Nationals pitcher Mike O'Connor gave up nine earned runs Saturday, including this one to Cody Ross after a wild pitch.

Nationals notebook

Date published: 5/12/2008

BY RICH CAMPBELL

WASHINGTON--

"It might not be fair," manager Manny Acta said, "but we didn't think Mike threw the ball well enough, and we've got to keep on just plugging along."

Reliever Chris Schroder has been called up from Columbus for the second time this season. In 2 innings over two games last month, Schroder had an ERA of 3.38.

The Nationals are six games into a 16-day stretch without a day off, and Schroder provides some needed bullpen depth.

O'Connor's demotion leaves an opening in the starting rotation for Thursday afternoon's game against the New York Mets. Acta said that the Nationals will make another move prior to Thursday.

As for who is being considered for the start?

"All the way from [Double-A prospect] Jordan Zimmermann to [Matt] Chico," Acta said.

O'Connor (1-1, 13.00 ERA) was called up from Triple-A on Apr. 24 and pitched out of the bullpen. In four appearances totaling 5 innings, he was 1-0 with a 6.35 ERA.

When Chico was demoted from the rotation to the bullpen last Tuesday, O'Connor was moved into a starting role. He was 2-0 with a 1.96 ERA at Columbus to start the season, so management wanted to give him a chance.

It didn't work out well. O'Connor was erratic Saturday night against the Florida Marlins in his first major league start in almost 20 months.

"Basically, I just need to go down there and pitch like I was before," O'Connor said. "Everything was fine, and then I came up here and just got out of synch. I wasn't pitching as much, and then I kind of lost what I had going."

Pitching coach Randy St. Claire shook O'Connor's hand in the clubhouse after yesterday's game, offering some words of encouragement.

Date published: 5/12/2008