Morning coffee: Lopez shines again, Janssen's solid rehab outing and more notes

Nationals right-hander reliever Casey Janssen (shoulder inflammation) continued his rehab assignment up a level at Double-A Harrisburg on Tuesday night. Janssen pitched a scoreless eighth as the Senators downed Reading, 4-1.

Right-hander starter Joe Ross went seven innings to lift Harrisburg to their first series win of the season. Harrisburg (13-18) can earn a series sweep with a morning victory today. Paul Demny did not give up a run in the ninth to record his first save of the season.

Janssen allowed one base hit, but no runs. With the early game today, he will likely rest and then pitch again Thursday. It again depends on how he feels on his recovery day. The Nats also might like to pitch him in back-to-back games before the end of the weekend. If all goes well, Janssen could be activated within a week.

Tony Renda had a single, a walk and two runs scored. Ricky Hague recorded his team-leading 10th double of the season. Brian Goodwin went 3-for-4 with a double and RBI. Mario Lisson had two hits, including a homer, and three RBIs. That's seven RBIs in the last three games for newcomer Lisson. Kevin Keyes and Caleb Ramsey each had two base hits.

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One of the Nats top pitching prospects, right-hander Reynaldo Lopez, shined again Tuesday in high Single-A Potomac's (14-18) 2-0 shutout at Wilmington, recording his second straight shutout performance.

The 21-year-old Lopez (2-0) faced Wilmington on the road this time, shutting out the Blue Rocks over six innings, allowing four hits, with two walks, six strikeouts and one wild pitch to earn the win. He had defeated the Blue Rocks in his Carolina League debut May 7.

Baseball America's No. 3 Nationals prospect Lopez tossed 74 pitches, 49 for strikes, to extend his scoreless streak to 11 innings. Reports have him hitting 99 mph on the radar gun. Lopez scattered four singles and induced a pair of double plays.

Here are some of the tweets Lopez received last night:

#Nationals Reynaldo Lopez 96-97 t98 in first; easy velo with downhill plane; commanding ball; stuff is exactly like last year; good

-- Tucker Blair (@TuckerBlairON) May 12, 2015

Reynaldo Lopez 94-98 in the first

-- keithlaw (@keithlaw) May 12, 2015

Reynaldo Lopez still 97 in the 6th. CB 78-82; 2-plane break w/ bite. Very impressive arsenal and night. I am a big, big fan. #nats

-- CJ Wittmann (@CJWittJr) May 13, 2015

Reynaldo Lopez has shown improvement from my 1st viewing last season; CH improved; CB more consistent; one of better arms in MiLB #Nationals

-- Tucker Blair (@TuckerBlairON) May 13, 2015

Right-hander Derek Self pitched two scoreless innings, and left-hander Nick Lee posted a three-up, three-down ninth for his first save.

Nationals top prospect right-hander Lucas Giolito is slated to make his second start of the season Thursday night at Wilmington. Right-hander Nick Pivetta gets the call tonight. The team travels to Frederick to begin a weekend series Friday.

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Triple-A Syracuse Chiefs (14-18) hung on to beat Gwinnett 5-4. The Braves scored two in the ninth, but reliever Evan Meek ended the rally by inducing a pop-out. Meek has not blown a save since 2012.

Bruce Billings had a quality start, going six innings and allowing only two runs. It was the 10th time in 11 May games that a Syracuse starter had allowed three runs or fewer in a start.

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Here is my latest appearance on Nationals radio affiliate ESPN 950 in Richmond talking Nats on "Hardly Workin' with Greg Burton". He asks about Bryce Harper, Anthony Rendon and the recent run for the team.