Morse: "we never gave up" in 8-7 loss to Reds

Morse: "we never gave up" in 8-7 loss to Reds
CINCINNATI, Oh. --- It would have been very easy for the Nats to give up in this one. Fresh off a long two and a half hour rain delay, Washington allowed three more runs and suddenly found themselves down 8-1 to the Reds in the fifth inning. Cincinnati ended up winning 8-7 but not without a battle to the end. A six run comeback in the sixth inning showed what this team is capable of and their never-say-die attitude. It all came from extra base hits the Nats had not been able to produce in...

Report: Nats agree to terms with top Cuban pitcher

Report: Nats agree to terms with top Cuban pitcher
CINCINNATI, Oh. --- ESPNdeportes.com reports the Nationals have agreed to terms with Cuban right handed pitcher Yunesky Maya. Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo would not confirm or deny the report but spoke in general terms about scouting Maya for some time. "He is a terrific, young and poised major league caliber pitcher. He was the number one pitcher on the Cuban National team, even ahead of Aroldis Chapman. Maya won the Cuban equivalent of the Cy Young award. A lot of teams want...

Chico's consistency can't be ignored

Chico's consistency can't be ignored
Syracuse Chiefs pitcher Matt Chico has not allowed a run in two consecutive starts, a span of 14 innings in a pair of home-and-away matchups against Pawtucket. The numbers are impressive in those last two starts: 14.0 IP, 6 hits, 0 runs, 2 walks, 7 strikeouts. His shutout streak is currently 14 innings. Chico (4-3, 3.00) says the key to his recent success has been "hitting both sides of the plate. I have been using the two-seam fastball a lot. The changeup has been pretty good lately. ...

Martin's walks and sloppy play doom Nats

Martin's walks and sloppy play doom Nats
CINCINNATI, OH. --- Right fielder Willie Harris was a picture of frustration in the clubhouse after the Reds slammed the door on the Nationals 7-2 in the series opener at Great American Ball Park. Harris had one arm leaning against his locker as he recounted the second inning where the Reds scored four times. It held up because Johnny Cueto was on target, allowing only four hits in six innings. The critical rally for the Reds came with no score in the bottom of the second inning. Jonny...

Strasburg named baseball's 4th most marketable player

Strasburg named baseball's 4th most marketable player
It is readily apparent to the Nationals and their fans the immediate impact pitcher Stephen Strasburg has had on the team since he made his major league debut June 8. What is more amazing is the soon-to-be 22-year-old's potential impact on corporate America. In today's Sports Business Daily, Strasburg is already ranked as the number four most marketable baseball player after only eight big league starts. The Daily asked 49 corporate brand managers, marketing and branding executives,...

Zimmermann sees paved road back to Nats

Zimmermann sees paved road back to Nats
Nationals pitcher Jordan Zimmermann has made very good progress in three rehab starts for the Potomac Nationals as he embarks on another start tonight in Woodbridge. Zimmermann is expected to pitch four innings with a pitch count capped at 65. He has been outstanding in his control and velocity. His fastball has been consistently in the mid-90s (once hitting 96 mph in hot and muggy Frederick). He has had great success in refining the changeup and getting its speed down to 84-86 mph. ...

The view from Cincinnati

The view from Cincinnati
CINCINNATI, Oh. --- The Nationals arrived here in Cincinnati getting ready to face a Reds team that is feeling a little desperate themselves after falling 1-0 to the Rockies in their series finale Sunday at the Great American Ball Park. Both the Nats and the Reds lost their respective series finales, 1-0. Of course, this has been an amazing season for Cincinnati, who were knocked out of first place in the Central and now are a half-game back of the Cardinals for the top spot. Travis...

Lannan allows one earned run, but H'Burg falls

Lannan allows one earned run, but H'Burg falls
Nationals pitcher John Lannan struggled in the fifth inning of the Harrisburg Senators' 18-15 loss to the Altoona Curve. Most of the offense occurred after the left-hander exited the game. Lannan allowed just one earned run in 4 2/3 innings, leaving the game leading 4-3. The Curve scored three runs in the fifth inning to tie the game 4-4. The Curve made a dramatic comeback in the ninth inning. With Harrisburg leading 14-8, Altoona scored 10 runs in the ninth inning and won 18-15. Lannan...

Detwiler pitches well in loss

Detwiler pitches well in loss
Nationals pitcher Ross Detwiler went five innings Friday night and took the loss for Harrisburg in their 3-0 setback versus Altoona. Despite the loss, Detwiler allowed only three hits, two runs (of which only one was earned), one walk and had a season high seven strikeouts. Detwiler said the start went well but he had some bad luck. He told me his mechanics were a lot better and he "felt like (he) had a clue tonight." Ross told me that was the one thing he wanted to work with pitching...

Strasburg leans on Livan for advice

Strasburg leans on Livan for advice
It is pretty obvious the Nationals want to make a statement right out of the blocks to begin the mythical second half of the season by going to their best pitcher the last month and ten days, Stephen Strasburg (3-2, 2.32) tonight against Florida's Ricky Nolasco (9-6, 4.55). How long have Nats fans waited to have an answer for Josh Johnson or Nolasco, who they seem to face in every Nats vs. Marlins series? Seems like forever. And imagine very soon a second matchup with Jordan Zimmermann...

Zimmermann staying patient in rehab from Tommy John

Zimmermann staying patient in rehab from Tommy John
WOODBRIDGE, Va. -- The day following his third rehab start for Potomac, Nationals pitcher Jordan Zimmermann says he was most pleased with how well his changeup was working Wednesday against Kinston. Jordan went four innings, scattering six hits, allowing one unearned run, no walks and striking out four. Jordan threw 53 pitches, 40 for strikes. "I thought it went pretty well. I threw a lot more changeups then I usually do. I have been working on that with (pitching coach) Paul (Menhart). ...

Lannan spotting the ball more consistently

Lannan spotting the ball more consistently
Nationals pitcher John Lannan had his best start of the four outings so far at Harrisburg July 10 against the Reading Phillies. Lannan went six innings and allowed five hits and two runs, while striking out six batters and walking only one. Pitching coach Randy Tomlin says Lannan is gaining his confidence back with each start. "John did very well in his last outing. He needed to spot the ball more consistently and he did that. He is feeling really good about himself and the adjustments...

Zimmermann solid in third start for Potomac

Zimmermann solid in third start for Potomac
Nationals pitcher Jordan Zimmermann took another step forward with a positive rehab start for Potomac Wednesday night. Zimmermann tossed four innings, scattering six hits, allowed one unearned run, no walks and striking out four. Jordan threw 53 pitches, 40 for strikes. Team president Stan Kasten was in attendance to watch Jordan's start. Kinston won the game 3-1, and Zimmermann got tagged with the loss. He has allowed no earned runs in three starts, a span of nine innings. Jordan left...

Zimmermann to focus on changeup tonight

Zimmermann to focus on changeup tonight
Nationals right-handed pitcher Jordan Zimmermann gets another rehab start tonight in Woodbridge with the Potomac Nationals facing the Kinston Indians at 7:03 p.m.at Pfitzner Stadium. This will be the 24-year-old Zimmermann's third rehab start and he is expecting to go four innings with a cap of 60-65 pitches. Zimmermann has worked this week primarily on his changeup. Pitching coach Paul Menhart told me he would like to see more changeups from Zimmermann tonight and that will be their main...

Bryce Harper wins 2010 Golden Spikes Award

Bryce Harper wins 2010 Golden Spikes Award
Nationals number one overall selection Bryce Harper has won the 2010 Golden Spikes Award, which honors the nation's top amateur baseball player. The announcement was made by USA Baseball during a presentation at All-Star FanFest today in Anaheim, California. The catcher/outfielder beat out semifinalists Chris Duffy, Yasmani Grandal, Drew Pomeranz and Chris Sale to win the honor and to match Nationals starting pitcher Stephen Strasburg, who took home the award in 2009. Harper slammed 31...

Detwiler looking to smooth out mechanics

Detwiler looking to smooth out mechanics
Harrisburg Senators left-hander Ross Detwiler notched his first win of the season Sunday with a 7-3 decision at the Reading Phillies. Detwiler went five innings, allowed seven hits, two runs, one homer, one walk and three strikeouts. He had a dramatic three-run double to seal the game for the offense but said he just caught a break on the hit. "It was my third or fourth at-bat of the year. I think I just got lucky. I got deep into the count. The ball found the bat somehow." ...

Clippard trying to fight through "mental wall"

Clippard trying to fight through "mental wall"
Nationals reliever Tyler Clippard met with the media before Sunday's game against the Giants after allowing four runs on two hits, one a home run, two walks and just one strikeout in 1/3 of an inning in Saturday's loss. It was his third setback in the last ten games in which his ERA has exploded to 11.00. "I think the bottom line is I am not making quality pitches when it counts," Clippard said. "I am making some good pitches - just not when it counts. "I have felt like I have been...

Riggleman on second half and player updates

Riggleman on second half and player updates
The Nationals are getting ready for the second half of the season with 73 games remaining on the schedule. The team can still make a move in the National League East, unlike last year when they reached the All-Star break 22 1/2 games out of first place and had already lost 61 games. Manager Jim Riggleman is confident the clubhouse is filled with the players that can get it done. "I think the world of our team because they play hard and they care. They suffer with the losses. They really...

Zimmermann next start Wednesday vs. Kinston

Zimmermann next start Wednesday vs. Kinston
Nationals pitcher Jordan Zimmermann says he will pitch Wednesday, July 14 in his third rehab start against the Kinston Indians at Pfitzner Stadium in Woodbridge. Zimmermann is expected to go four inning and 65 pitches. He was outstanding in his second start Thursday in Frederick, hitting 96 miles per hour on the fastball, striking out five over three innings, allowing a 1st inning double as the only hit and walking none. What impressed me the most was his major league tempo, not giving the...

Two outs at third base ended Nats chances for insurance

Two outs at third base ended Nats chances for insurance
The Nats offense connected early against Jonathan Sanchez, scoring five runs and sending the Giants starter to the showers in the fourth inning. With a 5-3 lead, the Nats had to like their chances with a normally reliable bullpen waiting for the opportunity to go. But in the fifth and sixth frames, the Nats had opportunities to add to their lead, but were unable to plate another run, leaving four men on base following three hits. In the sixth inning, the toughest outs of the night came at...