February 9, 2012

Nationals' Batista meets with Miss Iowa

Nationals reliever Miguel Batista — who made a joking reference to seeing Miss Iowa compared to Miss Universe when he replaced Stephen Strasburg on Wednesday night — spoke to the pageant queen, Katherine Connors, for the first time near the Washington dugout.

Workhorse Batista needed in bullpen

Nationals manager Jim Riggleman said he wants to stay away from using Miguel Batista, the emergency fill-in for Stephen Strasburg on Tuesday night, until Friday.

Miss Iowa issues challenge to Batista

Miss Iowa, Katherine Connors, wasn't pleased about comments made by Nationals right-hander Miguel Batista on Tuesday night.

Heroic Batista boosts Strasburg-less Nats

Stephen Strasburg was scratched a few minutes before the game, but reliever Miguel Batista stepped up and struck out six in five scoreless innings as the Nationals blanked the Braves, 3-0.