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Nationals pitcher Mike O'Connor gave up nine earned runs Saturday, including this one to Cody Ross after a wild pitch. |
BY RICH CAMPBELL
WASHINGTON--
The Washington Nationals decided yesterday that they have seen enough of left-hander Mike O'Connor, and they optioned him to Triple-A Columbus one day after he gave up nine earned runs in 3 innings."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.
"He just needs to trust his stuff," St. Claire said. "He just needs to execute his pitches. I think he was trying to be fine and not being aggressive or anything. He needs to work his pitches and do what he did down there, here. I'm sure he didn't pitch like that down there, not with the numbers he had."
As a starter,
Aaron Boone went 3-for-4 with two RBIs and was a double shy of the cycle in yesterday's 5-4 loss to Florida.
Boone started at first base in place of Nick Johnson, who was rested against Marlins' left-hander Scott Olsen. In seven starts this season, Boone is batting .393 (11-for-28) with two homers and four RBIs.
In 21 games coming off the bench, Boone is hitting .167 (3-for-18).
"It's always nice to get in their and play," Boone said. "No doubt about it. But I'm getting more comfortable in the role of coming out and pinch-hitting too."
notable yesterday
Acta bristled when he was asked whether left fielder Willie Harris was supposed to sacrifice bunt in the ninth inning of yesterday's 5-4 loss.
After Lastings Milledge drew a leadoff walk with Washington trailing by one, Harris broke his bat on the first pitch he saw from Marlins closer Kevin Gregg and flew out to right field.
"How many reasons do you want me to give for not bunting? One, two, three, four or five?" Acta said. "We're next to last in batting average. Next to last in hits. Next to last in RBIs, and I'm not going to give an out away there, counting on the way we've been swinging the bat to tie the ballgame after already [reliever Luis] Ayala has been used, [closer Jon] Rauch has been used and the way the bullpen is."
After Harris flew out, Elijah Dukes popped out in foul territory and Jesus Flores grounded back to the mound to end the game.
As is customary among all major league teams on Mother's Day, several Nationals used pink bats and wore pink wristbands and ribbon decals yesterday to promote awareness for breast cancer research.
Rich Campbell: 540/735-1974
Email: rcampbell@freelancestar.com
