Milone and Marrero shine in Harrisburg rout

Milone and Marrero shine in Harrisburg rout
Senators left-hander Tom Milone struck out 13 batters and first baseman Chris Marrero contributed 4 RBI as Harrisburg crushed Erie 10-1 Wednesday night. Milone went 6 2/3 innings, scattering seven hits, allowing one run and no walks to go with the season-high 13 strikeouts. Milone has struck 32 batters in his last 3 games (20 innings). He has not issued a free pass in four games and has allowed only two walks in his last seven starts. Milone is 5-2 with a 2.39 ERA in his last 10 games, and...

Moore hits 25th homer of the season for Potomac

Moore hits 25th homer of the season for Potomac
Potomac first baseman Tyler Moore hit his 25th home run of the season, a grand slam, Wednesday in the Nationals 9-1 win at Kinston. Moore now has 94 RBI on the season. The Brandon, Mississippi native finished 2-for-3 with 1 HR, 5 RBI and a run scored. He has hit 18 home runs since early July. Coming into this season, Moore had hit 15 homers combined in two pro seasons at Vermont and Hagerstown. Hitting coach Matt Nokes says Moore worked on his batting stroke after struggling early on...

Detwiler update

Detwiler update
Nationals left-hander Ross Detwiler continues to make steady progress as he recovers from a hip strain that placed him on the disabled list. Detwiler has been working with a physical therapist and will fly to Florida tomorrow to spend a week in Viera and pitch simulated games. He says the hip feels "pretty good" and says it is getting a little better everyday. Detwiler's last game was August 5 at Arizona where he allowed four earned runs on nine hits over four innings. He is 0-2 with a...

Burgess has big debut in H'Burg

Burgess has big debut in H'Burg
A spectacular debut for outfielder Michael Burgess with Double-A Harrisburg Tuesday night. Burgess smacked a pair of solo homers in his first game for the Senators. Erie came back and won the game 4-3 in 10. Burgess connected in the fifth and seventh innings against Erie right-handed starter Anthony Shawler, who has allowed five home runs in his last three appearances. Burgess ended up going 2-for-4 with 2 HRs, 2 runs and 2 RBI in his initial game for Harrisburg. Brad Peacock had a great...

Callis on when Harper will play at Nats Park

Callis on when Harper will play at Nats Park
It's already been debated as to whether a 17-year old baseball player is worth $10 million dollars. The Nationals, with the signing of Bryce Harper last night, certainly think so. Jim Callis, the executive editor of Baseball America, said he knew the Nats would be able to get the job done. "I never doubted the Nationals would sign Harper. I figured he would break Mark Teixeira's record for the largest guarantee given to a drafted position player, but Washington only had to raise the bar...

Chambers: Harper is good enough to be in majors in 24 months

Chambers: Harper is good enough to be in majors in 24 months
With the Nationals signing their No. 1 overall selection Bryce Harper, his college coach, Tim Chambers, said the Nats are getting the "greatest amateur baseball player of all time". Jim Callis of Baseball America called him the best hitting prospect he had ever seen at the amateur level. A source with knowledge of the situation says Harper is expected to first play in the instructional league and then go to the prestigious Arizona Fall League, the same league Stephen Strasburg played in...

Source: Bryce Harper deal for $10 million

Source: Bryce Harper deal for $10 million
Bryce Harper is the newest member of the Nationals' organization. A source with knowledge of the situation told MASNSports.com that the deal between the No. 1 overall draft pick and the Nationals was for $10 million dollars. The Nationals confirmed the signing early Tuesday morning. Harper signed a major-league deal. Harper did not attend the College of Southern Nevada's first baseball practice of the summer today in Las Vegas. This would mark the second consecutive year that general...

Zimmermann: "everything is good" for Syracuse again

Zimmermann: "everything is good" for Syracuse again
Nationals right-handed starter Jordan Zimmermann had another successful outing for Syracuse at Indianapolis as he prepares to return to the big club, which could be as early as August 25. Zimmermann threw 73 pitches (43 strikes) over five innings, scattering six hits, allowing one run, one walk and striking out three. He is 0-0 with a 0.75 ERA in three starts for Syracuse, a span of 12 innings. Zimmermann said "everything is good. All my pitches are working well. I am especially pleased...

Burgess promoted to Harrisburg; eligible for AFL roster

Burgess promoted to Harrisburg; eligible for AFL roster
The Washington Nationals have promoted outfielder Michael Burgess from Potomac to Double-A Harrisburg. The Tampa, FL native hit .262 with 12 home runs and 70 RBI in 101 games this year for Potomac. Burgess crushed 37 homers and drove in 160 in parts of three seasons for the P-Nats. He was the 49th overall selection in the 2007 draft and was voted "Best Outfield Arm" in the Carolina League by Baseball America. With the move being made before August 17, Burgess is eligible to be placed...

Morgan DH's for Potomac, continues rehab

Morgan DH's for Potomac, continues rehab
Nationals outfielder Nyjer Morgan went 0-for-3 in a rehab assignment as the designated hitter today for Potomac. Morgan will go seven innings for Hagerstown tomorrow, then nine innings for Harrisburg Tuesday before flying to Atlanta to rejoin the team Wednesday. Morgan has been recovering from a hip injury and is eligible to come off the disabled list August 19, which would be the last game of the series in Atlanta.

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...

Strasburg ready for the Snakes

Strasburg ready for the Snakes
Nationals pitcher Stephen Strasburg prepares for his 11th big league start today at Nats Park against the Arizona Diamondbacks after a rough outing on Tuesday that saw the right-hander allow a career-high six runs in a career-low 4 1/3 innings versus the Marlins. Pitching coach Steve McCatty says Strasburg (5-3, 3.07) has made some adjustments this week as he gets ready to tangle with the Snakes. "He got a little frustrated with himself and started concentrating and thinking about...

Stammen adjusting to new role

Stammen adjusting to new role
It is what relievers are supposed to do. But Craig Stammen has only been a reliever for one week. The Nationals right-hander arrived in the fifth inning Saturday night after Jason Marquis struggled in getting guys out. The bases were loaded and there were no outs. The Diamondbacks third hitter, Justin Upton, was at the plate and the Snakes led 4-2. Stammen managed to induce a double play off the bat of Upton and struck out the dangerous Adam LaRoche. Facing only two batters, he got...

Detwiler will return to Florida next week

Detwiler will return to Florida next week
Nationals left-hander Ross Detwiler will go back to Florida on Wednesday or Thursday to continue to rehab his sore right hip. Detwiler says the hip "feels pretty good, a little better every day." He will continue to work with the physical therapist next week in D.C. before heading back to Florida. Detwiler says he will throw simulated games at the Viera facility for about one week. He is eligible to come off the disabled list August 21. Detwiler last pitched August 5 in Phoenix,...

Mock with 7 K in rehab start for Potomac

Mock with 7 K in rehab start for Potomac
Nationals right-handed pitcher Garrett Mock was solid in a rehab start Saturday night in Potomac against Myrtle Beach, going four innings, scattering four hits, allowing one run with no walks and season-high seven strikeouts. Mock was throwing every pitch for strikes and even tried his sinker for the first time this season. Mock says he got "very good late movement on it. I was encouraged." He says he was getting strikeouts with his fastball and curve. "I was walking off the field and...

Maya did "wonderful" in pro debut

Maya did "wonderful" in pro debut
Nationals pitcher Yuneski Maya threw three innings and 30 pitches in a game Friday and did "wonderful considering he hasn't pitched competitively in quite some time," according to Williams. Maya allowed no hits, no runs, no walks and struck out one. "He commanded the ball well and his breaking stuff was good. Maya has good mound presence and the pitches he threw went where he wanted them to go. He did the little things well, fielded his position and showed some mound savvy," said...

Desmond loves being #2

Desmond loves being #2
A few weeks ago in Cincinnati I asked Ian Desmond if he preferred hitting in the 2 slot and he said he absolutely loved it. He always felt like he was more a part of the action in the 2 hole, and saw better pitches. At that time, he had had only 34 at bats in the 2 slot, but the numbers were much better for him at the plate from the top of the order than anywhere else. Now with 78 plate appearances in the #2 slot, the numbers are still very good and usually better than if he batted further...

Getting to 50 at a quicker pace

Getting to 50 at a quicker pace
The Nationals needed this one. After five difficult losses, John Lannan and Sean Burnett rode some early offense to a 4-2 victory over Arizona. With the Braves and Phillies waiting on the road, this was exactly what the Nats needed to separate themselves from years past. Friday's win was the 50th of the season for the Nats and now the team is just nine wins away from last year's total of 59. With 47 games remaining, if the Nats can go 25-21, just a little bit above .500 the rest of the...

Lannan looking to continue recent good feeling

Lannan looking to continue recent good feeling
Nationals left-hander John Lannan will make his 17th start Friday night against the Arizona Diamondbacks. He has a 2-1 record with an 0.47 ERA in three career games versus the Snakes. He is also coming off a quality start at Los Angeles, where he went six innings, allowing only two earned runs on five hits, two walks, two strikeouts and a homer. It was his first win since May 28 and his first quality start since June 2. Lannan got out of his biggest jam in the fourth inning. Ryan Theriot...

Harris battling "mental grind" as Nats' skid continues

Harris battling "mental grind" as Nats' skid continues
The Marlins completed the three game sweep with a 5-0 win on Thursday, outscoring the Nats 22-7. The outfielders did their best to get on base against a very difficult Ricky Nolasco (13-8). Roger Bernadina led off the game with a double. Left fielder Willie Harris earned a walk against Nolasco and got a base hit in the seventh off of Jose Veras. Michael Morse had a tough 0-4. Harris said this shutout loss was similar to what happened to them throughout the series against the...