The Sports Xchange
MLB Team Report – Washington Nationals – INSIDE PITCH
Many rookies go through up-and-down times in their first season. Bryce Harper’s been one of them.
But after having lots of problems in the second half of the season, the 19-year-old outfielder has rebounded in a big way. He homered and went 2-for-3 in Friday’s 2-1 loss in Atlanta, raising his average to .265 on the season.
Harper saw his average drop to .247 on Aug. 21, but the rookie’s been turning it on again. He went 11-for-33 the rest of the month and kept on rolling in September, now hitting .370 through Friday’s game.
Manager Davey Johnson never wavered in his support of Harper throughout his troubles, giving him a few days off that the rookie didn’t like but probably helped.
Johnson said a few times that days off late in the year help rookies as they sometimes hit a wall in this long 162-game season.
Harper also has worked on settling down a bit emotionally. He’s shown his temper several times throughout the year, and the team has talked to him about calming down on the field.
That’s all part of maturity and growing up. If Harper can stay consistent through the latter days of the season into the playoffs, it will be something that could carry over into 2013 and the rest of his career.
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MLB Team Report – Washington Nationals – NOTES, QUOTES
–LHP Ross Detwiler gave the Nationals a strong effort in Friday’s 2-1 loss to the Braves in Atlanta. Detwiler gave up just one run on seven hits with five strikeouts and a walk. He battled RHP Kris Medlen (one run, 13 strikeouts in his seven innings for the Braves) and kept Washington right in the game. “(He) pitched a hell of a ballgame,” Nationals manager Davey Johnson said.
–CF Bryce Harper kept his recent hot streak going. He went 2-for-3, and his solo homer in the sixth off RHP Kris Medlen tied the game. Harper is now hitting .400 (14-for-35) in his last 10 games and appears to have regained the stroke he lost in August.
–SS Ian Desmond’s throwing error in the ninth gave the Braves the win. They had runners on first and third with one out when PH Tyler Pastornicky grounded to Desmond at short. Desmond then made a wild throw home, letting the winning run score. “It was probably a one in 10 chance, and didn’t get him. Just trying to get it as quick as I could and get rid of it,” Desmond said.
–3B Ryan Zimmerman saw his 16-game hitting streak end Friday night. He went 0-for-4 in the series opener against the Braves, a 2-1 loss.
–RHP Drew Storen came on to get the final out of the eighth inning. Storen now has given up just one run in his last 10 appearances after missing the first half of the season following elbow surgery.
BY THE NUMBERS: 17 — Strikeouts the Nationals had in Friday’s game. Seventeen of the 27 outs were strikeouts, 13 of them from RHP Kris Medlen, the Atlanta starter.
QUOTE TO NOTE: “I don’t worry about those mistakes. It can happen. Defense has been outstanding. Just a tough one to lose that way. Like to make them earn it.” — Nationals manager Davey Johnson, on losing in the bottom of the ninth on SS Ian Desmond’s throwing error.
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MLB Team Report – Washington Nationals – ROSTER REPORT
MEDICAL WATCH:
–LF Michael Morse (sore left wrist) is sitting out a few games after X-rays showed no broken bones. He hopes to return Sept. 15 or 16.
–LHP Sean Burnett (left elbow inflammation) did not pitch Sept. 3-11, but he threw in the outfield Sept. 8 and threw a bullpen session Sept. 10. He then pitched 2/3 of an inning Sept. 12.
–RHP Henry Rodriguez (lower back strain, elbow surgery) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to Aug. 1. He then underwent surgery to remove loose bone chips from his right elbow on Aug. 31 and was transferred to the 60-day DL on Sept. 3. He should be OK by spring training.
–RHP Cole Kimball (right shoulder surgery in July 2011) went on the 60-day disabled list April 3. He began a minor league rehab assignment June 19, and he pitched for Class AA Harrisburg on July 3. He hadn’t pitched again through the end of the minor league season.
–C Wilson Ramos (torn ACL in right knee) went on the 15-day disabled list May 13, and he was transferred to the 60-day DL on May 15. He had surgery June 1 to fix a torn meniscus, and he needs another operation to repair the ACL. He is done for the season.
ROTATION:
LHP Gio Gonzalez
RHP Jordan Zimmermann
RHP Edwin Jackson
LHP Ross Detwiler
LHP John Lannan
RHP Stephen Strasburg
BULLPEN:
RHP Tyler Clippard (closer)
LHP Sean Burnett
RHP Drew Storen
LHP Tom Gorzelanny
RHP Ryan Mattheus
RHP Craig Stammen
LHP Michael Gonzalez
RHP Christian Garcia
LHP Zach Duke
RHP Chien-Ming Wang
CATCHERS:
Kurt Suzuki
Jesus Flores
Sandy Leon
INFIELDERS:
1B Adam LaRoche
2B Danny Espinosa
SS Ian Desmond
3B Ryan Zimmerman
INF/OF Steve Lombardozzi
INF/OF Chad Tracy
INF/OF Mark DeRosa
OUTFIELDERS:
LF Michael Morse
CF Bryce Harper
RF Jayson Werth
OF Roger Bernadina
OF Tyler Moore
OF Eury Perez
OF Corey Brown
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