Notes on Ramos, Roark and LaRoche a day after the marathon (it's pouring)

Notes on Ramos, Roark and LaRoche a day after the marathon (it's pouring)
ATLANTA - While everyone around him in the Nationals clubhouse was dragging this morning - players, coaches and reporters included - Kurt Suzuki was bouncing around looking ready to play at about 10:45 a.m. I guess that's what happens when you're the only position player on either team not to see action in the 15-inning marathon that went on last night. Suzuki will be behind the plate for the Nats today, giving Wilson Ramos a break after he caught all 15 innings last night. Ramos needed to...

The Tanner Roark show (Soriano blows another save)

The Tanner Roark show (Soriano blows another save)
ATLANTA - Not only has Tanner Roark come on and delivered four scoreless innings in relief of Stephen Strasburg after Strasburg was ejected in the second inning, but Roark has delivered with the bat, as well. Quite a night for the rookie right-hander. Up for his second career major league at-bat with two outs in the top of the fifth, Roark smoked an RBI double to left-center, scoring Tyler Moore from first and boosting the Nationals' lead to 5-2. It was obviously the first career hit and...

LaRoche LaRocks one (Nats win 4-2)

LaRoche LaRocks one (Nats win 4-2)
That headline was terrible. I'm truly sorry. It's 10:30 p.m. and we're only in the sixth inning and I've had three cups of coffee. The rest of the night could be interesting. Adam LaRoche has given the Nationals a 3-1 lead after six innings thanks to his two-run homer that was demolished way out to right. The ball was hit with such force that it caromed off the facade above the Nats bullpen and nearly ricocheted back onto the field. That's the LaRoche that we saw pretty often last...

Jordan and Roark proving worthwhile pitching commodities as season rolls on

Jordan and Roark proving worthwhile pitching commodities as season rolls on
Right-hander Tanner Roark achieved another milestone Saturday by earning his first major league victory. And it took only 12 pitches. Roark retired six consecutive Phillies in the sixth and seventh innings. The Nationals' offense scored six runs in those two innings to come back and win 8-5. "It felt great, the come-from-behind win," Roark said. "Great team effort, bats came alive and it was awesome to watch." Roark had watched starter Taylor Jordan allow four runs in the second inning...

Hearing from Zimmermann, Krol, Mattheus and Roark

Hearing from Zimmermann, Krol, Mattheus and Roark
You've already seen Jordan Zimmermann's quotes where he denied that he was feeling tightness in his neck, as manager Davey Johnson had indicated. So if it wasn't the neck, why was Zimmermann so off tonight, allowing seven hits, two walks and two runs in just four innings of work? "I had really, really good stuff today," Zimmermann said. "I just either was 0-2 and I let them back in the count or I fell behind 2-0, 3-0 and I had to battle. Get it back to full count, they fouled a few...

A heck of a debut from Roark (Nats lose 6-3, swept by Braves)

A heck of a debut from Roark (Nats lose 6-3, swept by Braves)
Tanner Roark outpitched Jordan Zimmermann by a wide margin today. Baseball can be a funky game. Making his major league debut, Roark, who was called up from Triple-A Syracuse yesterday, pitched two scoreless innings, keeping this game tied 2-2. Roark worked a 1-2-3 fifth inning, his first in relief of Zimmermann (who left after allowing seven hits over four frames), and after surrendering a leadoff bloop single in the sixth, the right-hander needed just two batters to get out of the...

Roark on call to Nationals: "This is so surreal"

Roark on call to Nationals: "This is so surreal"
Tanner Roark had a secret. It was a pretty big one. He knew Sunday night. He told his parents and his fiancé. He got the call to pitch in the majors for the Nationals. The right-hander expressed his feelings from when his Triple-A manager relayed the news that he was going to be called up to the bigs. "This is so surreal," Roark said. "At first when I got the call and Tony Beasley told me, I was like, 'Wow, this is what I have dreamed for.' It started to sink in (that) I am...

Nats promote Tanner Roark, option Cedeno, move Detwiler to 60-day DL

Nats promote Tanner Roark, option Cedeno, move Detwiler to 60-day DL
The Nationals made a series of roster moves today, selecting the contract of right-hander Tanner Roark from Triple-A Syracuse, optioning left-hander Xavier Cedeno back to Syracuse and transferring lefty Ross Detwiler to the 60-day DL. Optioning Cedeno to Triple-A clears a spot for Roark on the 25-man active roster, and moving Detwiler from the 15-day DL to the 60-day DL opens a spot for Roark on the 40-man roster. Roark has gone 9-3 with a 3.15 ERA in 33 games (11 starts) this season with the...

Bray, Ohman among four Nats sent to minor league camp

Bray, Ohman among four Nats sent to minor league camp
VIERA, Fla. - The Nationals have made their first round of cuts, sending left-handed pitchers Bill Bray, Will Ohman and Brandon Mann, and right-hander Tanner Roark to minor league camp. Bray and Ohman, brought in on minor league deals, were hopeful of winning a role in the Nats' bullpen. Mechanical issues set Bray back this spring, and he allowed three runs (two earned), five hits and a walk in two innings of work. Ohman battled a hamstring injury that slowed him over the last week, and he...

What a difference a year's made for Nationals' Zach Duke

What a difference a year's made for Nationals' Zach Duke
It was about this time last season everything changed for Zach Duke. Last season, he struggled in Houston Astros camp and was eventually released. Two days later, he was picked up by the Nationals. After battling to regain his consistency and break on his best pitches, he worked his way back to the majors. Oh, he did work all right. Duke went 15-5 with a 3.51 ERA at Triple-A Syracuse. The left-hander made 26 starts, and had two complete games and a shutout over 164 1/3 innings. He had 91...

More winter league updates for Nats prospects

More winter league updates for Nats prospects
Checking in on Erik Davis' season, we saw the incredible numbers he is putting up for Gigantes del Cibao of the Dominican Winter League. One of his fellow members of the Nationals organization, left-hander Patrick McCoy has put together a nice run for Gigantes the last week and a half. McCoy has allowed just one run in the past 10 games, a span of seven innings. He has given up six hits with seven strikeouts and three walks since Nov. 6. Overall, he is 0-1 with a 3.24 ERA in 14 appearances,...

Tatusko and Roark still connected as they focus on getting to D.C.

Tatusko and Roark still connected as they focus on getting to D.C.
Right-hander Ryan Tatusko gained more front-line experience early this offseason, pitching in seven games and 20 2/3 innings in the Venezuelan Winter League. The former Indiana State Sycamore went 0-5 with a 6.10 ERA, getting lit up in his final three appearances, but felt the test of facing quality hitters from several different levels will help him gear up for what he will see in 2012. Here's more insight on what Tatusko does on the mound to get guys out. His numbers were solid as he...

Pitchers Roark and Tatusko promoted up the Nats' chain

Pitchers Roark and Tatusko promoted up the Nats' chain
Right-hander Tanner Roark has been called up from extended spring training to join Double-A Harrisburg Senators. Pitcher Erik Davis has been placed on the disabled list. Davis reportedly tweaked his knee last week and it is not considered a serious injury. Roark was 1-1 with 2.50 ERA in six starts with 33 strikeouts in 2010 with the Senators. The Washington Nationals have also announced that right-hander Ryan Tatusko has been promoted to Triple-A Syracuse Chiefs. Tatusko has gone...

Morgan rehab today in Potomac; Roark wins

Morgan rehab today in Potomac; Roark wins
Nationals outfielder Nyjer Morgan will play for the Potomac Nationals today in a rehab start. Morgan is on the disabled list with inflammation in his right hip. In 103 games with the Nationals in 2010, Morgan has hit .261 with 20 RBIs and 20 stolen bases. Will Flemming with the P-Nats reports Morgan is expected to play five innings in center field. Harrisburg Senators starter Tanner Roark, acquired from the Texas Rangers last month as part of the trade for Cristian Guzman, earned his first...