District Daily: Nats’ Hitting Coach Sees Rendon as a Star, Richmond Pitches Dems to Victory Over GOP
By Pablo Roa
Jun 22, 2014; Washington, DC, USA; Washington Nationals third baseman
Anthony Rendon(6) doubles against the Atlanta Braves during the eight inning at Nationals Park. The Nationals won 4-1. Mandatory Credit:
Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports
Nats’ hitting coach sees Rendon as a Star
MILWAUKEE — One could argue that Nationals third baseman Anthony Rendon deserves to be in the All-Star Game. Entering his first full season in the big leagues, Rendon is among the team’s leaders in home runs, RBIs and runs scored.
For hitting coach Rick Schu, Rendon, 24, plays the game as if he is a 10-year veteran. Schu said Rendon has great knowledge of the strike zone.
“Anthony never panics; he could go 10-for-10 or 0-for-10, and you could never tell the difference,” Schu said. “He is even-keeled all the time with his consistency, with his hitting approach, with his mental preparation of the day.” Read full article here.
Richmond pitches Dems to victory over GOP
ASHINGTON — In last year’s Congressional Baseball Game for charity, the Democrats trounced the Republicans, 22-0, behind a dominant pitching performance from Louisiana Rep. Cedric Richmond, who formerly played at Morehouse College in Georgia. It was the third straight victory for the Democrats during Richmond’s two terms in office.
In Wednesday’s 53rd edition of the contest — which was cut short by lightening and thunderstorms in the top of the seventh inning — the Democrats again crushed the Republicans in a 15-6 victory at Nationals Park. But for the first time since Richmond’s election in 2011, the Republicans were able to break through against the right-hander with seven hits, led by a two-hit, three-RBIs performance from Texas Rep. Kevin Brady.
All proceeds from the game will be donated to the Washington Literacy Center, the Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater Washington D.C. and the Washington Nationals Dream Foundation. Read full article here.
Nats recall Hill as reliever, designate Dobbs
MILWAUKEE — In need of a pitcher to support a bullpen overworked during Tuesday night’s 4-2, 16-inning win over the Brewers, the Nationals on Wednesday selected the contract of right-hander Taylor Hill from Triple-A Syracuse and designated first baseman/third baseman Greg Dobbs for assignment.
Hill is a starter by trade, but he will be coming out of the bullpen for the next couple of days. That trend started during Wednesday’s 9-2 loss, in which the righty made his Major League debut and allowed two runs on five hits in 3 1/3 innings.
“I was OK; I wasn’t as [crisp] as I would like to be,” Hill said. “I wasn’t able to locate my fastball as well as I hoped. That happens. You have to figure out how to get through it.” Read full article here.