Potomac moves within half-game of first place with another win

Potomac moves within half-game of first place with another win
The Single-A Potomac Nationals have not only advanced to the postseason again, but now have their sights set on the Northern Division crown after a 5-1 victory at Lynchburg. Paul Demny was at the top of his game over seven innings, allowing just five hits, no runs, one walk and six strikeouts for his 10th win of season. Zach Walters had three hits and scored two runs to lead Potomac's offense. With the win and Frederick's loss in Kinston, the P-Nats move within a half-game of the Keys for...

Three Potomac hitters named to Carolina League All-Stars

Three Potomac hitters named to Carolina League All-Stars
Three Potomac Nationals' batters have been honored as postseason Carolina League All-Stars. Outfielder Destin Hood, infielder Jeff Kobernus and catcher Sandy Leon were named Thursday, making Single-A Potomac the only team in the league with three players on the elite squad. The Mobile, Ala., native Hood leads the League in RBIs with 82 and is batting .279. He has stolen 20 bases and totaled 126 hits with 13 home runs. Kobernus, hailing from San Leandro, Calif., is hitting .274 with seven...

Potomac into the playoffs again with another win over Lynchburg

Potomac into the playoffs again with another win over Lynchburg
The Single-A Potomac Nationals downed the Lynchburg Hillcats 6-3 to advance to the playoffs again and a chance to defend their 2010 Mills Cup Carolina League crown. A four-run eighth inning broke open a close game and the P-Nats led 5-1 before holding off a late Lynchburg rally. Eight of the nine players in the starting lineup notched at least one base knock as the P-Nats have now won nine of their last 12 games. Jeff Kobernus, Justin Bloxom and Zach Walters each had two hits and combined for...

Potomac fights to within one win of another postseason berth

Potomac fights to within one win of another postseason berth
It is almost September. Must be time for another P-Nats postseason push. The Single-A Potomac Nationals are putting together the finishing touches on another second half surge as they attempt to return to the Carolina League postseason and defend their Mills Cup championship. Following Tuesday's thrilling 5-4 win in 10 innings at Lynchburg, the P-Nats are now one win away from clinching a berth in the postseason. The Frederick Keys already secured the first-half division crown. If the...

Potomac starters looking to copycat relievers' success

Potomac starters looking to copycat relievers' success
The Single-A Potomac Nationals have seen outstanding pitching from their bullpen recently and are looking for their starters to follow suit. Fresh off the boost of Stephen Strasburg's appearance Friday, starter Paul Demny fired eight strong innings Saturday in a 3-2 win. Cameron Selik started off well Sunday before getting into some trouble and falling to 4-9. Sammy Solis is close to returning from elbow soreness while Evan Bronson picked up for Strasburg and helped to guide the P-Nats to a...

Potomac's Solis to return Monday; Higley slated for Aug. 27

Potomac's Solis to return Monday; Higley slated for Aug. 27
Potomac Nationals left-hander Sammy Solis threw a bullpen session Friday and everything felt good with his elbow and his throwing arm. Solis thinks he will be activated and start Monday night after missing nearly a week with elbow inflammation. He threw 30 pitches and came away pleased with the session. "Fantastic," Solis said. "Everything was moving good. Velocity was good. It is just coming back after missing five days. You have to get in the rhythm of things and that is what I...

Strasburg on second rehab start: felt more like a "normal game"

Strasburg on second rehab start: felt more like a "normal game"
WOODBRIDGE, Va. - Nationals right-handed pitcher Stephen Strasburg looked stronger in his second rehab outing. He threw only 33 pitches, 26 strikes, in three innings of shutout work, allowing just two infield singles, no walks, and striking out five. His fastball was lethal again, consistently hitting 98 mph, and touching 99 mph in the second inning. After catching a grounder and throwing to first to end the third, Strasburg came off to a round of applause from the sold out crowd at Pfitzner...

Strasburg throws three clean innings, hits 99 mph

Strasburg throws three clean innings, hits 99 mph
WOODBRIDGE, Va. - Nationals right-hander Stephen Strasburg was on target again in his second rehab start, this time for the Single-A Potomac Nationals at a sold out Pfitzner Stadium. Strasburg consistently hit 98 mph on the stadium radar gun, and touched 99 mph. He threw just 33 pitches, 26 for strikes, allowed two infield singles and no walks. Strasburg struck out five Pelicans. He needed only eight pitches for a 1-2-3 third frame, striking out two batters in that inning. He struck out the...

Pregame from Potomac: Stephen Strasburg preparing to pitch

Pregame from Potomac: Stephen Strasburg preparing to pitch
WOODBRIDGE, Va. - Nationals right-hander Stephen Strasburg getting ready for his second rehab assignment with 6,600 expected at a sold-out Pfitzner Stadium. The crowds were lining up at 4 p.m. outside the two main gates here at the stadium in anticipation of seeing the Nationals top pick from two years ago. The sun is bearing down on the field but it is absolutely perfect conditions. Strasburg is scheduled to pitch three innings and throw a maximum of 50 pitches. Strasburg likely will go...

Potomac's Leon learning opponents' swings, making big strides behind the plate

Potomac's Leon learning opponents' swings, making big strides behind the plate
The catching depth in the Washington Nationals organization continues to show itself in the lower level minor league teams with Adrian Nieto and David Freitas in Single-A Hagerstown. Meanwhile, up one level in Woodbridge, Va., after a slow start at the plate, High-A Potomac Nationals catcher Sandy Leon is beginning to get on a hitting roll. Leon has batted .273 in the last 10 games with a double, three homers and seven RBI. He has had those three round trippers in his last 10 outings, with...

Potomac's Solis says elbow feels better; closer to bullpen session

Potomac's Solis says elbow feels better; closer to bullpen session
Single-A Potomac Nationals left-hander Sammy Solis had a fairly good game against Salem Aug. 2. He went seven innings and allowed three hits with two solo homers in taking the loss, 3-0. But toward the end of the game, Solis felt pain in his elbow and got it immediately checked out by the team's medical personnel. The diagnosis was left elbow inflammation and tendinitis. The MRI came back negative. Solis has still been solid in his six high Single-A starts, going 4-2 with a 3.38 ERA, 33...

First look: Walters shows off arm, bat at Potomac

First look: Walters shows off arm, bat at Potomac
I got my first look at the play of newly acquired shortstop

Potomac's Destin Hood showcases newfound power with two homers

Potomac's Destin Hood showcases newfound power with two homers
WOODBRIDGE, Va. - Maybe it was Brian Peacock's bat. Maybe it was the slight breeze at Pfitzner Stadium. Maybe it was the early start time. Or maybe Destin Hood has found something in his swing. Nationals director of player development Doug Harris spoke about it last week, that Hood is close to getting that leverage that would make him an every day power hitter. "I think that the work (I have put in) has a lot to do with it," Hood said. "I am just trying to trust myself. I am not trying to...

Potomac's Hood has two homers; Olbrychowski adds splitter

Potomac's Hood has two homers; Olbrychowski adds splitter
WOODBRIDGE, Va. -- A few news and notes as I take in an early afternoon Carolina League Single-A matchup between the Potomac Nationals and the Salem Red Sox. P-Nats right-hander Adam Olbrychowski has added a splitter to his repertoire. The Pepperdine pitcher has won two of his last three starts and is coming off a career-high eight innings in Friday's win. Destin Hood hit home runs No. 10 and 11 in his first two at-bats. The solo shots off of Salem's Stolmy Pimentel were no-doubt-about-it...

Freitas and Nieto show off catcher depth in Hagerstown

Freitas and Nieto show off catcher depth in Hagerstown
Recently promoted catcher David Freitas has done quite well as the lead catcher for the Suns, batting .288 with 100 hits in 102 games. He has cranked out 25 doubles, 12 homers and 63 RBI. "David has had an incredible year," Harris said. "He is an extremely mature player both offensively and defensively and we couldn't be happier with his progress." Freitas could get his chance soon with the Potomac Nationals because Devin Ivany was placed on the disabled list and Brian Peacock was...

Potomac foursome reaches Top 10 in Carolina League hitting

Potomac foursome reaches Top 10 in Carolina League hitting
The Single-A Potomac Nationals have battled all season long to get their offense going. Throughout the ebb and flow of the season, four prospects have been able to maintain their consistency in the pitching-rich Carolina League. Destin Hood (.279), Jeff Kobernus (.275), Justin Bloxom (.272) and Eury Perez (.271) rank eight through 11 at the top of the league in hitting. Nationals director of player development, Doug Harris, has taken notice of their offensive consistency, and believes it is...

Catcher Nieto determined to make impression in second chance at Hagerstown

Catcher Nieto determined to make impression in second chance at Hagerstown
Catcher Adrian Nieto has been moved from advanced Single-A Potomac to Single-A Hagerstown. The organization needs another catcher in Hagerstown, and Nieto will be able to get a lot of playing time there. It is a chance for Nieto to show how far he has come after struggling in Hagerstown last season. Nieto hit just .195 with 44 strikeouts in 2010 for the Suns. This season, he has worked very hard on his plate presence and swing at short-season Single-A Auburn. He came out on fire and was...

Lefty Rosenbaum to be promoted to Double-A Harrisburg

Lefty Rosenbaum to be promoted to Double-A Harrisburg
After a career performance Sunday in Potomac's win over Frederick, left-hander Danny Rosenbaum is headed to Double-A Harrisburg. Rosenbaum was electric Sunday, going eight innings and striking out a career-high 11 hitters, and has been the most consistent hitter at Potomac all season, going 6-5 with a 2.59 ERA in 20 games (19 starts). He has 108 strikeouts and has gone 4-2 with a 2.23 ERA in his last 10 starts. The P-Nats will activate left fielder J.P Ramirez and catcher Brian Peacock off...

Club source: Discussions have Strasburg's first rehab start at Hagerstown on Aug. 6

Club source: Discussions have Strasburg's first rehab start at Hagerstown on Aug. 6
Nationals pitcher Stephen Strasburg continues to make solid progress as he rehabs from Tommy John surgery in Viera, Fla., and the team is nearing its decision to get him in rehab starts closer to home. Manager Davey Johnson said Strasburg is in "great shape" and is on target to have his first rehab assignment in the first week of August at Double-A Hagerstown. A club source said Hagerstown has been discussed as site for the first rehab start Aug. 6. Strasburg would then move on to high...

Potomac lefty Rosenbaum "sharp" with 11 K's in win over Frederick

Potomac lefty Rosenbaum "sharp" with 11 K's in win over Frederick
Potomac Nationals left-hander