Harrisburg's Lopez dominant with career-high eight scoreless innings

Right-hander Reynaldo Lopez pitched a career-high eight scoreless innings in Double-A Harrisburg's 4-0 win over New Hampshire on Saturday.

Lopez allowed seven hits with 10 strikeouts and two walks. He has struck out 10 or more batters in four of his last five games. In the past 34 2/3 innings, he has 56 strikeouts. He fired 112 pitches.

Kevin Keyes delivered a two-run double to highlight a three-run first inning for the Senators. Harrisburg has reached a season-best seven games above .500 at 40-33.

New Hampshire challenged Lopez with two men in scoring position in the eighth inning with two away. Lopez answered by striking out Ian Parmley to end the threat.

The 22-year-old Lopez has won two games in a row, allowing one earned run in his past 12 innings with 23 strikeouts. He is now 3-5 with 3.18 ERA in 14 starts. Lopez has reached a career-high 100 strikeouts and 25 walks.

"The difference in his recent run is experience and health," said Nationals minor league pitching coordinator Paul Menhart via text message. "Reynaldo is gaining a very good feel for three average-to-above-average pitches."

Lopez had his 2015 campaign slowed by a back injury. But his strength and durability so far have been very important reasons why he has logged 76 1/3 innings and is on pace to shatter his career-high of 19 starts from last season.

Nationals director of player development Mark Scialabba provided reasons why Lopez has made such solid steps forward the last few starts. It all emanates from the confidence he is building in those three pitches.

"We are proud of Reynaldo's progress this year and especially of late," Scialabba said. "He's made tremendous strides with repeating his delivery and now has the ability to make adjustments during an outing.

"We are beginning to see him command his well above average fastball more consistently from start to start. His secondary offerings, both his curveball and changeup, continue to evolve and now consistently have swing and miss quality. We're excited about both his mental and physical development, and certainly his future ahead."