Tyler Moore wins Carolina League POY

Tyler Moore wins Carolina League POY
Potomac Nationals first baseman Tyler Moore has won the Carolina League Player of the Year honors. Moore has guided the P-Nats to challenge for the Northern division title with a scorching second half of the season, dating back to mid-July, when he was batting below .200. He has hit 22 of his homers since early July. He has raised his batting average 67 points to .262. "I would have never thought I could be in this position after the first half I had," says Moore. "I tried to make the...

Maya earns win and Solis throws two innings shut out ball in debut

Maya earns win and Solis throws two innings shut out ball in debut
Cuban-born pitcher Yunesky Maya did quite well in Syracuse Wednesday, going 5 2/3 innings, allowing one run on six hits with two walks and three strikeouts and earning the win as Syracuse dropped Rochester 7-2. Maya (1-1) threw 98 pitches, 62 for strikes. Chiefs play-by-play announcer Jason Benetti said Maya had good breaking stuff and was in control most of the night. Elsewhere, left-hander Sammy Solis was perfect in his two-inning debut for Hagerstown, allowing no hits, no runs, no...

Solis, Cole and Ray set to make pro debuts

Solis, Cole and Ray set to make pro debuts
Three top pitching prospects from the Nationals 2010 draft crop will make their professional debuts this week. Sammy Solis, A.J. Cole and Rob Ray have impressed Nationals pitching coordinator Spin Williams as they embark on their first game appearances since spring time. University of San Diego left-hander Sammy Solis will start tonight for Hagerstown and get two innings. Solis, picked in the second round and standing 6 foot 5 inches and weighing 225 pounds, is a "big body lefty who has a...

Lombardozzi thrilled to get AFL invite

Lombardozzi thrilled to get AFL invite
Harrisburg Senators second baseman Stephen Lombardozzi has picked up where he left off with Potomac, hitting above .300 in 19 games so far at the Double-A level. This week, the talented young infielder got word he has been selected by the franchise to participate in the prestigious Arizona Fall League representing the Nationals. "I found out a couple of days ago. I was really pumped," says Lombardozzi. "I think it will be a great experience for me to go out there. I have never been out...

Kennedy helps Desmond excel in #2 spot

Kennedy helps Desmond excel in #2 spot
Second baseman Adam Kennedy has played well in the last month in a variety of responsibilities. He has been a defensive stopper at second, a rally starter leading off the ballgame, the clutch hitter with a big run-scoring double and maybe, more importantly, a teacher and mentor to young shortstop Ian Desmond. Kennedy said he told Desmond he is in a good position with this team in more ways than one, especially with a chance to bat second in the lineup on a consistent basis. "It is a huge...

Riggleman: Morgan's play at plate "totally inexcusable"

Riggleman: Morgan's play at plate "totally inexcusable"
Manager Jim Riggleman took outfielder Nyjer Morgan out of Sunday's lineup against the Cardinals for going after catcher Bryan Anderson at home plate during Saturday's 14-5 romp over St. Louis. Riggleman said it was manager's decision to keep Morgan out of the lineup today and felt that Morgan's anger got the best of him last night. He said Morgan was upset all day Saturday because he was placed eighth in the batting order. "I think it was a culmination of Nyjer's anger brewing for...

Detwiler headed to Syracuse

Detwiler headed to Syracuse
Nationals left-hander Ross Detwiler is headed back to Syracuse for a rehab start. Detwiler had a solid outing yesterday in Frederick for the Potomac Nationals in their 6-4 victory, going three innings, allowing two hits, one run on the solo shot and four strikeouts. Detwiler likely will start on Thursday as the Chiefs host Rochester. He said his hip "feels good, a lot better than expected, and I am able to push a little further now" after last night's road start. "My sinker was...

Detwiler "looked very good" in second rehab start for Potomac

Detwiler "looked very good" in second rehab start for Potomac
Nationals left-hander Ross Detwiler had a solid rehab start for Potomac Saturday, which came back to beat Frederick with three runs in the ninth inning, 6-4 at Harry Grove Stadium. Detwiler yielded two hits, one a solo shot by Ronnie Welty, but struck out four batters over the three frames. The P-Nats now have a game and half lead in the Northern Division with 10 games to play. Mr. Everything Tyler Moore did it again, smacking a clutch RBI double to tie the game in the ninth inning. ...

Moore surpasses home run record

Moore surpasses home run record
With his 29th blast this season, Potomac Nationals first baseman Tyler Moore broke the franchise record for homers in a season, set by Hensley Meulens and Nate Dishington, in an 11-4 rout at Frederick Friday from Harry Grove Stadium. With the victory, the P-Nats maintain a hold on first place in the Carolina League's Northern division. Moore now has 104 RBI, which is nine shy of Tyler Farnsworth's franchise record of 113 RBI in 2000 when he won the team's only Player of the Year honors in...

Desmond fighting to stay at top of lineup

Desmond fighting to stay at top of lineup
Shortstop Ian Desmond hit second in the lineup again for the Nationals Friday against the St. Louis Cardinals, a spot that he has relished since his first days in D.C. Desmond went 3-for-5 with a double, a bunt single and a run scored. He recorded all three outs on defense in the eighth and started a 6-4-3 double play off the bat of Albert Pujols in the third. He had a run scored or an RBI in the Nats last at bat for the second straight game, but this night the rally fell short in a 4-2 loss...

Menhart talks to his experience with Tommy John Surgery

Menhart talks to his experience with Tommy John Surgery
When he first found out he was in disbelief. He thought his career might be over. He broke down and cried. Just the unknown of it all. Tommy John surgery. This was December of 1993. He was back and ready to pitch in August of 1994, but the strike ended that opportunity. By April of 1995 he had made the Toronto Blue Jays out of spring training. Former major leaguer Paul Menhart, currently the pitching coach for the Potomac Nationals, played parts of three seasons with the Blue Jays,...

Callis says Strasburg could come back stronger

Callis says Strasburg could come back stronger
Nationals pitcher Stephen Strasburg will undergo Tommy John surgery in the next week and a timetable will be set for his rehab and eventual return to the mound at Nats Park. Unfortunately, this injury is more common than not with major league baseball pitchers of today. Jim Callis, executive editor for Baseball America, says while it is a disappointment that Strasburg got hurt, he could return stronger than before. "If I had to bet whether a pitcher would be fine or get hurt during his...

Bernadina ready for the call in the outfield

Bernadina ready for the call in the outfield
When Roger Bernadina first smacked the Ryan Franklin offering, it looked like a sure line drive double off the wall. But this shot was hit with such force it cleared the right field wall and saved the Nationals from defeat. Bernadina's ninth career homer was a two-run gem that Nats fans will remember for a long time. The laser to right lifted the Nats out of what looked like their fifth straight loss and gave them another chance at beating the St. Louis Cardinals. Suddenly, the Nats...

For Bryce, father knows best

For Bryce, father knows best
The Nationals No. 1 overall selection Bryce Harper was introduced for the first time at Nats Park to the media, 10 days after he agreed to a nearly 10 million dollar deal to sign with the Nats. Flanked by his family, Harper talked about his dreams of becoming a Major Leaguer. After hitting 12 homers during early batting practice, Harper was asked where he learned his swing. Harper credited his hitting mechanics to his dad, Ron Harper. "My dad, he has been huge in everything I have done. He...

Riggleman says Dunn adamant, doesn't need a day off

Riggleman says Dunn adamant, doesn't need a day off
The Nationals have lost four straight and seven of their last nine games. During most of this streak, first baseman Adam Dunn has had a cold spell at the plate. Since hitting two homers against the Dodgers August 6, Dunn has gone 7-for-58 (.121), including 0-4 Wednesday with three strikeouts. His last at bat was the most promising, however, when he cranked a deep shot that was caught in right field off of Carlos Marmol to end the game. Manager Jim Riggleman said he spoke with Dunn...

Detwiler set for rehab start Saturday for Potomac

Detwiler set for rehab start Saturday for Potomac
Nationals left-hander Ross Detwiler threw a bullpen session at Nats Park Wednesday to positive results as he recovers from a sore hip. The Potomac Nationals report Detwiler will have a rehab start Saturday at Frederick. He expects to pitch three innings. Detwiler threw 30 to 35 pitches and said, "the bullpen was good. I worked on a few mechanical things that we think led to the discomfort in my hip. Things are actually going a lot better than a week ago. "I started out with fastball a...

Marquis ready to repeat good start

Marquis ready to repeat good start
Nationals right-handed pitcher Jason Marquis (0-6, 11.39) takes the hill tonight as the Nats look to salvage their final game of the season against the Chicago Cubs and right-hander Ryan Dempster (11-8, 3.56) at Nats Park. Marquis says his start against Philadelphia felt more like he wanted for the past month. "Day by day and game by game I am starting to feel a lot better with my delivery and my mechanics. I am starting to get a lot more confidence in everything. "It is about getting...

Nats rally a hopeful signal that offense will ignite

Nats rally a hopeful signal that offense will ignite
The Cubs edged the Nationals 5-4 Tuesday at Nats Park, but not before some final inning dramatics got the home team back in the game and hopefully signaled a turn for the better for a struggling offense. Down 5-1 and with two outs, Adam Kennedy laced a three-run double off of closer Carlos Marmol and Ryan Zimmerman battled through a long at bat before flying out to deep right to end the game. Although the Nats did not win the game, it was a vast improvement from the way the team felt after...

Detwiler back in D.C. to continue rehab on hip

Detwiler back in D.C. to continue rehab on hip
Nationals left-handed pitcher Ross Detwiler has arrived back in D.C. after spending five days in Viera, Florida, at the team's training facility as he continues to rehab from his hip injury. Detwiler was on a throwing program every day while in Florida. He got into one game situation and threw against both left-handed and right-handed hitters when the team was on the road. He threw all of his pitches and had no problems. "The hip is a little sore, but that is to be expected after...

Lannan: "Everything is falling into place"

Lannan: "Everything is falling into place"
The Nationals hand the ball to Opening Day starter John Lannan tonight against the Chicago Cubs. Lannan has battled back from a strained flexor tendon himself and is enjoying the best streak of his career, having won his last three starts without allowing more than two runs in each of those games. "I am just rolling with it right now," Lannan said. "I am feeling pretty confident out there. Everything is falling into place after I started a little weak. Defense is playing well...