Krol and Walters likely to lead list of September call-ups

Krol and Walters likely to lead list of September call-ups
Manager Davey Johnson gave out some information on who might be called up from Triple- A Syracuse when rosters are expanded on Sept. 1. "We will probably (call up) three pitchers and probably call up four or five position players," Johnson said. "Pitchers we may bring earlier than position players. I think their season is over on (Sept.) 2nd. We can have them here expanded roster on (Sept.) 1. I would like to have them here for Sunday's game." He said that Ian Krol will be one of the...

Gonzalez says Soriano's advice keyed adjustment that finished sweep of Marlins

Gonzalez says Soriano's advice keyed adjustment that finished sweep of Marlins
Gio Gonzalez finally got another win at home, a place where he has been consistently solid. Prior to Thursday, however, a victory had evaded him since July 5 at Nationals Park. He had gone 0-1 with a 1.99 ERA in his last four home starts and was 0-3 since July 10. On Thursday, Gonzalez went seven innings and did not allow a run to earn his eighth win in a 9-0 Nationals rout of the Marlins, capping a three-game sweep. Early on, though, he allowed three walks and a couple of hits. It appeared...

Decision to pull Strasburg after long rain delay may shake up starting rotation

Decision to pull Strasburg after long rain delay may shake up starting rotation
Nationals starting pitcher Stephen Strasburg only tossed 22 pitches Wednesday thanks to a 72-minute rain delay. Strasburg pitched only two innings in the Nationals' eventual 4-3 win over the Marlins. Manager Davey Johnson said the one hour, 12 minute rain delay played a big part in why he decided to shut down Strasburg for the night and move on to Craig Stammen. But he also was concerned about Strasburg's back. "Actually, after about I guess it was 45 minutes, we asked him how he was,...

Potomac clinches second-half division crown, begins playoffs Sept. 4

Potomac clinches second-half division crown, begins playoffs Sept. 4
The high Single-A Potomac Nationals dropped Winston-Salem 8-7 in 11 innings Wednesday, completing a game delayed from July. The P-Nats' win clinched the second-half division crown. It is the first time the P-Nats have clinched both the first- and second-half crowns in the Carolina League's Northern Division since 2008. The 2008 team - with future major leaguers Jordan Zimmermann, Craig Stammen, Ross Detwiler, Jhonatan Solano and Nationals bench coach Randy Knorr - went on to win the Carolina...

Johnson closer to giving Roark chance to start and sending Ohlendorf back to bullpen

Johnson closer to giving Roark chance to start and sending Ohlendorf back to bullpen
Manager Davey Johnson is not yet ready to hand over the fifth starter role to Tanner Roark, following hints that he might send Ross Ohlendorf back to the bullpen following Tuesday's win over the Marlins. However, he is leaning that way because he would like to give Roark a shot. "It is still premature because I need to see if there (are) any problems coming out of the 'pen today or tomorrow," Johnson said. "But I did have a conversation with both of them. We will see how things go. That...

Johnson not taking a fancy to Ohlendorf's strategy, but he will take the win

Johnson not taking a fancy to Ohlendorf's strategy, but he will take the win
Not too many times does a starting pitcher allow only three hits and one run and is pulled with the lead. That is what happened to right-hander Ross Ohlendorf on Tuesday night. Ohlendorf allowed a leadoff solo homer to the Marlins' Christian Yelich in the sixth inning. It was the only run he surrendered. It held up, thanks to the two runs the Nationals scored in the first inning, and solid relief pitching for the final four frames in a 2-1 victory over Miami. Manager Davey Johnson decided...

Johnson admits Nats need left-handed specialist going forward

Johnson admits Nats need left-handed specialist going forward
The Nationals were hoping that left-hander Zach Duke and right-handed relievers that could get left-handed hitters out would be the answer to the southpaw specialist role in the 2013 bullpen. Things did not turn out the way the team had hoped, at least with 32 games remaining. It is an issue that manager Davey Johnson believes will need to be addressed. He said it is a top concern going forward. "Not having the left-handed presence that we had last year," Johnson said when asked what...

Nats to send eight players to Arizona Fall League, rosters announced

Nats to send eight players to Arizona Fall League, rosters announced
The Nationals will send eight players to the Arizona Fall League in 2013 to suit up for the Mesa Solar Sox. Brian Goodwin, Matt Skole, Adrian Nieto and Steven Souza (taxi squad) are the position players invited. Pitchers include starters Sammy Solis and Matt Purke, plus relievers Robert Benincasa and Richie Mirowski. Solis, Purke and Benincasa are from high Single-A Potomac, exemplifying the extensive depth the team has demonstrated all year, leading to an 80-plus win season and a playoff...

Potomac reaches 80 win plateau

Potomac reaches 80 win plateau
High Single-A Potomac beat Wilmington 6-2 Sunday at Pfitzner Stadium for victory No. 80 of the season. The P-Nats are now 80-51 overall, a sterling winning percentage of .611. They have already clinched a postseason berth after winning the first-half of the season. The P-Nats are 36-24 (.600) with the second-half of the season winding down. Michael Taylor, Caleb Ramsey, Adrian Sanchez, Cutter Dykstra, Kevin Keyes, Adrian Nieto, Billy Burns, Jason Martinson and others have provided fairly...

Royal heartbreak for Nats on two critical plays in eighth inning

Royal heartbreak for Nats on two critical plays in eighth inning
It is difficult to have a mental mistake keep an inning alive with two outs in a tie ballgame. It hurts more when your team has scored four unanswered runs to tie a game at 4-4 against a team that was reeling in a seven-game losing streak. But to see another mental mistake later in the inning that scored the go-ahead run and opened the door to another run-scoring single? It is too much to handle. The Nationals fell Sunday in Kansas City to the Royals, 6-4. The game was tied heading to the...

Mooneyham and Johansen fall in debuts at higher levels

Mooneyham and Johansen fall in debuts at higher levels
Left-hander Brett Mooneyham had some control issues in his initial start for high Single-A Potomac. Mooneyham walked six batters in three innings, allowing five hits, six runs and one strikeout in taking a 6-2 loss against Winston-Salem on Thursday. He allowed a two-run shot in the first inning by Kevan Smith. It was only his fourth setback in 14 decisions this season. He had come in 10-3 in 17 starts with low Single-A Hagerstown, sporting a 1.94 ERA. These next few weeks will be a great...

Cathcart on outfielder Ballou: "Most pleasant surprise in the draft by far"

Cathcart on outfielder Ballou: "Most pleasant surprise in the draft by far"
Outfielder Isaac Ballou is having an outstanding season for the Auburn Doubledays of the New York-Penn League. The former Marshall star has excelled in 56 games, batting .284 through August 21. The 23-year-old Ballou has 11 doubles, one triple, two homers, seven stolen bases, 32 runs and 17 RBIs in 197 at-bats. Auburn manager Gary Cathcart said the 6-foot-2, 205-lb. Ballou has really gotten his attention through the first two months of the short-season. "Most pleasant surprise in the draft...

Cathcart on Voth's opponents: "Looked like they were swinging underwater"

Cathcart on Voth's opponents: "Looked like they were swinging underwater"
Right-hander Austin Voth has put together a very solid first year with short-season Single-A Auburn. This week he was rewarded with an invitation to join the low Single-A Hagerstown. He was called up the same day as teammate Jake Johansen. Voth has gone 2-0 with a 1.47 ERA in seven starts for the Doubledays. He has an impressive 42 strikeouts to only four walks in 30 2/3 innings. He began the season with the GCL Nats, so his combined numbers total is 2-0 with a 1.69 ERA in 35 2/3 innings, 46...

Giolito takes first game at new level

Giolito takes first game at new level
If there was any concern that a step up in league play would be too much for the Nats' first-round pick of the 2012 First Year Player Draft, Lucas Giolito, those concerns were unfounded Wednesday. The right-hander cruised through five innings in his short-season Single-A Auburn debut. Giolito notched the win, allowing just two hits, giving up no walks and striking out five as Auburn beat Batavia 7-0. Jeremy Houghtaling of Auburnpub.com has the details. It is just one start, but it shows...

Cathcart on Johansen: "He has got everything he needs"

Cathcart on Johansen: "He has got everything he needs"
Right-hander Jake Johansen made exceptional progress this summer at short-season Single-A Auburn. Johansen was an astounding 1-1 with a 1.06 ERA in 10 starts for the Doubledays. He allowed no hits in five innings on Aug. 17, striking out six batters and walking just two. The Nationals' top selection from the 2013 draft performed so well, in fact, that he was promoted Tuesday to low Single-A Hagerstown. His first start for the Suns is Friday. How did Johansen do so well? Did his...

Source: Nationals promote three more prospects

Source: Nationals promote three more prospects
One day after promoting top prospect Lucas Giolito to short season Single-A Auburn, according to a source the Nationals have announced plans to promote three more prospects. Left-hander Brett Mooneyham will start for Single-A Potomac on Thursday, weather permitting. Mooneyham was 10-3 with a 1.94 ERA in 17 starts with Single-A Hagerstown. Austin Voth and Jake Johansen will also be promoted to Hagerstown. Both started the season with Auburn. Johansen, the Nats' top pick in the June draft,...

Giolito on "No panic" GCL Nats, Mooneyham could move soon (updated)

Giolito on "No panic" GCL Nats, Mooneyham could move soon (updated)
The Gulf Coast Nationals have already clinched a postseason berth with their incredible record and domination of their division and league this season. Clinched! 37-6 #poppinbottles #of #applecider http://t.co/n7a6cpw2Ca— Lucas Giolito (@LGio27) August 9, 2013 The camaraderie displayed has been a key component of their success, to go with a very talented corps of prospects that will help fortify the Nationals organization for years to come. The Nationals' top pitching prospect,...

Solis puts together solid outing in Potomac win

Solis puts together solid outing in Potomac win
High Single-A Potomac Nationals left-hander Sammy Solis was a little wild, but allowed only two hits in 4 2/3 innings Saturday. The P-Nats rolled at Wilmington, 7-1. The P-Nats are 75-47 overall and 33-20 in the second half. Solis, another one of the Nationals' top pitching prospects coming off Tommy John surgery, walked four and struck out four in the no-decision. David Fischer (4-0) came on to go 3 1/3 frames to get the win. Shortstop Adrian Sanchez had a single, double and a triple. The...

Ohlendorf goes four innings in rehab start, allows three runs

Ohlendorf goes four innings in rehab start, allows three runs
Nationals right-hander Ross Ohlendorf completed his second rehab start by going four innings for the high Single-A Potomac Nationals Friday night. Ohlendorf allowed three runs in four innings, with one walk and two strikeouts. He recorded five ground outs and three fly outs. He tossed 79 pitches, 52 for strikes. He allowed eight hits, allowing runs in the second, third and fourth frames. A source on site said he looked good. A scary moment in the game occurred when he got hit on the right...

Soriano on 2-2 pitch to Sanchez: "I think that is when I lost that game"

Soriano on 2-2 pitch to Sanchez: "I think that is when I lost that game"
Closer Rafael Soriano allowed the go-ahead, three-run, pinch-hit homer in the ninth inning with two outs to the Giants' Hector Sanchez, and the Nationals lost 4-3. Soriano said the key call might have been to the previous pitch, when he thought he had a strikeout on a 2-2 call. "I tried to throw it quarter-in," Soriano said on the home run pitch to Sanchez. "I think it was a bad pitch. "At the same time, I think when the game be over (was the 2-2 pitch to Sanchez). That pitch I think...