Byron Kerr

Espinosa driving force to Nationals' recent upswing

July 26, 2012, 8:05am

One of the many reasons why the Nationals have been able to maintain consistency throughout the season is the team's ability to replace starters in the field and not lose momentum. Ryan Zimmerman, Drew Storen, Jayson Werth, Michael Morse, Wilson Ramos and others have gone down to injury and have had to be replaced quickly with very little dropoff. Now, without All-Star shortstop Ian Desmond for what will likely be a month, Danny Espinosa will have to switch from second base to shortstop for...

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Nationals will play for Salt River in this year's Arizona Fall League

July 25, 2012, 11:32am

Nationals

The Arizona Fall League revealed its organization and staff announcements for the 2012 season, which commences Oct. 9. The Nationals will play with prospects from the Diamondbacks, White Sox, Rockies and Blue Jays for the Salt River Rafters at Salt River Fields at Talking Stick. Former major league third baseman Matt Williams is the manager and the Nationals will be represented by Mark Grater as the pitching coach. Grater is the Nationals' rehab pitching coordinator in Viera, Fla. The...

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After hot streak with GCL, Rendon moved to Auburn

July 25, 2012, 7:30am

Nationals

After hot streak with GCL, Rendon moved to Auburn

Nationals prospect Anthony Rendon has notched at least a base hit and an RBI in four straight games for the Gulf Coast League Nationals and continues to play deeper into games as the franchise slowly brings him back from his fractured left ankle. Rendon is hitting .444 (4-for-9) in his last four games with a double, two homers and nine RBIs. He has had home runs in back-to-back games. Rendon walked in the top of the eighth Tuesday and then was promptly replaced by a pinch runner. But he...

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Souza taking full advantage of second chance

July 24, 2012, 11:44am

Nationals

Souza taking full advantage of second chance

At the tail end of last season with the high Single-A Potomac Nationals, first baseman Steven Souza was frustrated with his play and ended his season earlier than he had originally intended. After an offseason to think and to rededicate himself to game he loved, Souza came into spring training with a new attitude and an open mind with his new team, the Single-A Hagerstown Suns. Through hard work, concentration and a positive mental state, Souza felt better about himself, and it showed in his...

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Chien-Ming Wang "impressive" in Double-A victory

July 23, 2012, 7:15pm

Nationals

Chien-Ming Wang "impressive" in Double-A victory

Right-hander Chien-Ming Wang displayed a signature performance Monday, earning the victory for Double-A Harrisburg, 5-1 over New Hampshire. Wang (1-1) went 6 1/3 innings, allowing just two hits, striking out six and walking none. He fired 85 pitches, 52 for strikes, and lowered his ERA to 1.74. It was his second Double-A rehab start and eighth overall in the minors. He faced 21 hitters and forced them into 12 groundouts and one flyout. "Wang had excellent sink on his best pitch," according...

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Taylor and Karns double up for weekly honors in Carolina League

July 23, 2012, 6:30pm

Nationals

Taylor and Karns double up for weekly honors in Carolina League

Single-A teammates Michael Taylor and Nathan Karns have been recognized with Player of the Week honors in the Carolina League. Taylor was selected as the Hitter of the Week thanks to a 14-for-29 surge (.483) in seven games, with three home runs, eight RBIs and eight runs. One of the homers was a grand slam, giving Taylor a .931 slugging percentage for the week. He also had hits in eight consecutive plate appearances during the weekend against Myrtle Beach. Taylor is batting .245 for the...

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Wang start tonight for Harrisburg; Pucetas returns

July 23, 2012, 10:27am

Nationals

Wang start tonight for Harrisburg; Pucetas returns

With speculation the Atlanta Braves have acquired pitcher Ryan Dempster, the pressure intensifies for right-hander Chien-Ming Wang to figure out what is wrong with his approach. A step in that direction could occur tonight as the right-hander gets another shot to prove he is good enough to get outs for the Nationals when he starts for the Double-A Harrisburg Senators. This will be his second start for the Senators this season. He lost that earlier outing, going four innings, allowing seven...

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Espinosa's offense ramping up at right time as he returns to shortstop

July 22, 2012, 2:25pm

Nationals

Espinosa's offense ramping up at right time as he returns to shortstop

It certainly is never a good thing when you lose a starting position player, especially one as important as shortstop Ian Desmond. But Danny Espinosa, who is a natural shortstop, has gotten hot at the plate at just the right time. And the Nationals are going to need him now for what could be an extended period of time with the news that Desmond is out with a tear in his left oblique. "That is a big loss," Espinosa said. "Ian has done unbelievable for this year. From defense to hitting,...

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Harper looks good to start Sunday despite swollen ankle

July 21, 2012, 7:31pm

Nationals

Harper looks good to start Sunday despite swollen ankle

Shortstop Ian Desmond is "iffy" for Sunday, but manager Davey Johnson believes Bryce Harper will be able to play in Sunday's crucial finale against the Braves. Harper left the first game Saturday with a swollen ankle and he showed how bad it was to reporters after Game 2. "It feels all right," Harper said. "Once I get going, it feels good. When I sit down, it feels bad. Once I get warmed up to things, I am fine and that is all that matters." Harper was called upon to pinch hit in the...

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Lannan shows his worth with stopper win

July 21, 2012, 7:20pm

Nationals

Less than an hour after his most meaningful win in a Nationals uniform, John Lannan was optioned back to Triple-A Syracuse. If he pitches like he did Saturday night - seven solid innings allowing just two runs in what felt like a must-win situation - he will be back very soon. Lannan's story was the major headline as opening day approached in early April, when he was first optioned to Syracuse and Ross Detwiler was given the fifth starter spot on the big club. He admitted it hasn't been...

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Goodwin displaying "special talent" that got him Double-A nod

July 21, 2012, 1:28pm

Nationals

Goodwin displaying "special talent" that got him Double-A nod

It is rare for a player to jump two levels or more with any organization. The last time it happened for the Nationals, it was No. 1 overall prospect Bryce Harper last summer. This time, it is sensational outfielder Brian Goodwin. The 6-foot-1, 195 lb. center fielder rolled through low Single-A Hagerstown with a big bat, fast feet and quick hands on defense. Goodwin hit .324 in 58 games with 18 doubles, one triple, nine homers, 38 RBIs, 15 stolen bases and 43 walks. And as a leadoff hitter,...

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Clippard admits he hasn't been "real sharp" lately after third blown save

July 20, 2012, 8:40pm

Nationals

Clippard admits he hasn't been "real sharp" lately after third blown save

Something is going on with Tyler Clippard and he knows it. In last three outings, he has surrendered seven runs in three innings. His third blown save of the season came in an historic collapse for the Nationals, who were leading 9-0 only to fall to the second-place Atlanta Braves 11-10 in 11 innings. With his team leading 9-8 on Friday night, Clippard was handed the ball to get three outs in the ninth. Getting three outs had been something he had pretty much mastered since his return to...

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Perez moved to Syracuse because "absolutely" deserved call, makes debut

July 20, 2012, 6:14pm

Nationals

Perez moved to Syracuse because "absolutely" deserved call, makes debut

The highest minor league promotion of the week goes to centerfielder Eury Perez, who moved from Double-A Harrisburg to Triple-A Syracuse. In his Syracuse debut Friday night, Perez went 1-for-4 with a fourth-inning RBI single in a 6-5 win over Norfolk. Perez had the groundball single for the run-scoring hit. On defense, Perez misplayed a ball over his head in center field but also made one nice running catch. The 22-year old hit .299 in 82 games for the Senators with two doubles, 26 stolen...

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Cordero honored to return, remembers meeting Storen

July 20, 2012, 3:13pm

Nationals

Cordero honored to return, remembers meeting Storen

Former Nationals pitcher Chad Cordero was honored by his former team by throwing out the first pitch before Friday's match-up with the Atlanta Braves. Cordero threw the pitch in flip-flops, shorts and a red Nationals uniform top with his name and number on it. The pitch was outside and high to Drew Storen, the first time they had been on the same field in eight years. Cordero was in his rookie season in 2004 in a game at Cincinnati and saw a 15-year old Storen standing in the outfield...

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Rendon "looks good" physically after two games for GCL Nats, plus Purke update

July 20, 2012, 1:40pm

Nationals

Rendon "looks good" physically after two games for GCL Nats, plus Purke update

Anthony Rendon has returned to playing baseball again. Now with the Gulf Coast league Nationals, he has played two games with no complications from his rehabbing ankle. On Thursday, he played three innings and went 0-for-2 with no defensive touches. Friday, he played seven innings and went 1-for-4 with a double and two RBIs. His two-run double was to left field in the top of the fourth. He was called out on strikes and had a swinging strikeout in his first two at-bats. He popped out to...

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Confirmed: Perez to Syracuse, Goodwin to Harrisburg, Souza to Potomac

July 19, 2012, 6:32pm

Nationals

Confirmed: Perez to Syracuse, Goodwin to Harrisburg, Souza to Potomac

The movement of prospects continues today within the Nationals organization, this time on the offensive side. MASNsports.com has confirmed that outfielder Eury Perez has been promoted from Double-A Harrisburg to Triple-A Syracuse. Perez was hitting .300 with 30 RBIs, 26 stolen bases and 34 runs scored in 81 games with the Senators. The biggest jump in classifications belongs to speedy outfielder Brian Goodwin. A club source confirms Goodwin has been bumped two levels from Single-A Hagerstown...

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Gonzalez endures shortest outing of season, "felt a little flat"

July 19, 2012, 1:26pm

Nationals

Gonzalez endures shortest outing of season, "felt a little flat"

That was a rare experience to see Gio Gonzalez not get to the fifth inning in a start for the Nationals. Coming into Thursday's assignment against the Mets, Gonzalez had gone at least five frames in 16 of his initial 18 starts in a Nationals uniform. There was June 3 when he lasted only 4 2/3 innings in a loss against the Braves. You had to go back to the opening week and his Nationals debut to see a shorter stint, just 3 2/3 innings in a no-decision April 7 at the Cubs. But Gonzalez lasted...

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LaRoche to go with "Plan C" against knuckleballer R.A. Dickey

July 18, 2012, 7:48pm

Nationals

LaRoche to go with "Plan C" against knuckleballer R.A. Dickey

First baseman Adam LaRoche has nothing scientific in his approach to facing Mets knuckleball pitcher R.A. Dickey on Thursday. He won't be studying multiple DVDs on the lack of spin to the knuckleball or break down every aspect of his at-bat. LaRoche said you have to keep it simple because there isn't anything similar than facing a pitcher as unique as Dickey. "I remember facing (Tim) Wakefield just a handful of times and thinking, 'This is pretty good,' after not seeing it every...

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Clippard not fazed by recent struggles, manages 15th save

July 18, 2012, 7:20pm

Nationals

Clippard not fazed by recent struggles, manages 15th save

Nationals closer Tyler Clippard was cruising along in his new role until the last few games. He had converted 14 of 14 save opportunities, but had one somewhat shaky outing in Miami. Then, returning home, Clippard has allowed five runs in the last two games. On Wednesday, Clippard notched his 15th save by striking out the side in the ninth. But he also allowed a pair of solo homers to the Mets' David Wright and Jason Bay. Clippard said that can happen when you go out and attack with...

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Johnson confident in Flores; Solano hurt, Leon likely call

July 18, 2012, 1:26pm

Nationals

Johnson confident in Flores; Solano hurt, Leon likely call

You can see the frustration on the face of Jesus Flores after a few rough at-bats recently, but Nationals manager Davey Johnson is not concerned. Flores has gone 3-for-29 (.103) in the last nine games with four RBIs and eight strikeouts. Tuesday he went 0-for-4 with a pair of whiffs, including a strikeout in the bottom on the ninth with two outs and the winning run at second base. Johnson has met a few times with the first-string backstop and believes the veteran is being too hard on himself...