Get to Nats Park early Tuesday

Get to Nats Park early Tuesday
The Nationals are advising fans to arrive early for Tuesday's major league debut of #1 selection Stephen Strasburg versus the Pittsburgh Pirates. Gates and the Miller Lite Scoreboard Walk open at 4:30 p.m. Fans are also urged to pick up their tickets for Tuesdays game early. Will Call windows are open Sunday at 9 a.m. until 30 minutes after the game, Monday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Tuesday at 9 a.m. Parking is limited, but available at Lots HH and W for $5 and $10 respectively. More...

Clippard then Storen still works, then Capps it off

Clippard then Storen still works, then Capps it off
Manager Jim Riggleman decided to go with Tyler Clippard in the seventh inning and then Drew Storen in the eighth of the Nationals 4-2 losing streak ending win over the hot Cincinnati Reds at Nationals Park. Similar to Cristian Guzman leading off and Nyjer Morgan batting second, this change paid dividends for the Nats quickly. Riggleman said he thought he might use Clippard for two innings, but after the Nats rallied for two runs to take the lead in the bottom of the seventh and the pitching...

Hagerstown's Smoker has promising outing

Hagerstown's Smoker has promising outing
The 21-year-old left-hander Josh Smoker did well for Hagerstown on Wednesday, pitching five scoreless innings and allowing only four hits while striking out three and walking three. Smoker induced eight flyouts of the 19 Lakewood batters he faced. The Blue Claws won the game 5-3 over the Suns, but it was a step in the right direction for Smoker. Hagerstown manager Matt LeCroy says Josh has been working toward consistency all season long. "He has had some control issues that has got him...

Lannan battles, but offense sputters in 5-1 setback

Lannan battles, but offense sputters in 5-1 setback
The Nationals had a chance for a .500 road trip with two wins in the final two games of the series in Houston. They had to feel pretty good as well, with John Lannan on the hill to take care of that first game. Houston had their own ideas with Wandy Rodriguez (3-7) pitching five solid innings and a bullpen that held its ground, add to that a Carlos Lee two-run shot and the Astros had all they needed for a 5-1 victory over the Nationals from Minute Maid Park. Bob and Ray ask Jim Riggleman...

Hagerstown's Rosenbaum settles in after rough start

Hagerstown's Rosenbaum settles in after rough start
HAGERSTOWN, Md. -- Lakewood BlueClaws jumped on Hagerstown lefthander Daniel Rosenbaum early, scoring three runs off four hits in the opening frame of the Lakewood 3-0 win over the Suns at Hagerstown Municipal Stadium Tuesday. After that rough first inning, Rosenbaum settled in and retired 11 of the next 13 Lakewood hitters. He finished with 5 innings, 6 hits, 3 runs, 1 walk and 4 strikeouts, inducing 8 groundouts and 3 flyouts. That was more of what Hagerstown fans have seen to begin this...

Bryce Harper lone freshman semifinalist for Golden Spikes Award

Bryce Harper lone freshman semifinalist for Golden Spikes Award
USA Baseball announced Tuesday the names of the 30 semifinalists for the 2010 USA Baseball Golden Spikes Award (GSA). This year will mark the 33rd consecutive year that the award has been presented to the nation's top amateur baseball player. College of Southern Nevada catcher Bryce Harper was the lone freshman semifinalist, joining 29 other Division I nominees. Harper has hit 29 homers and 89 RBI in his first season with the Coyotes, both school records. College of Southern Nevada...

P-Nats Derek Norris back in lineup; Peacock update

P-Nats Derek Norris back in lineup; Peacock update
Potomac Nationals catcher Derek Norris back behind the plate tonight for the P-Nats. Norris was hit in the head by a 95 mile per hour fastball 11 days ago and was cleared to play tonight. Norris told me last week that the helmet saved him from serious injury. Similar to Norris, teammate and catcher Brian Peacock is recovering from also getting hit in the batting helmet two days ago by a pitch. According to pitching coach Paul Menhart, Peacock is doing much better today. The P-Nats...

Nats rocket past Astros in Houston 14-4

Nats rocket past Astros in Houston 14-4
The Nats needed this one. With the bats cooled for most of the series in San Diego, the Nats' offense erupted in Houston with 14 hits in a 14-4 cruise over the Astros at Minute Maid Park. The highlight of the day was the 7th inning where the Nats sent 12 men to the plate and exploded for a season-high 9 runs. Adam Dunn and Ryan Zimmerman each had a pair of hits and 4 RBI. Zimmerman with a 3-run homer in the 7th frame, his third homer in two games. Carlos Maldonado slammed his first...

Bryce Harper "caught like a champion" in JUCO World Series debut

Bryce Harper "caught like a champion" in JUCO World Series debut
College of Southern Nevada won their first game at the JUCO World Series Saturday 13-5 over Pitt CC (North Carolina) from Suplizio Field in Grand Junction, CO. Sophomore Donn Roach struck out 11 batters and allowed only three unearned runs over eight innings to notch the win. 17-year old Bryce Harper went two-for-four with three runs scored, a walk and a strikeout. Southern Nevada (50-14) will play Faulkner State on Monday afternoon at 4:00 pm. Eastern. During the team's scheduled day...

At Potomac, left-hander Clayton Dill shows off "durable arm"

At Potomac, left-hander Clayton Dill shows off "durable arm"
WOODBRIDGE, Va. --- Left-handed relief pitcher Clayton Dill continues to progress with the Potomac Nationals. He was impressive in his relief appearance last week versus the Kinston Indians. The 5'11" Dill hails from Pine Bluff, Arkansas, and was a 35th round selection of the Nationals in 2008. He pitched for the GCL Nats as a rookie, Vermont and Hagerstown last season. Dill attended Arkansas-Little Rock and pitched at White Hall HS. Dill notched three strikeouts Wednesday in two...

MacDougal promoted to Syracuse; Nats sign Jason Jones

MacDougal promoted to Syracuse; Nats sign Jason Jones
There were several moves in the Nats organization of note Thursday, including promotions of RHP Mike MacDougal and RHP Erik Arnesen Triple-A Syracuse. It's been a long road back for MacDougal after being released by the Marlins at the end of spring training. The Nats' save leader last year is now one step away from the major leagues again. It was a big day for RHP Cole Kimball and INF Tim Pahuta as they were promoted to from Potomac to Harrisburg. Kimball, 24, was Potomac's primary...

Bryce Harper ready for JUCO World Series

Bryce Harper ready for JUCO World Series
College of Southern Nevada baseball coach Tim Chambers is preparing the Coyotes for their first trip to the JUCO World Series since 2003, which begins Saturday and runs through June 5 in Grand Junction, Colorado. To follow the tournament, including play-by-play and schedules, click JUCO World Series to stay up-to-date on Bryce's exploits. This could turn out to be the biggest nine days so far in Bryce's baseball life. Seven days in the JUCO World Series in Grand Junction, then two days...

Norris expects to return to lineup Saturday

Norris expects to return to lineup Saturday
WOODBRIDGE, Va. --- Potomac Nationals 21-year-old catcher Derek Norris is gradually recovering and feeling better after getting hit in the head by a 95 mile per hour fastball Friday during a game in Salem, Virginia. Norris was taken to the hospital Friday after being hit on the batting helmet by a pitch, according to a release from Potomac. Norris lay motionless on the field for nearly 10 minutes after he was hit. By the end of the night, Norris was conscious and moving his extremities at the...

Are Nats preparing Strasburg for long haul?

Are Nats preparing Strasburg for long haul?
Did anyone else find it interesting that Strasburg pitched only five innings and 52 pitches against Toledo Monday? Are the Nats trying to slow him down a smidge for the long haul from June through October? It did not seem that Strasburg was being overworked Monday night. He took care of two of the innings on just 15 pitches. Are the Nats telling us they want to save the longer stints for when Stephen arrives in D.C.? The Mud Hens did get a couple of good base knocks against him but...

Strasburg solid in five innings vs. Toledo

Strasburg solid in five innings vs. Toledo
Stephen Strasburg went five innings Monday night for Syracuse in the Chiefs 6-3 win over Toledo. He allowed only one earned run (two runs total) on five hits, no walks and five strikeouts. He threw 52 pitches and 36 for strikes which included four groundouts and four flyouts. He left with the game tied 2-2. Strasburg was happy with the work he got in Monday's no-decision. "I tried to stick the with game plan. If they want to swing early they can get themselves out. We were able to...

Bryce Harper's homer: "One of the biggest shots I had ever seen"

Bryce Harper's homer: "One of the biggest shots I had ever seen"
Updating Bryce Harper's big weekend, I interviewed Matt Youmans of the Las Vegas Review-Journal on "Nats Insider" on Federal News Radio Sunday. Youmans was at the NJCAA Western District Finals in Lamar, Colorado. Harper's team, the College of Southern Nevada, won the tourney 25-11 Saturday over Central Arizona College. True to form, 17-year-old catcher continued to rewrite the record books for his team, which plays for the JUCO national title starting Saturday in Grand Junction,...

Harper provides spark in NJCAA Western District Tourney

Harper provides spark in NJCAA Western District Tourney
Bryce Harper and College of Southern Nevada won the NJCAA Western District Tournament over the weekend in Lamar, Colorado. CSN lost the first game of the championship series Saturday to Central Arizona College 21-14 but then rebounded to crush CAC in the second game 25-11. According to Dan Cabrera from CSNCoyotes on Twitter, Bryce Harper was 6-for-6 with 4 HRs, a double, a triple and 10 RBIs in Game 2. The Coyotes have a week off to prepare for the NJCAA College World Series which begins...

Batista keeps Nats in game despite little rest

Batista keeps Nats in game despite little rest
In a game where the Nats got down early to the Orioles and lost their starter Scott Olsen by the third inning due to injury, 39-year old righthander Miguel Batista kept them in the ball game and gave them a chance to come back. Just like he did Thursday against the Mets, and countless other times in his career. Down 4-0 to Baltimore after three innings and without a hit, Batista extended the game to 8th inning, allowing no runs and only two hits, two walks, and striking out two in four...

McCatty to Stammen: Go to the curve early and often

McCatty to Stammen: Go to the curve early and often
Game 2 Saturday afternoon at Nats Park features the Nationals righthander Craig Stammen against the Orioles righthander Brad Bergesen (3-3, 5.45). Stammen is coming off a bad first inning against the Cardinals on Monday night where he allowed four runs, but then he settled down, not allowing another run for his final five innings of work. I asked Craig about how he recovered from that rough start to the game at St. Louis: "Yes, it was one of those innings where I got two quick outs and...

Bryce Harper hits for cycle

Bryce Harper hits for cycle
Bryce Harper went 6 for 7 with 5 RBI and 3 runs scored Friday, becoming only the second Coyotes player ever to hit for the cycle, as the College of Southern Nevada trounced host Lamar Community College 22-8 in the semifinals of the NJCAA Western District Tournament in Lamar, Colorado. The Coyotes scored 18 of their 22 runs in the final two frames to blow open a close game. The contest called after 8 innings due to the 10-run mercy rule. CSN finished with 22 runs and 23 hits, both season...