Washington Nationals: AFL/Winter League Updates. Sammy Solis Start No.5.

• AFL: Washington Nationals' 2010 2nd Round pick Sammy Solis gave up a two-out double and a two-out walk in what was eventually a scoreless 18-pitch first Saturday night. In his fifth start for the Arizona Fall League's Scottsdale Scorpions, the 6'5'', 23-year-old left-hander allowed a run in a 23-pitch second on a passed ball that got by fellow Nats' prospect Derek Norris after Solis had surrendered a leadoff single by Salt River Rafters' second baseman David Nick (a D-Backs' prospect) and a two-out ground-rule double by shortstop Jake Lemmerman (LA Dodgers). The unearned run was the only one Solis allowed over two more innings of work, a 15-pitch third that ended with a successful pickoff attempt at second and a 16-pitch fourth in which he gave up just a two-out single. 

Solis, who received no decision, threw 72 pitches total (Gameday says 71), 45 of them strikes in 4.0 IP, over which he walked two, struck out five, got three groundouts and two flyouts. There's no velocity data from MLB.com's Gameday. In a phone interview with reporters earlier this week, D.C. GM Mike Rizzo praised Solis, who's now walked 11 and K'd 14 in 5 starts and 19.0 IP in his second go-around in the Arizona Fall League. "Solis, his stuff has been very, very good," Rizzo said, "He's pitching at 93-94, touching 96 on our guns, and his stuff is really good. His numbers aren't great, but his repertoire has been terrific."

Solis' fellow 2010 Draft pick Bryce Harper sat out Saturday night, but he ends the week in the midst of a nine-game hit streak over which he has 13 hits (2 doubles, a triple and four home runs) in 35 at bats. 22-year-old '07 4th Round pick Derek Norris was 2 for 5 in the Scorpions' loss. Norris now has hits in eight-straight games and nine of the last ten overall with multiple hits in four of the eight games of his streak. Right-handed Nats' prospect Pat Lehman threw a scoreless inning in relief in the sixth, striking out two of the three batters he faced, and right-hander Rafael Martin took the loss, giving up a solo HR by LA Dodgers' '08 3rd Round pick Kyle Russell in the first at bat of the top of the ninth. Final Score: Salt River 4, Scottsdale 3.

• Liga Venezuela Beisbol Profesional: Navegantes del Magallanes' backstop Jesus Flores was 1 for 6 with an RBI single in the 10th inning of a 6-5 win over the Leones de Caracas. Gregor Blanco was 3 for 5 with a double, HR and two RBI's Saturday for the Tiburones de la Guaira in a 10-8 loss to the Tigres de Aragua. Blanco's teammate and fellow Nats' prospect Hector Nelo gave up a 2 ER in 1.1 IP in which he gave up a hit and a walk. Nats' infield prospect Seth Bynum and catcher Carlos Maldonado were a combined 0 for 7 with 2 K's in a 13-2 Aguilas de Zulia loss to the Bravos de Margarita. 

• Liga de Beisbol Dominicano: Chris Marrero was 1 for 3 with a run scored, walk and 2 K's in a 4-1 Tigres del Licey win over the Gigantes del Cibao Saturday night. Eury Perez was 0 for 3 with a walk and a run scored in a 7-4 Leones del Escogido win over Estrellas de Oriente.