BY RICH CAMPBELL
WASHINGTON--
Catcher Jesus Flores was optioned to Triple-A Columbus before yesterday's game against Atlanta to make room on the 25-man roster for left fielder Wily Mo Pena, who was reinstated from the 15-day disabled list.Flores, 23, knew from the outset of the season that his stay in the majors would be brief, but he made the most of it. He hit .364 (4-for-11) with a home run and three RBIs in four games.
The Nationals had planned to start their catcher-of-the-future in Double-A Harrisburg, but catcher Johnny Estrada's right elbow injury created a vacancy in Washington behind Paul Lo Duca.
Now that Estrada is healthy and able to catch, the Nationals want Flores to play every day in the minors.
"I just want to work," Flores said. "I just want to prove myself, prepare myself mentally and physically and then when they see that it is the moment to come back and bring me here, I'll be ready."
Flores will go to Triple-A instead of Double-A because he will face better pitching in Columbus and will catch some of Washington's top pitching prospects, such as Collin Balester, Garrett Mock and Tyler Clippard, general manager Jim Bowden.
The team believes the work will pay future dividends when Flores and those pitchers reach the majors for good.
"It will make [Flores'] job and [manager Manny Acta's] job a lot easier because he'll know their make-ups, what pitches they can make in certain situations," said bench coach Pat Corrales, who works with the Nationals' catchers.
Pena, meanwhile, went 0-for-4 with three strikeouts in his season debut and made a crucial error in left field that led to an unearned run in the eighth inning.
"I missed it because in that situation I was playing back, no doubles, so I just ran as hard as I can to get to the ball," Pena said. "So when I get it, it was too fast. It was like, 'Bam-bam.'"
Pena said he isn't limited physically by the torn left oblique muscle he suffered in spring training on March 12.
"I was feeling good," he said. "I don't hit the ball the way I was expecting to, but first game, so I just have to take it from now on."
HILL GETS HIT HARD
Right-hander Shawn Hill (right forearm pain) was roughed up in a rehabilitation start for Triple-A Columbus yesterday, but general manager Jim Bowden was not concerned. Hill surrendered six runs (five earned) on nine hits, including a home run. He had no walks and two strikeouts in six innings against Charlotte, the Chicago White Sox' affiliate.
"We were pleased with his outing," Bowden said. "We had good reports on his six-inning outing. Obviously we would have liked better results, but [pleased] as far as his stuff."
The Nationals will soon decide whether Hill will be activated from the disabled list and make his season debut later this week.
EXTRA BASES
Acta didn't mind Lastings Milledge's attempt yesterday to score from third on a ground ball by Austin Kearns with a 5-3 lead and one out in the seventh.
"He was trying to make something happen, and it just didn't work out," Acta said. "At least he's got the nerve and the aggressiveness to try some of that stuff."
Leadoff batter Cristian Guzman drew a walk in the second inning yesterday, his first in 59 plate appearances this season. Entering the day, Washington was the only major league team without a walk by its leadoff hitter. Guzman has led off every game.
Rich Campbell: 540/735-1974
Email: rcampbell@freelancestar.com