Outfielder Perez turning heads with his speed (Nats win 3-0)

VIERA, Fla. - If you're an opposing infielder and Eury Perez hits the ball on the ground, good luck throwing out the speedy outfielder. Same goes for opposing catchers should Perez decide to try and swipe a bag. Perez, a 21-year-old who played last year at Single-A Potomac, doesn't have a hit yet today, but he's still found a way to make a major impact on this afternoon's game against Georgetown. The speedster has already scored two runs since entering the game in the bottom of the fourth inning. He stole a base after pinch running for starting center fielder Corey Brown in the fourth, took third on a throwing error and then crossed the plate on a sacrifice fly by catcher Sandy Leon. Then in the sixth, Perez's speed forced a two-base throwing error, and he came around to score on a single by shortstop Zach Walters. Perez hit .283 and swiped 45 bags at Potomac last season after stealing 64 bases the previous year at Single-A Hagerstown, and it'll be interesting to see if he can continue to make strides this season and get closer to possibly becoming the Nats' center fielder of the future. Currently, the Nationals hold a 3-0 lead over the Hoyas as we enter the top of the eighth. Righties Rafael Martin (two innings, four strikeouts) and Waldis Joaquin (two innings, three strikeouts) both followed Nats starter Matt Purke with strong outings. UPDATE: The Nationals defeated the Georgetown Hoyas 3-0. Back with more in a bit. Dan Kolko was named MASNsports.com's Nationals beat writer after spending the last four years covering the Baltimore Ravens for MASN and also serving as the Web site's deputy managing editor. A University of Delaware graduate originally from Silver Spring, Md., Dan grew up a die-hard baseball fan and is thrilled for the opportunity to cover the Nationals. Before joining MASN, Dan worked in production at Comcast SportsNet in Bethesda, Md., and also interned at the nationally syndicated "George Michael Sports Machine" in Washington, D.C.