Hernandez confident Nats on the verge

Hernandez confident Nats on the verge
Nationals starter Livan Hernandez faces his former team in the first half finale as the Nats wrap up a 10-game home stand versus Madison Bumgarner and the San Francisco Giants. Hernandez is (6-4, 3.12) in 17 starts and has been the Nats most durable pitcher since opening day, hurling 112 and 2/3rds innings. The Giants 2002 opening day starter was impressive in his last few outings. He has struck out 20 batters and walked only three in his last four starts. In two of those games, versus...

Morgan, Bernie catalysts to get offense rolling at home

Morgan, Bernie catalysts to get offense rolling at home
The Nationals have now won five of their first eight games in this 10-game homestand, taking down Matt Cain and the San Francisco Giants 8-1 Friday night at Nationals Park. The Nats did it behind the arm of Stephen Strasburg, but it was also the offense that has ignited this recent spark in D.C. The Nationals are 25-19 at home and are one win away from a 9-3-3 series record at Nats Park this season. The team has won 6 of their last 10 and have started to play some very good baseball...

Strasburg, Zimmermann could dominate for years to come

Strasburg, Zimmermann could dominate for years to come
As I sat there watching Jordan Zimmermann dominate Frederick with his fastball hitting 94, 95 and 96 miles per hour Thursday, I wondered how strong the Nationals pitching staff will be with today's starter Stephen Strasburg and Jordan Zimmermann as the one-two punch for 2011 and beyond? It's similar to the core that Ryan Zimmerman wants to keep intact at 3-4-5 in the hitting order. You have the middle of your batting lineup set, now get the pieces around it to make a championship...

Zimmermann dominates second rehab start, hits 96 MPH

Zimmermann dominates second rehab start, hits 96 MPH
FREDERICK, Md. -- Nationals right-hander Jordan Zimmermann dominated his second rehab start following recovery from Tommy John surgery. Zimmermann went the scheduled three innings Thursday afternoon against the Frederick Keys in the sweltering heat at Harry Grove Stadium before 3,824. Potomac defeated Frederick 7-4. Jordan allowed just one hit, no runs, no walks and struck out five Keys batters, including the side in the first frame. Zimmermann threw 49 pitches, 34 of those for strikes....

Zimmermann Bottom of the 3rd

Zimmermann Bottom of the 3rd
Zimmermann bottom of the 3rd Potomac at Frederick Britton, P. 3U Avery K Hudson 5-3 POT 5, FRED 0. END 3RD Michael Burgess 3-run HR top 3rd for PNats IP 3 R 0 ER 0 H 1 BB 0 K 5 PITCHES 49 STRIKES 34

Zimmermann Bottom of the 2nd

Zimmermann Bottom of the 2nd
Julius F7 Hoes HP Britton, B. 3-1 Stevens K POT 2, FRED 0. END 2ND IP 2 R 0 ER 0 H 1 BB 0 K 4 37 PITCHES 26 STRIKES

Zimmermann Bottom of 1st; strikes out the side

Zimmermann Bottom of 1st; strikes out the side
Jordan Zimmermann Btm of 1st Avery K Hudson double off SS Welty K Mahoney K 18 pitches 13 strikes IP 1 R 0 ER 0 H 1 BB 0 K 3 AFTER 1 POTOMAC 2, FREDERICK 0.

Zimmermann 2nd rehab start underway in Frederick

Zimmermann 2nd rehab start underway in Frederick
FREDERICK, Md. -- Jordan Zimmermann expected to go 3 innings today here in a hot and steamy Harry Grove Stadium on Kids day at the ball park. Zimmermann went 2 innings last Saturday in Potomac, allowing two hits and no runs.

Zimmerman wants Dunn to stay put

Zimmerman wants Dunn to stay put
With home run after home run by Adam Dunn splashing down over the outfield walls of Nationals Park, the joke on the chat line was a pretend phone call placed to Mike Rizzo that said "Kenny Williams is on line One!" A reference to a rumor that the Chicago White Sox general manager has a strong interest in acquiring Dunn. The Nationals' home run display in the first two games of the series with the San Diego Padres is certainly getting the attention of several general managers around the...

Maxwell figures out way to prosper in Syracuse

Maxwell figures out way to prosper in Syracuse
Syracuse Chiefs and former University of Maryland center fielder Justin Maxwell has been on a tear hitting the ball well at the Triple-A level. Last week, during a 7-game span, Maxwell went 8 for 27 (.296) with two doubles, two homers, three RBI and five runs scored. With 53 hits, he is averaging a hit per game for Syracuse. He is batting .282 with 5 homers and 16 RBI in 53 minor league games this season and is benefiting from playing every day in center field. I asked Maxwell if he had...

Zimmermann set for 2nd rehab start Thursday in Frederick

Zimmermann set for 2nd rehab start Thursday in Frederick
Nationals starter Jordan Zimmermann gets his second rehab start of the summer for the Potomac Nationals at the Frederick Keys Thursday afternoon at 12 noon from Harry Grove Stadium. Zimmermann is expecting to pitch three innings as he makes gradual steps to returning to the majors since Tommy John surgery repaired his right elbow in August of last season. He hurled two scoreless innings Saturday for Potomac in their victory over Wilmington, allowing two hits, no runs and no walks. He...

Ian Desmond: The Good, the Bad and the Tremendous

Ian Desmond: The Good, the Bad and the Tremendous
Nationals shortstop Ian Desmond was bounding through the clubhouse pregame with a skip in his step and a smile on his face, ready to go for the first game of the series against the San Diego Padres. That boundless energy and enthusiasm is all a part of the full package you get from Desmond. It is what the Nationals loved about Desmond last year and in spring training. That energy has played out in his aggressiveness on the field, trying to make every play on defense, when sometimes just...

Martin still looking for elusive first win of 2010

Martin still looking for elusive first win of 2010
Game two tonight features Nationals right-hander J.D. Martin searching for his initial win of 2010 against right-hander Jon Garland of the San Diego Padres (8-5, 3.24). It is Martin's seventh start of the season, and he is looking for his first win since September 18, 2009 against the Mets in New York. Despite his last loss in Atlanta, Martin will not change his strategy to go after hitters from the start. "I am going to keep the same approach as I always do. I am going to try to get...

Nats hope to be California dreamin' by Sunday

Nats hope to be California dreamin' by Sunday
The Nationals have six games remaining before the All-Star break against the N.L. West's first-place San Diego Padres and the San Francisco Giants. The Padres roll into town with the best ERA in the National League (3.05) and yet do not have a single pitcher on the N.L. roster for the All-Star game in Anaheim. They also lead the league in shutouts (12), innings pitched (750.1) and are a close second to San Francisco in strikeouts (655 to 650). The Nationals, by contrast, have just 496...

Chico: "Most confidence I have felt in four years"

Chico: "Most confidence I have felt in four years"
Chiefs left-hander Matt Chico (3-4, 4.24) looking to bounce back from one of the rougher outings of his season tonight for Syracuse as they play host to Buffalo. He will get a chance to face the same Buffalo lineup that tagged him for a season-high six runs last week. The loss was a reversal from the previous two starts, both wins, where Chico allowed only one run and struck out eight over 12 innings. "I couldn't miss with the fastball. I was commanding my fastball inside really well. It...

Zimmermann strong in first rehab start

Zimmermann strong in first rehab start
WOODBRIDGE, Va. -- Nationals righthander Jordan Zimmermann looked strong in his first rehab start for the Potomac Nationals since Tommy John surgery 318 days ago before a packed house at Pfitzner Stadium in Woodbridge, Virginia. Zimmermann donned the home white jersey with the dark blue and red trimmed numerals and the #29 instead his usual #27. He threw 25 pitches, 16 for strikes in two innings of work against the Wilmington Blue Rocks. He allowed a pair of lead off hits, but no walks, no...

Atilano's fourth a game changer

Atilano's fourth a game changer
Nationals starter Luis Atilano got to the fourth inning Friday pretty much unscathed. He allowed a first inning hit batter and then a single. A ground out by Ike Davis scored the Mets first run and they led 1-0. But in the fourth, trouble brewed as the first three men got on base. David Wright led off the inning with a double and Atilano struggled with control to the next two hitters, walking both Davis and Jason Bay. With the bases loaded and nobody out, it looked as if Atilano might be...

All eyes in San Diego watching Strasburg; Live on FOX 4:10pm

All eyes in San Diego watching Strasburg; Live on FOX 4:10pm
Just because Nationals starting pitcher Stephen Strasburg has switched oceans, that does not prevent fans of his native San Diego from keeping up with the young pitching phenom. Today, Strasburg makes his sixth big league start, first time against the New York Mets, once again before a nationally televised audience. (Programming Note: The game has been selected to be televised by Fox, as part of Major League Baseball's national television agreement with Fox to televise a Saturday afternoon...

Stammen looks to repeat last start today against Mets

Stammen looks to repeat last start today against Mets
Nationals starter Craig Stammen is searching for two wins in a row today as he faces the New York Mets in the series finale on the Fourth of July at Nats Park. Stammen (2-2) had a tremendous return to the hill Tuesday in Atlanta, going 7 1/3 innings, allowing five hits, two runs, two walks and striking out four batters. He also allowed only three hits through his first seven innings. In reaching the eighth inning, it marked the longest outing for Stammen since April 19 against the...

Harris pinch at-bat key to Nats comeback

Harris pinch at-bat key to Nats comeback
Nationals utility man Willie Harris has not had that many chances to play after battling out of an 0-for-20 slump last Friday against the Orioles. He was a defensive replacement in just one game in Atlanta and came up Thursday against the Mets as a pinch hitter with one out in the ninth. Harris, who is a free agent at the end of the 2010, certainly has not played the role he did even last season for the Nats. His playing time has diminished to the point that he is currently on pace for...