NEW YORK — The Washington Nationals figured the only news they made Monday night in the Big Apple involved their 10-4 thumping of the New York Mets. Imagine their surprise yesterday morning when they awoke to find themselves on the back pages of the tabloids, labeled as “softball girls” by Mets right-hander Nelson Figueroa.
Figueroa took offense at a group of Nationals players, led by outfielder Elijah Dukes, who started a dugout chant in the third inning of Monday’s game. “Let’s go, Milledge!” Dukes chanted when Lastings Milledge was at the plate, followed by a round of claps.
Following the game, in which he allowed six runs in five innings, Figueroa said the Nationals were “cheerleading in the dugout like a bunch of softball girls,” adding that “if that’s what a last-place team needs to do to fire themselves up, so be it.”
Nationals players publicly said little yesterday about the incident. Several said privately they considered Dukes’ chant “bush league” but thought Figueroa — a 33-year-old journeyman with nine career wins — had no place to criticize.
Washington manager Manny Acta, the Mets’ former third base coach, tried to downplay the whole thing before last night’s game.
“I mean, they weren’t yelling names or anything like that,” Acta said. “All they are [doing is] cheering their own guys. You don’t see it every day in the big leagues, but I don’t think they were doing anything mean.”
Acta wouldn’t take any shots at Figueroa.
“He’s entitled to his opinion,” the manager said. “This is America.”
Then again, maybe Acta didn’t want to beat a man while he’s down. The Mets yesterday designated Figueroa for assignment, effectively releasing him.
Patient Johnson
Nick Johnson entered last night’s game with a .226 average.
Johnson’s on-base percentage, however, was .420 thanks to 32 walks (second most in the National League). No one in baseball takes more pitches than the Washington first baseman, who has watched 69 percent of the pitches thrown to him.
Johnson’s patience has paid dividends, particularly Monday night when he drew a bases-loaded walk during an eight-pitch at-bat against Figueroa.
“I saw it early, a slider down,” Johnson said. “It was just nice to be able to not swing at that pitch. I’ve got to get on base any way possible, get that run in.”
Johnson, a .283 hitter in two-plus seasons in Washington, wants to get his batting average back toward its normal levels and believes he can do it if he continues to stay back and not commit to pitches too soon.
Extra bases
Johnson hurt his right wrist during last night’s game, though he did not need to come out of the lineup. X-rays taken were negative, and he was diagnosed with a strained tendon. His status is day-to-day. …
An MRI on injured catcher Johnny Estrada’s right elbow revealed no structural damage. Team doctor Ben Shaffer confirmed Estrada has inflammation of the ulnar nerve and will be allowed to throw once his symptoms clear. …
Dmitri Young, on the disabled list since April 2 with a sprained back, went 1-for-2 with two walks in the first game of his rehab assignment at Class AA Harrisburg.
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