Triple-A manager Gardner joins Nats

PHILADELPHIA -- With the Minor League season coming to an end, the Nationals invited Triple-A Syracuse manager Billy Gardner to help coach the Major League team for the second consecutive season.

Nationals manager Matt Williams said Gardner had a "thankless job" when he managed Syracuse this season because the Nationals often promoted their share of players to the big leagues.

"On any given day, we were stealing his starter or one of his position players," Williams said. "Unfortunately, we had a lot of it. [Gardner] is fun. He loves to be here. He had a chance to get home with a few days off. He is a good infield guy. He is certainly a good manager. We are glad to have him. He enjoys the game…