Giolito expected to start Monday night, plus other notes

High Single-A Potomac right-hander John Simms won his first game as a professional Saturday. He went seven innings, struck out a career-high 14 batters and allowed one run and two hits in a 6-1 win over Wilmington. Winning your first game as a professional is a big deal for any player, but is an especially big deal for Simms, the former Rice Owl who had pitched in 25 games and made 10 starts before finally breaking through. Director of player development Mark Scialabba told me Simms did a good job of pounding the zone and that he has been able to spin the ball very well. * Low Single-A Hagerstown Suns right-hander Lucas Giolito is listed as the starter for Monday's game at Lakewood. This would be Giolito's first appearance since June 3 when he spun three innings. In line with the organization's monitoring of Giolito's innings recently, I would expect Giolito to again be on a pitch count and go no more than four innings. One of his teammates, right-hander Jake Johansen is on the disabled list. I was told Johansen is fine, just dealing with a blister on his pitching hand. He will miss one start. * The Nationals released right-handed starter Brad Meyers on Sunday, according to the Double-A Harrisburg Senators. Meyers struggled to a 1-4 record with a 7.13 ERA in six starts. He has walked 13 batters in just 24 innings of work this season. His career has been stunted due to unfortunate injuries. Most recently, he missed the beginning of the season with a back injury. * Double-A Harrisburg center fielder Michael A. Taylor has been named Eastern League Player for the Month of May. Taylor has hit .429 his last 10 games, with 15 hits, three doubles, one homer and seven RBIs. He also has 70 hits, 15 homers and 46 RBIs in his first 58 games. And, by adding the middle initial, he differentiates his name from the other Michael Taylor, Sacramento River Cats right fielder Michael D. Taylor. Therefore, the Nats' prospect is at the top of Google name searches. I am sure this was unintended, but it's just another example of him at the top of all lists right now. * Right-hander Paul Demny became a dad and was promoted to Double-A Harrisburg all in the same week. He was a sixth-round selection in 2008 and won seven games last season in the minors. * The deadline for purchase of the land for construction of the baseball stadium to house the Hagerstown Suns in Fredericksburg, Va., is June 18 or 19. The early plan was for the stadium to be ready by 2015 but that seems to be a difficult goal to attain at this late a date. * After allowing 15 earned runs in four straight starts, right-hander Jordan Zimmermann has not allowed an earned run in the past 17 innings. In winning two in a row, he has struck out 16 batters and walked only one, surrendering only seven hits.