuesday that top infield prospect Anthony Rendon has been promoted to Double-A Harrisburg. In years past, players had to be on the Double-A roster by Aug. 1 to be eligible to participate in the Arizona Fall League. But under new roster guidelines, teams can send seven players to the AFL. The seven appointments can include two low Single-A or first-year draft picks signed by July 13, two high-A players and three Double-A or higher participants. Further, a team is...
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Beasley: Perez "fun player to watch" in Syracuse outfield

Beasley: Perez "fun player to watch" in Syracuse outfield
Center field prospect Eury Perez continues to excel at Triple-A Syracuse since his call-up from Double-A Harrisburg. Perez has played 25 games and is hitting .330 with a .374 on-base percentage for the Chiefs. Syracuse manager Tony Beasley said they have liked what they have seen from the speedy outfielder in his first month with the squad. "He has been doing a nice job," Beasley said. "He definitely hasn't been overwhelmed offensively. He is a good hitter. He has done a good job hitting...
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Rendon promoted to Double-A Harrisburg (updated)

Rendon promoted to Double-A Harrisburg (updated)
A Nationals source has confirmed that third baseman Anthony Rendon has been promoted from high Single-A Potomac to Double-A Harrisburg. The 22-year-old Rendon was Washington's first pick in the 2011 First-Year Player Draft, taken sixth overall. He was rated Baseball America's 19th best prospect heading into the 2012 season. Rendon was informed of the promotion after the P-Nats' 4-3 home loss to Wilmington on Monday night, a game in which he went 2-for-4 while serving as the designated...
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Prospect Meyer building on consistent starts at Potomac

Prospect Meyer building on consistent starts at Potomac
Right-hander Alex Meyer was bumped to high Single-A Potomac on July 20 and has become even more consistent than he was at low Single-A Hagerstown. On Sunday, Meyer went six innings again, striking out seven hitters, allowing one earned run with no walks. He threw 87 pitches, 56 for strikes, in a loss, but that was because the offense was unable to score a run. A team source reports Meyer has "good fastball command and is getting ahead of every hitter. The changeup is improving. His curveball...
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Hip soreness puts Wang's season in jeopardy; Garcia possible call-up?

Hip soreness puts Wang's season in jeopardy; Garcia possible call-up?
Right-hander Chien-Ming Wang has been removed from the Double-A Harrisburg roster and remains on the disabled list. He has reportedly continued to have issues with hip soreness, so his minor league injury rehabilitation assignment has been halted. He left his start four days ago after just 4 2/3 innings when the hip issue returned. Now that he is no longer on the 30-day rehab clock, he can remain on the disabled list. He has allowed 13 runs and 23 hits in his last three rehab starts for...
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Michael Gonzalez bridges gap, fights through eighth to help hold win

Michael Gonzalez bridges gap, fights through eighth to help hold win
Speaking with left-hander Sean Burnett last week, I asked him if it was surprising that the Nationals carry three southpaws in their bullpen. Burnett said, "Our left-handers can get both lefties and righties out. We are not just lefty specialists. I think (Michael) Gonzalez has been a huge part of the bullpen and saves my arm. (Tom) Gorzelanny eats up innings, too. We got some valuable lefties out there." Fast forward to Saturday night, and manager Davey Johnson goes to Gonzalez to get...
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Upon further review, Nationals have really gotten to those Phillies

Upon further review, Nationals have really gotten to those Phillies
The Nationals have become a machine. Rolling through the National League, they have amassed 70 wins, the first team in the majors to do so. With Jayson Werth back in the lineup and Michael Morse swinging the hottest of bats, the Nationals have added consistent offense to what has been the best pitching in the league for the first 100 games. And then there are the Phillies. Wait a minute, you mean, and then there are the Braves. Absolutely, the Braves are also humming along. They have...
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Beasley: Syracuse's Christian Garcia is like having Strasburg in the bullpen

Beasley: Syracuse's Christian Garcia is like having Strasburg in the bullpen
The amazing statistic almost defies reality. One earned run allowed in 19 appearances. In a span of 23 1/3 innings, the right-hander has allowed one earned run. He has not allowed a run since June. While in the Yankees organization, he underwent Tommy John surgery...twice - in 2006 and in 2010. And he can throw his fastball consistently from 95-97 mph. Right-hander Christian Garcia has been tearing up the International League. The 27 year old has been through a lot, but now with Triple-A...
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Nationals' schedule turns in their favor after San Francisco (with notes)

Nationals' schedule turns in their favor after San Francisco (with notes)
After the Nationals finish this 10-game, three-city tour, they will have 27 regular season home games left and 17 on the road. Put another way, the Nationals will have 27 of their final 44 regular season games at Nationals Park. That will be big as they drive to control the NL East. The home schedule includes visits from the Dodgers, Cardinals and Phillies to end the regular season. With 37 road wins, the Nationals have the most road victories of any major league team. Next closest? Try...
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Syracuse's Rivero realizing the time is now, hits stride at plate

Syracuse's Rivero realizing the time is now, hits stride at plate
Triple-A Syracuse Chiefs third baseman Carlos Rivero is hitting his stride at just the right time. These next two months are critical to Rivero's career. Out of options and only 24 years old, Rivero is close to getting his shot, either with the Nationals or with another team next season. And sensing the importance, Rivero is not shying away from the challenge but relishing it. Syracuse manager Tony Beasley has seen the 6-foot-3, 215 lb., Rivero find his rhythm at the dish. The last 10...
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Five Auburn players invited to NY-Penn All-Star game

Five Auburn players invited to NY-Penn All-Star game
Several Single-A Auburn Doubleday players have had great starts to their seasons with five of them being rewarded with invites to the New York-Penn League All-Star Game. The game is August 14 at Mahoning Valley. The five invitees are right fielder Wander Ramos, left fielder Estarlin Martinez, first baseman Shawn Pleffner, shortstop Wes Schill and catcher Craig Manuel, according to Auburn manager Gary Cathcart. Pleffner, a 26th rounder in 2011 and born in Washington, D.C., is hitting .322 in...
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Chris Marrero could return to Syracuse lineup in one week (updated)

Chris Marrero could return to Syracuse lineup in one week (updated)
Good news this week for Triple-A Syracuse Chiefs first baseman Chris Marrero, who has been slowed the last month as he recovers from an offseason torn hamstring. Manager Tony Beasley said Marrero has made big progress the last few weeks. "He has been running the bases," Beasley said. "He will run them again (today). He has been taking batting practice. He is feeling pretty good right now. We anticipate him back in probably (five) days or so. He will probably go and get some A-Bs...
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In minor league updates, Rendon and Meyer deliver, Wang does not

In minor league updates, Rendon and Meyer deliver, Wang does not
Anthony Rendon made his first start for high Single-A Potomac since early April, going 2-for-3 with a walk and two runs in the Nationals' 5-1 victory at Myrtle Beach. Right-hander Alex Meyer was meticulous in his execution again on the mound, improving to 2-0. The Kentucky star went six innings, allowing just two hits, with five strikeouts, one walk and one run surrendered on a groundout. The news not as comfortable for right-hander Chien-Ming Wang in his fifth rehab start for Double-A...
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Beasley: Maya pitching "lights out" for Triple-A Syracuse

Beasley: Maya pitching "lights out" for Triple-A Syracuse
Right-hander Yunesky Maya has had experience with the Nationals in the past, and was sent to Triple-A Syracuse to start the season to build on his command and control on the mound. Maya is 9-8 with a 3.54 ERA in 22 starts and has really turned it on since July 22, winning three straight games. In the last three starts, Maya has shown he can deliver on a consistent basis, allowing just three earned runs in the past 21 2/3 innings. In six of his last 10 starts, the Cuban right-hander has...
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Rendon joining Potomac at Myrtle Beach, expected to play Tuesday

Rendon joining Potomac at Myrtle Beach, expected to play Tuesday
Nationals prospect Anthony Rendon has been moved from short-season Single-A Auburn back to high Single-A Potomac. Rendon completed his rehab assignment at Auburn by playing 21 innings in the field and nine as the designated hitter in the past four days. Included in that span was a hit by pitch on, of all places, his surgically repaired ankle. But in an example that he is physically ready to handle the rigors of playing evey day, he played the next day and has had no complications. Auburn...
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Strasburg back to basics, beats Marlins

Strasburg back to basics, beats Marlins
Look out Major League Baseball. Stephen Strasburg could be starting to figure this thing out. On July 25, the Nationals right-hander, relying on his lethal fastball, fired 11 strikeouts, allowing one run in a seven-inning win over the Mets in New York. On July 31, going with a similar game plan, the Phillies jumped on Strasburg, notching eight hits and scoring six runs in handing him the four-inning loss, his shortest stint of the season. On Sunday, Strasburg returned to his "old" form...
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Suzuki getting comfortable, excited about new challenge with Nationals

Suzuki getting comfortable, excited about new challenge with Nationals
Nationals catcher Kurt Suzuki started his Sunday morning with a stroll through the clubhouse. Wearing a Nationals workout shirt and athletic long shorts with two white batting gloves, he was ready for work. Suzuki headed to the indoor batting cage for a session with Nationals hitting coach Rick Eckstein. Although Suzuki admitted he is not quite where he wants to be at the plate (.215), he believes he is making progress. "I feel good," Suzuki told me on 106.7 The Fan's "Nats Insider". "I...
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Martinson, Goodwin, Perry, Rendon and Walters notes and more

Martinson, Goodwin, Perry, Rendon and Walters notes and more
Potomac Nationals shortstop Jason Martinson is an RBI machine. Martinson collected his 100th RBI of the season Saturday in a 10-8 loss at Winston-Salem. Martinson hit his 21st homer of the season in the fourth and had an RBI single in the ninth, which was his 100th RBI of the season between two teams. Martinson started the season at low Single-A Hagerstown. Outfielder Steven Souza, Jr., has been placed on the disabled list with a leg injury after running into the outfield wall in pursuit of...
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