Monday, June 01

WASHINGTON -- Padres right-hander Michael King had only started once against the Nationals in his eight-year career, but Nats manager Blake Butera had a unique historical scouting report for Saturday’s matchup. 

“He’s somebody actually I played with in college,” Butera shared. “He was my teammate.”

Rewind just over decade to the 2014 and ‘15 seasons at Boston College. King was in the beginning stages of his collegiate career; Butera was in his final two seasons with the Eagles. Butera remembered a “close-knit” team, where a pitcher and infielder became good friends. 

“We'd always try to play pickup basketball games together,” Butera said. “But he's a lot bigger than I am, so he got me pretty good.” 

Before King was selected by the Marlins in the 12th round of the 2016 Draft -- and long before he signed a three-year, $75 million contract with San Diego in December -- Butera remembers a teenager from Rhode Island who had the tools and the drive to succeed.  

“I always knew he had the potential just because of the athleticism and how good of a competitor he was,” Butera said. “There was no doubt he would get the most out of his abilities, and he's done that.” 

The same offseason that King joined the Padres, Butera was hired as manager of the Nationals at just 33 years old. He became the youngest manager in the Majors in half a century. 

“Super happy for him,” King said. “He's doing a great job over there, too. But I would have liked to given him a loss today.”

The Nationals didn’t have much of an answer for King through the first six innings. Even though Butera stacked lefty hitters to counter King’s effectiveness against righties, King held the Nats to just one run until a seventh-inning rally. He ended up on the losing end when they staged a six-run comeback. 

“It was tough, because you have a soft spot for him, of course, because of the relationship we have and the times that we battled together when we were younger,” Butera said. “But at the end of the day, you want to see your team do well against him. 

“I’m always pulling for him. The only time I won’t be is when we're going up against him; hopefully that doesn’t happen too many times. I just love watching him pitch, and he’s really good for a reason.”

Butera took a 1-0 lead over King in their first Major League matchup. Consider it redemption for their college days on the basketball court. 

“He's a little guy, I've got to assert my dominance over him,” King said with a smile. “He got the win today, so he can hold it over me until the next time we face him.”

Nationals No. 28 prospect Yohandy Morales crushed a pair of game-tying home runs in Triple-A Rochester’s 11-inning win over Syracuse. Morales went yard in the seventh and ninth innings. The first dinger soared a Statcast-projected 377 feet at an exit velocity of 103.4 mph, and the second flew a Statcast-projected 426 feet at at exit velocity of 110.4 mph. Morales entered Saturday ranked first in the Nats organization in batting average, slugging percentage, OPS, runs scored, hits and total bases. 

That same game, Washington No. 20 prospect Andrew Pinckney demolished a home run with an exit velocity of 119 mph. He tied the Pirates’ Oneil Cruz for the hardest-hit ball tracked by Statcast this season. Statcast currently tracks at every Major League, Triple-A and Single-A Florida State League ballpark. 

The Kids Eat Free program is back for children aged 12 and under at Nationals Park. 

The complimentary kid’s meal includes a hot dog, bag of chips and bottle of water. There are also gluten-free and vegetarian options. 

Free kids meal locations include: Kids Eat Free kiosks, Sections 111 and 143; Nats Snack Stand, Section 229 (vegetarian option available); Kids Eat Free Stand, Section 320 (vegetarian option available); Arepa Zone, Section 148 (gluten-free option available). 

Sunday: Kids Racing Presidents Hat giveaway; Youth Baseball and Softball Day*; Story Time at Nationals Park; Signature Sunday; Kids Run the Bases

Monday: Caribbean Heritage Day*

Tuesday: Lou Gehrig Day 

* Special ticket required

For more information and to purchase tickets, click here.

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