The Washington Nationals snapped a three game skid last night behind a complete game from Nats' starter Jordan Zimmermann and a 16 hit, 10 run onslaught of the Miami Marlins.  The win improved the Nats to 8-5 on the season. 3

One thing that has been unclear all season is how manager Davey Johnson would handle pitchers Jordan Zimmermann and Stephen Strasburg late in the game.  Strasburg wondered that himself, whether he would have opportunities to go the distance.  Johnson answered that questions last night for Zimmermann, who is now three season removed from Tommy John surgery.  Zimmermann went the distance, allowing 3 runs on 6 hits while fanning 6 batters to stay perfect on the season.  Zimmermann threw 102 pitches over the nine innings, 70 for strikes.  In three starts, Zimmermann is now 3-0 with a 2.45 ERA.  Much like the end of the 2012 season, Zimmermann has easily been Washington's most effective starter so far in 2013. 

The other Zimmerman, Ryan Zimmerman, helped support his starting pitcher, going 2 for 5 with a home run and 4 RBI.  Zimmerman has an RBI single in the first inning that drive in Denard Span and Jayson Werth, and hit a two run home run in the fourth inning.  Tyler Moore, making his first start of the season filling in for Adam LaRoche, went 2 for 5 and drove in 3 runs.  Span added 2 hits and 2 RBI to the Nats' onslaught.  Ian Desmond continue to connect at the plate quite well, racking up a 4 hit night and scoring 2 runs.  Desmond raised his batting average to .320. 

Overall, the Nats had 7 players with a multi-hit game (Span (2), Werth (2), Zimmerman (2), Desmond (4), Moore (2), Lombardozzi (2), and Suzuki(2))

The Nats face the Marlins in game two of the series tonight.  Dan Haren will take the mound for the Nats and face Alex Sanabia. 

University of Maryland sophomore center Alex Len is forgoing his final two years of collegiate eligibility to enter the NBA Draft.

“I’m very grateful for the two years I’ve spent at Maryland and for everyone that has supported me during my time here,” said Len. “It’s been an honor to play here and I’ve learned so much. I want to thank Coach Turgeon and the coaching staff for believing in me and helping me grow as a player and a person. I also want to thank my teammates who were always there for me. We shared some great moments together. I’ve grown a lot, both on the court and off the court, over the past two years and I am looking forward to the next chapter of my life.”

“I’m very proud of Alex and am excited for what the future holds for him,” said Turgeon. “To see the progress he’s made on the court, in the classroom and socially has been a truly rewarding experience. Alex has worked incredibly hard since he got here and he has earned this opportunity.”

Len averaged 11.9 points per game and 7.8 rebounds per game while leading the ACC with 78 blocks in 2012-13. The 7-foot-1 native of Antratsit, Ukraine, was named honorable mention All-ACC and was a member of the All-ACC Defensive team last season.

Len dramatically increased his productivity from his freshman to sophomore season, making improvements in nearly every statistical category. His scoring went from 6.0 points per game to 11.9, while his rebounding increased from 5.4 to 7.8 per game. For his career, Len holds averages of 9.7 points per game, 7.0 rebounds per game and 2.1 blocks per game. He played in 60 games with 48 starts, 37 of those coming in 2012-13.

Washington Redskins DE/LB Brian Orakpo says that he is 100% after being lost last season due to a torn pectoral muscle.  Orakpo was lost in the second week of the season and replaced by Rob Jackson.  Jackson had a terrific 2012 season subbing in for Orakpo, recording 37 tackles, 4.5 sacks, and intecepting 4 passes.  The Redskins will need Orakpo back as Jackson is facing a four game suspension to start the season.   The banned substance was reportedly an unprescribed pain killer.  Although Jackson played quite well in reserve of Orakpo, the Redskins did miss Orakpo's strength and speed in rushing the passer.  His return will be a wecolme addition for the Redskins pass rush. 

“Health is great,” Orakpo said. “I’m good, man, I’m feeling great. Rehab has been going tremendously well. I’m 100 percent … to be honest, I’m great, man, my body is feeling even better than what it was before as far as conditioning and strength-wise. Because one thing when you get hurt is you get to work on all the little muscles that you have a tendency to [overlook].”  Brian Orakpo

The talk before the season was that the Washington Nationals were the best team in baseball.  They were favorites to win the World Series.  They were the most talented team to take the diamond in 2013.  They were lofty expectation for a young roster.  That outcome may very well come true.  However, for now, in the early season of baseball, the Atlanta Braves are the best team in baseball. 

The Braves entered the nation's capital this weekend well aware that the Nationals were undefeated at Nationals Park.  Didn't matter to the Braves.  They came to DC to take care of business and that is precisely what they did, sweeping the Nationals and improving to 11-1 on the season and dropping the Nats to 7-5, down to third place, sitting 4 games back in the division.  Yes, it is early.  However, it is quite troubling that these Nats were suppose to battle head to head with Atlanta this season, and get swept right in their home park. 

Sure we can blame Gio Gonzalez on a poor performance yesterday.  We can blame a bullpen failure on Saturday.  However, a big culprit of the weekend romp by the Braves was the disappearance of the Nats offense.  In the three game series, the Nats bats mustered just 16 hits and 5 runs.  That is pretty pathetic.  Look no further than the heart of the Nationals lineup, from 2nd batter to six batter.  Jayson Werth (2-11), Bryce Harper (1-10), Ryan Zimmerman (2-11), Adam LaRoche (1-10), and Ian Desmond (2-11) were a combined 8 for 53 for a .151 batting average against Braves pitching. 

It's a rocky start against their main competitor.  However, we do not need to remind you, it is April.  It is early.  It is a 162 game season in which only 12 games have been played.  Part of the task of Nats veteran manager Davey Johnson will be to manage expectations and manage when things go wrong, like this weekend, to keep the club level and focused.  It is a high expectation season in which a series like this will draw criticism.   Davey Johnson is the man to ground this young roster and help manage perspective.  Sure, it is was disastrous.  Perhaps what they need to think about is getting the Braves out of their mental state.  They have lost seven straight to the Braves.  However, for now, it is on to Miami. 

Notes: 

Catcher Wilson Ramos was place don't he 15 day disabled list.  His surgically repaired knee is fine, but his hamstring is ailing.  The Nats have recalled catcher Jhonatan Solano.  The Nats do not anticipate that Ramos will miss more than 15 games.  Kurt Suzuki will take on sole starting duties behind the plate. 

2B Danny Espinosa will likely miss a game or two after being hit on the wrist.  Good news on Espinosa is that the x-rays were negative.  Steve Lombardozzi will sub in for Espinosa. 

P Jordan Zimmermann takes the mound against the Marlins tonight to try and snap the Nats out of the three game funk.  Zimmermann will face Wade LeBlanc at 7:15 tonight.  Zimmermann is off to a fine start, posting a 2-0 record with a 2.08 ERA in his first two starts. 

It appears the Redskins pursuit of defensive back Antoine Winfield may be coming to an end.

According to ESPN's Ed Werder, Winfield appears leaning towards signing with the Seattle Seahawks, but has not ruled out returning to the Minnesota Vikings.

Winfield was in Seattle on Monday and while the 'Skins remain very interested, they just aren't in financial shape to make it happen.

Washington has added free agent E.J. Biggers and brought back DeAngelo Hall at a reduced salary and appears any additions in the secondary will come in the NFL draft later this month.

The University of Maryland athletics department will honor legendary basketball coach Charles "Lefty" Driesell with a bronze bas-relief dedication ceremony on Tuesday, April 16 at Comcast Center. The reception will begin at 6:30 p.m. with the program starting at approximately 7:30 p.m.

Driesell became Maryland's head coach in 1969, coached the Terrapins for 17 seasons and won 348 games. Prior to his arrival, the Terrapins had won only one Atlantic Coast Conference title and made just one NCAA Tournament appearance. Under Driesell's leadership, the Terrapins won another ACC title and made the NCAA Tournament eight times, including two Elite 8 appearances.

Driesell, who coached at Davidson prior to coming to Maryland and went on to stints at James Madison and Georgia State, compiled a 786-394 record in his 40-plus years as a head coach. He was the originator of "Midnight Madness" to open practice at the beginning of the season in 1971. He is a member of the National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame and the University of Maryland Athletics Hall of Fame.

The Washington Nationals got their second series sweep of the young 2013 season, beating the visiting Chicago White Sox 7-4 last night, thanks to the hot bats at the top of the lineup. The win improves Washington's record to 7-2 overall and 6-0 at home. They trail the 8-1 Atlanta Braves, winners of 6 in a row, by one game. Dan Haren 1-1 got the win, giving up 10 hits and three runs and striking out five over five innings. Closer Rafael Soriano pitched the 9th for his 5th save in 6 opportunities. 

But last night was mostly about the big bats at the top of the lineup for the Nationals. Denard Span, Jayson Werth, Bryce Harper and Ryan Zimmerman went a combined 7-13 with 6 runs, 4 RBI and 5 walks drawn. Behind them, Adam LaRoche and Ian Desmond each drove in a run. 

Span continued to show why the Nats traded for him, going 2-4 with a walk and 2 runs scored, raising his batting average to .323. Werth raised his average to .297 with two hits and two runs. Bryce Harper continued his red-hot start to the season, going 2-3, driving in two runs, scoring two runs and drawing two walks, one of them intentional.

That intentional walk in the third inning was critical last night, as Chisox pitcher Dylan Axelrod pitched around Harper in favor of facing Ryan Zimmerman, who hasn't gotten off to nearly as hot a start as Harper. It didn't work, though, as Zimmerman promptly slapped a double into right field that scored two runs. "You're rolling the dice either way," said White Sox manager Robin Ventura after the game. "You just take your chance."

Washington Nationals right fielder Jayson Werth (28) and left fielder Bryce Harper (34) are congratulated by first baseman Adam LaRoche (25) after scoring during the fourth inning against the Chicago White Sox at Nationals Park.

Harper hit a run-scoring single of his own in the 8th, giving him at least two hits in 7 of Washington's 8 games this season. He's now hitting .417 with four homers, eight RBI and a .778 slugging percentage.

Haren recovered a bit from his disastrous first outing of the season in Cincinnati, but he did still give up 10 hits in only 5 innings. However, Haren helped himself in the 4th with the score tied at three. Haren doubled off Axelrod and later scored on a wild pitch. 

Zimmerman's double in the fourth proved to be Axelrod's 103rd and final pitch of the evening, with the Nats up 6-3. Ryan Mattheus, Tyler Clippard and Rafael Soriano pitched the rest of the way to seal the victory, with only Mattheus yielding a run. The save was Soriano's third in the last three games -- every game in this series. 

Still too early to provide the weekly minor league system leaderboard, but we can report on a few players that are producing in the system, early in the season. 

Syracuse Chiefs (AAA)

Jeff Kobernus is probably the hottest batter in the system, early in the season.  Kobernus was claimed by Detroit in the Rul V Draft, but was returned to Washington after he failed to crack the opening day roster.  Good for the Nats.  In 6 games at AAA, Kobernus is an impressive 12 for 22 at the plate for a .545 batting average.  He has a double, triple, and a home run.  He has scored 8 runs and has drive in 6.  Kobernus has put up an early .818 slugging percentage and a .593 on base percentage.  Keep on eye on Kobernus.  This is a kid I hated to see leave via Rule V and was thrilled to see returned to the system.  He has tremendous speed and could get a chance in Washington if an injury occurs. 

Michah Owings, the major league starting pither turned first baseman, is batting .421 in 6 games, off to a 8 for 189 start.  He has one home run and has crossed the plate 4 times and driven in 6 runs.  Eury Perez is on an absolute tear.  He is a wildy hot outfield prospect the Nats absolutely love and could see time in Washington this season.  The 23 year-old Dominican prospect has a 22 game hitting streak intact dating back to last season.  This year, Perez is batting .379 with 11 hits in 29 at bats.  He has a double, triple, and has scored 6 runs.  Corey Brown is off to a good start, collecting 2 doubles and 2 homer sin his first 6 games.  He is batting .321.

Harrisburg Senators (AA)

Highly touted and higly watch prospect Steve Souza is batting .364 in his first 7 games, collecting 8 hits in 22 at bats.  He has a double, home run, and 6 runs scored.  He has a .545 slugging percentage and a .533 on base percentage.  The Nationals like what they saw in Souza last season where he batted a combined .297 between Hagerstown and Potomac and smacked 23 homes runs and drove in 85 runs.  Justin Bloxom, who has steadily risen in the Nats system, is batting .300 in his first 8 games.  Brian Goodwin is batting .212 with 7 hits in 33 plate appearances in his ifrst 8 games.  Anthony Rendon is batting .241 with 6 runs and 3 RBI. 

Blake Trenien, who was acquired via the Seattle trade for Mike Morse, is off to a rocky start.  Trenien has started two games and has allowed 13 runs and 176 hits in 7.2 innings for an ERA of 15.26.  Another prosdpect acquired was Ian Krol.  Krol has appeared in 3 games out of the Senators bullpen and has a 1.93 ERA, allowing 1 run o0ver 4.2 innimngs.  Aaron Barrett has appeare din 3 games and has allowed 3 runs over 3.1 innings. 

Potomac Nationals (A)

Billy Burns, a prospect to keep an eye on with tremendous speed, is batting .550 in his first 5 games.  He is 11 for 20 at the plate with a double and a triple.  He has a .700 slugging percentage and a .610 on base percentage.  Burns is a high batting average hitter.  Last season he batted .322 in 1134 games at Hagerstown.  Randolph Oduber is batting .450 with 9 hits in 209 at bats in his first 5 games.  Oduber has 4 runs scored and drive in 6 runs.  Jason Martinson is off to a great start in Potomac.  In 6 games, he has collected 8 hits, of which 6 were for extra bases, with 2 doubles, a triple, and 3 home runs.    Martinson has 7 runs scored and 8 RBI in just 6 games.  He has a slugging percentage of 1.050.   Robbie Ray has made 2 starts and is 1-1 with a 2.45 ERA.  He has allowed 3 runs over 11 innings.  He has yielded 2 walks compared to 12 strikeouts. 

Hagerstown Suns (A)

Mike McQuillan is off to a decent start, collecting 8 hist in 26 trips for a .308 batting average.  He has a home run, has scored 4 runs and drive in 5.  Dixon Anderson has made 2 starts and is 1-0 with a 2.45 ERA.  In 11 innings, he has allowed 1 walk with 9 strikeouts.  Blake Schwartz is 2-0 with a 2.25 ERA in 2 starts.  In 8 innings, he has fanned 11 and has not allowed a walk.  Tony Renda is off to a cold start, collecting just 6 hits in 32 at at bats for a .188 batting average. 

The Washington Capitals are the hottest team in the NHL winning their 6th consecutive game tonight, a 3-1 win over division rival Carolina Hurricanes.  The Caps were led by goaltender Braden Holtby whp provided sparkling p,at between the pipes, earning several "Holtby" chants from the Verizon Center crowd. Holtby was easily the top player on the ice for the Caps tonight stopping a whopping 43 saves, which was a career high in the regular season for Holtby. 

Carolina took a 1-0 lead into the first intermission on a Jeff Skinner power play goal.  The Caps responded in the second period, beginning with a Troy Brouwer power play goal.  Brouwer's tally was his 14th of the season and was assisted by Mike Ribeiro and Nicklas Backstrom.  Less than three minutes later Mike Green skated past a tired Jeff Skinner, and blew a slap shot past Carolia goalie Justin Peters to give the Caps the 2-1 lead.  Brouwer iced the game on a nifty empty netter back hander to give the Caps the 3-1 lead.  It was Brouwer's 15th of the season.

With the win, the Caps continue to maintain their two point lead in the Southeast Division.  They improve overall to 22-17-2.  Their win was their sixth straight and have now won 10 of their last 13 games.  The Caps also remain a perfect 6-0 in April.  

The Washington Nationals will seek their second series sweep of the young season tonight against the Chicago White Sox.  The Nats defeated the White Sox 5-2 behind a strong starts from Jordan Zimmermann (2-0).  Zimmermann tossed 7 innings and permitted 7 hits and 2 runs while fanning 4.  It was a deep, quality start the Nats needed.   Drew Storen and Rafael Soriano combined for two innings of shutout relief, as Soriano picked up his 4th save of the season. 

The Nats offense jumped on White Sox pitcher Gavin Floyd for 9 hits and 5 runs over 5 innings.  Washington tied the game at 1-1 in the fourth inning on a solo homer by Bryce Harper, his 4th of the season.  Later in that same inning, Danny Espinosa singled in Ian Desmond to give the Nats the 2-1 lead, a lead they would not relinquish. 

Ryan Zimmerman padded the lead to 3-1 one inning later as Jayson Werth and Bryce Harper reached base.  Zimmerman hammered a shallow single past the first baseman that led to Werth scoring.  Espinosa doubled in the sixth inning to score Desmond and Denard Span singled later to score Espinosa to complete the 5 run win for the Nats. 

Desmond finished the game with a 3 for 4 night with 2 runs scored while Danny Espinosa went 2 for 4 with 2 RBI. 

The win improved the Nats to 6-2 on the season and a perfect 5-0 at Nationals Park.  Dan Haren, after a rough season and Nats debut, will tangle with Dylan Axelrod in the series finale tonight at Nationals Park. 

Streaky Nats (4 or more games):

*  Ian Desmond has hit safely in five straight games.  Over the last two games, he is 5 for 8 with 3 runs and 3 doubles.

*  Jayson Werth has hit safely in four consecutive games.  Two of those games were multi-hit games. 

*  Bryce Harper has hit safely in four straight games.  Three of those four games Harper had two hits in each game.  Harper is batting an impressive .394 to start the season.