Solis can close, start or specialize, plus minors notes (updated)

Left-hander Sammy Solis can be a viable option as interim closer for the Nationals.

Left-hander Sammy Solis can be a spot starter.

Both of these proclamations hold true.

Solis has swing-and-miss stuff in the mid-90s that can be a weapon in the ninth inning.

Solis also began his career as a starter. He logged 38 starts over 64 appearances while in the minor leagues.

He has already gone 1-2 with a 1.52 ERA in 19 appearances this season. In 23 2/3 innings, Solis has 29 strikeouts. His WHIP is an impressive 1.01. His average pitch speed on his two-seam fastball is 94.24 mph.

Solis has appeared in the first two games of the series at Los Angeles. He has gone a combined 1 2/3 innings, allowing no runs on one hit with no walks and three strikeouts.

He has struck out two or more batters nine times including a career-best six punchouts at Cincinnati on June 5 for his first win of the season, a 10-9 comeback win. He came in to relieve Tanner Roark and did not allow a run in three innings after his team had gone down 5-0.

There has been talk about seeking out a day-to-day closer, but the value of Solis cannot be understated as a pitcher that can do pretty much everything asked. He will likely get the day off today.

* Congratulations to manager Patrick Anderson and the low Single-A Hagerstown Suns, who captured the South Atlantic League North Division first-half title with a record of 43-27. The Suns won 11 of 14 games from May 23 to June 6.

Anderson and his coaching staff, hitting coach Amaury Garcia and pitching coach Sam Narron, coached the All-Star North squad to a 2-1 victory over the South All-Stars.

Right-hander Mariano Rivera III, second baseman Max Schrock, outfielder Victor Robles, third baseman Kelvin Gutierrez and right-hander Jefry Rodriguez represented the Suns.

Robles singled and stole second to begin the game. Schrock brought him home with a RBI double for a 1-0 lead. Schrock added a run-scoring single later for a 2-0 advantage.

Rodriguez pitched one inning, allowing no runs on two hits with one strikeout. Rivera came in later to toss 2/3 of an inning of scoreless relief.

First baseman Ryan Ripken, son of Hall of Famer Cal Ripken Jr., is hitting .545 in the first few games for short-season Single-A Auburn.Center fielder Brian Goodwin is hitting .302 at Triple-A Syracuse, while second baseman Chris Bostick is at .293 with Double-A Harrisburg.

Double-A Harrisburg right-hander Lucas Giolito is 4-1 with a 1.51 ERA in seven games since May 17. He has struck out 48 batters and opposing hitters have a .209 batting average against him.

* Stunning stat: The Nationals are 9-25 at Dodger Stadium since 2005. They are still 23-17 in road games this season.

Update: Single-A Potomac Nationals outfielder Andrew Stevenson was named MVP as the Carolina League All-Stars defeated the California League All-Stars 6-4 at Lake Elsinore, Calif., on Tuesday night

Stevenson went 3-for-5 and contributed two triples and two runs in the victory at The Diamond.

"It was a cool experience. I've never been to California, so it was cool to see other guys from across the country," Stevenson told MiLB.com. "Today was about having fun, playing with guys you don't get to normally play with, so I was just relaxed in the box."