Nationals rookies playing key roles so far

A large reason the Nationals enter the second half of the season holding a two game lead in the National League East has to do with the significant contributions of several rookies. Let's take a look at who has been the best of the youngsters so far.

5. Sammy Solis: After undergoing Tommy John surgery and battling several other nagging injuries, the 26-year-old left-hander finally made his major league debut on April 30 at Citi Field. Solis limited the Mets to one hit while striking out one over two frames.

"I'll tell you, I think I blacked out," Solis said after his debut. "I don't remember much of it. It was exciting running out there, I know that. But I don't remember much after the first pitch."

In fact, Solis threw six scoreless innings over his first three games, including taking the win in a 5-4 victory over Atlanta on May 10. Solis ran into some trouble in the Nats' 14-6 blowout loss in Arizona two days later when he surrendered four runs on four hits in two innings. He landed on the 15-day disabled list a week later with shoulder soreness. Solis returned to the Nationals on July 7 to throw a scoreless inning before being optioned back to Double-A Harrisburg last Sunday.

4. Felipe Rivero: Rivero's big league debut was shaky. On April 17, he allowed a run on three hits in the Nationals' 7-2 win over the Phillies. The Nats returned him to Triple-A Syracuse shortly after. But the 24-year-old lefty has been a vital part of the Nats' bullpen since making his way back to D.C. on June 1. In his last 12 appearances, spanning 14 innings, Rivero has allowed three runs (1.93 ERA) while striking out 15 and walking only two.

3. Clint Robinson: At 30 years old, Robinson doesn't look the part of a rookie, but the back of his baseball card suggests he's exactly that. Kudos to the Nationals scouting department for locating Robinson, who spent eight years playing 921 games in the minors over the eight years. Robinson had a couple cups of coffee with the Royals and Dodgers in the bigs, but his 13 total at-bats leaves him still as a rookie for the Nats.

Robinson's ability to play both corner outfield positions along with first base has been crucial since the injuries to Jayson Werth, Denard Span, Ryan Zimmerman and even Bryce Harper. After basically assuming full-time duties on June 1, Robinson has batted .292 with four homers and 12 RBIs in 30 games. Robinson's biggest moment came on July 3 when his clutch seventh inning two-run homer off Giants veteran Jake Peavy vaulted the Nats to a late 2-1 win. The sold-out crowd at Nats Park honored Robinson with his first career curtain call after he crossed home plate.

"Oh man, that was about as big a shot of adrenalin as you could ask for," Robinson said.

2. Joe Ross: When critics were searching for new superlatives for the Nats' starting rotation before the season, nobody had any idea, not even the Nationals brass, that the 22-year-old rookie Ross would provide some of the most dominating performances to help hold the team together before the All-Star break. The Nationals acquired the former 2011 first-rounder from the Padres in December in the three-way deal that also netted highly ranked shortstop prospect Trea Turner. But Ross wasn't expected to sniff the majors this year. However, when Stephen Strasburg ended up on the 15-day disabled list on May 30 with a strained trapezius muscle, general manager Mike Rizzo called Ross up from Double-A Harrisburg.

The right-hander responded by going 2-1 with a 2.66 ERA while setting a new Nationals record by waiting 54 batters into his big league career before issuing his first walk. Over his 22 1/3 innings, Ross struck out 23 while walking just two. After Strasburg returned from the DL, the Nats sent Ross to Triple-A Syracuse, where he's 3-1 with a 2.19 ERA in five starts. With Strasbug (strained left oblique) back on the DL, it's possible the Nats turn their attention back to Ross to make a start as early as Tuesday.

1. Michael A. Taylor: The 24-year-old received a taste of the majors last season, playing in 17 games for the Nationals. This year, Taylor was the Nationals' opening day center fielder. In 72 games, Taylor has batted .246 with six homers and 32 RBIs while playing stellar defense in left and center field in the absence of Werth and Span.

"I think he's gotten better each and every month that he's played," general manager Mike Rizzo said. "He's got power in the bat. He can steal you a base. He's an athletic guy. He's learning the strike zone every given day. He recognizes pitches better and it's something that we have seen throughout his minor league career. It takes him a while at each and every level that he gets to, and then once he gets comfortable at that level, he usually takes off. We've seen that here at the big leagues. He's an exciting player with great skills and he's starting to put those skills into play on a regular basis. He's a guy who's not afraid to get a hit when you need to get a hit. We've liked Michael Taylor in the past, but we really like where he's at right now."

The Nats loved Taylor back on May 13 in Arizona. After Harper was tossed in the seventh for arguing a third-strike check swing call, Taylor entered the game. With the bases loaded and the Nats trailing 6-5 in the ninth, Taylor unleashed a violent swing, sending a fastball soaring deep over the center field wall for his the first grand slam of his young career.

"It felt pretty good," Taylor said after the game. "Normally I try not to smile when I'm running around the bases, but I just couldn't help it right there. It felt good to help my team win."