RHP Stephen Strasburg Reinstated from DL

RHP Stephen Strasburg Reinstated from DL
The Washington Nationals today reinstated right-handed pitcher Stephen Strasburg from the 15-Day Disabled List. Nationals Senior Vice President and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcement. Strasburg, 22, will start tonight's series opener against the Florida Marlins. He missed the last 16 games after being placed on the DL with right shoulder inflammation on July 29, retroactive to July 22. Strasburg is 5-2 with a 2.32 ERA in nine starts with Washington. He has posted a .216 batting...

Washington Nationals Team up with Miller High Life and Iava to Honor Local Veterans

Washington Nationals Team up with Miller High Life and Iava to Honor Local Veterans
The Washington Nationals have partnered with Miller High Life and the Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA) to honor local military veterans on Wednesday, August 11 as part of the "Give a Veteran a Piece of the High Life" program. The evening will begin with a special pregame event from 4:30pm to 7:00pm on the Rooftop Party Deck. The veterans and their families are then invited to watch as the Washington Nationals take on the Florida Marlins at 7:05pm. Miller High Life...

Mock remains optimistic despite loss in second rehab start

Mock remains optimistic despite loss in second rehab start
Nationals pitcher Garrett Mock had a rough second rehab start Monday night in Woodbridge, taking the loss in Game Two of the doubleheader with Lynchburg, 5-2. Mock allowed three runs on eight hits in four innings, hit two batters, did not issue a walk and struck out two. He threw 52 pitches, 37 for strikes. "It went okay," Mock said. "I was up in the zone early, got settled after the first inning. I threw all my pitches for strikes and finished the four innings in one piece. It...

Career type year out of Hernandez a boon to Nats

Career type year out of Hernandez a boon to Nats
The best free agent pitching addition for 2010 occurred late in 2009. Pitcher Livan Hernandez was signed to a minor league contract on August 26, 2009 after the New York Mets gave up on him. Hernandez went 2-4 last year in eight starts with the Nats. In the offseason, the Nats resigned him February 24. Since Opening Day - and apologies to a certain phenom pitcher - Hernandez has been the Nats' most consistent starter. In his last 10 starts, Hernandez has gone 3-3 with an impressive 3.15...

Mock starts tonight in Woodbridge as P-Nats come home in 1st place

Mock starts tonight in Woodbridge as P-Nats come home in 1st place
Right-hander Garrett Mock makes his second rehab start tonight for the Potomac Nationals in their regularly scheduled 7:03 p.m. game at Pfitzner Stadium in Woodbridge. This will be his second start since neck surgery in late April. Mock says he expects to go four innings tonight with a maximum of 65 pitches. Last week, Garret was solid in three innings for Hagerstown against Lexington, allowing one hit, no runs, one walk and striking out three on 34 pitches. He threw 15 more pitches in a...

Nationals Reinstate Jason Marquis from DL

Nationals Reinstate Jason Marquis from DL
Nationals place Ross Detwiler on the 15-day DL The Washington Nationals today returned right-handed pitcher Jason Marquis from a rehab assignment and reinstated him from the 60-Day Disabled List. The Nationals also placed left-handed pitcher Ross Detwiler on the 15-Day Disabled List, retroactive to August 6, with a right hip strain. Nationals Senior Vice President & General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcements. Marquis will get the starting nod in Washington's series finale this...

Nationals Righthander Collin Balester Optioned to Syracuse

Nationals Righthander Collin Balester Optioned to Syracuse
Following today's series finale at Dodger Stadium, the Washington Nationals optioned right-handed pitcher Collin Balester to Syracuse of the Triple-A International League. Nationals Senior Vice President and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcement. The 24 year-old Balester went 0-1 with a 5.40 ERA (4 ER/6.2 IP) in five appearances with the Nationals. He was recalled by Washington on July 24.

Last chance to purchase tickets for ziMS Foundation event

Last chance to purchase tickets for ziMS Foundation event
In case you haven't already purchased tickets to attend tonight's A Night at the Park event benefiting the ziMS Foundation, it appears that tickets will be on sale for a few more hours. A general admission ticket for $75 includes access to the Mutlu and Amos Lee live performances, as well as the silent and live auctions. This is the inaugural event for the ziMS Foundation in Washington D.C. and it begins at 7:00 p.m. with NBC's Chuck Todd as the Master of Ceremonies. Senator Dorgan,...

What its like to get the call to Triple-A

What its like to get the call to Triple-A
Shortstop Danny Espinosa was told Thursday he would have the day off after smacking a career-high three homers for Harrisburg, his manager Randy Knorr told him alongside hitting coach Troy Gingrich. As he was leaving the office, Gingrich also told Espinosa in '"oh, by the way"-fashion, that he had been promoted to Triple-A Syracuse. "I was very excited. It was definitely one of my goals this year was to make it to Syracuse." He immediately called his girlfriend and his parents. ...

Nationals Select Contract of Kevin Mench

Nationals Select Contract of Kevin Mench
Outfielder Returns to Big Leagues for First Time Since 2008 The Washington Nationals today selected the contract of outfielder Kevin Mench from Syracuse of the Triple-A International League. Nationals Senior Vice President and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcement. Mench was hitting .249 with a .331 on-base percentage, 16 doubles, three home runs and 40 RBI in 87 games for the Chiefs at the time of the promotion. Mench legged out a pair of doubles in five at-bats during Syracuse's...

Milone strikes out career-high 12 batters

Milone strikes out career-high 12 batters
Harrisburg Senators left-hander Tom Milone enjoyed a career night this week with 12 strikeouts in a victory at Binghamton. Milone went 6 and a 1/3rd innings, scattering seven hits, with no walks and the 12 whiffs. He allowed a single run on a solo homer. Milone has put together a solid season for the Sens, going 8-5 this season with a 2.97 ERA. The Southern Cal product has 61 strikeouts in his last 59 and 1/3rd innings. He has shown tremendous control recently as well, allowing only two...

Espinosa reflects on 3 HR night

Espinosa reflects on 3 HR night
Harrisburg Senators' shortstop Danny Espinosa, a rising star in the Nats organization, enjoyed a career night Wednesday with three home runs in the Sens 5-3 win at Binghamton, continuing a resurgence that began in June. Espinosa went 3-for-5 with a career high 3 homers, 3 runs and 4 RBI. He is hitting .286 with 4 HR and 13 RBI the last 10 games, raising his season average to .262. "It was a good time. I hit my first one when they were trying to jam me. It was a 1-0 count on an off speed...

Best of 2010

Best of 2010
Express, the free Washington Post publication widely read by morning commuters, is asking for your submissions for their Best of 2010 issue. You can make nominations until August 13th about D.C.'s favorite people, places and things. Final voting will take place on September 7th. Some of the categories you may want to consider: Coach: Manager Jim Riggleman D.C. Team: Washington Nationals Local Athlete: Ryan Zimmerman, Stephen Strasburg, Adam Dunn, etc! Offseason Acquisition: Pudge...

Mock pleased with first outing in Hagerstown

Mock pleased with first outing in Hagerstown
Nationals pitcher Garrett Mock had a solid return to hill Wednesday in Hagerstown, his first game since neck surgery in April. Mock tossed three scoreless innings, allowing one hit, one walk and three strikeouts on 34 pitches. Mock then finished the evening with 15 pitches in the bullpen. The Suns shut out the Lexington Legends 2-0 at Municipal Stadium. "It went well. I kept the ball down in the zone, got some groundballs, it was very smooth." Mock said his pregame bullpen session did...

Mock ready to get back in the game

Mock ready to get back in the game
Nationals pitcher Garrett Mock makes his first rehab start tonight for the Hagerstown Suns in his first game back since neck surgery in late April. Mock was feeling numbness in his pitching hand in early April and had trouble gripping the ball in his only start at a cold and windy Citi Field against the NY Mets. He lasted only 3 1/3 innings, allowing 2 earned runs on four hits, walking five and striking out three. Mock knew something wasn't right during the outing. He kept blowing into...

Lombardozzi making push for Double-A

Lombardozzi making push for Double-A
Potomac Nationals infielder Stephen Lombardozzi continues to be one of the top hitters in the Carolina League, and that is gaining attention around the organization. Lighting it up at the plate, Lombardozzi is batting .299 in 103 games this season with 66 runs, 28 doubles, 20 stolen bases and 38 RBI. He has hit .341 in his last 10 games. At a recent game in Woodbridge, Lombardozzi made a classic play to get an out from his second base position. With no one on and Kinston trying to rally,...

RHP Yunesky Maya Optioned to Gulf Coast League

RHP Yunesky Maya Optioned to Gulf Coast League
The Washington Nationals today optioned right-handed pitcher Yunesky Maya to the club's rookie-level Gulf Coast League affiliate. Nationals Senior Vice President and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcement. Maya, 28, recently signed a Major League contract with the Nationals, after a stellar career in Cuba. He went 13-4 with seven complete games and a 2.22 ERA last season with the Pinar Del Rio Vegueros of the Cuban National Series (Cuba's equivalent of Major League Baseball) en...

With Nats in Arizona, Batista addresses immigration legislation

With Nats in Arizona, Batista addresses immigration legislation
Back in April, the state of Arizona -- home to the Diamondbacks and the 2011 Major League Baseball All-Star Game -- passed controversial new immigration legislation to help identify illegal immigrants in the state. The law was set to go into effect on July 29th, though a federal judge blocked some of the most problematic parts of the law. The Washington Nationals are the first team to visit Arizona since the law went into effect last week without its most controversial provisions. "We're...

Nationals Recall OF Justin Maxwell from Syracuse & Transfer RHP Tyler Walker to 60-Day DL

Nationals Recall OF Justin Maxwell from Syracuse & Transfer RHP Tyler Walker to 60-Day DL
The Washington Nationals today recalled outfielder Justin Maxwell from Syracuse of the Triple-A International League and transferred right-handed pitcher Tyler Walker to the 60-Day Disabled List. Nationals Senior Vice President and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcement. Maxwell hit .287 with 17 doubles, six home runs and 21 RBI in 66 contests with the Chiefs. The 26-year-old posted 16 stolen bases, 35 walks and a solid .439 on-base percentage at Triple-A. Maxwell has a .340 on-base...

Zimmermann ready for next challenge with Syracuse

Zimmermann ready for next challenge with Syracuse
Right-handed pitcher Jordan Zimmermann has made his way back to the Syracuse Chiefs as he gets ever closer to returning to the Nationals following Tommy John surgery last August. Zimmermann expects to start Thursday or Friday for the Chiefs and work the standard five innings or 80 pitch limit he has been on for the last three starts. "I am pretty excited to be back with Syracuse. I didn't know how long I was going to stay in Harrisburg so it was good to find out I was going to Triple-A. ...