Pena out four weeks; Dukes to fill his void

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VIERA, Fla. — Elijah Dukes slid hard into second base, felt something in his right leg and for a moment worried he might have suffered a serious injury.

"It's always scary to get that feeling of, 'Oh, I might be hurt,' " he said.

But before the Washington Nationals dugout had time to wince and before manager Manny Acta could process all the possible worst-case scenarios, Dukes walked off the field under his own power.

"I knew if I could get up that quick, it couldn't be that big of a deal," he said later.

The Nationals are grateful it's not, because for a brief moment yesterday afternoon, the team faced the prospect of opening the season without either its starting left fielder or his top backup.

Instead, Nationals officials can take some solace knowing Dukes will be ready for Opening Night and will play at least the first two weeks of the season while starter Wily Mo Pena recovers from a strained left oblique muscle.

Pena's diagnosis came down yesterday, two days after the 26-year-old slugger hurt himself taking batting practice. What was at first considered a minor injury turned out to be a Grade 2 strain that according to the team resulted in a "significant tear of the muscle."

Pena is expected to miss at least four weeks and thus will begin the season on the 15-day disabled list.

"It's frustrating for me because I was thinking that on Opening Day my name was going to be there," Pena said. "Now I just have to let it go and see what happens. I just have to work hard and try to get it better quick."

Given an opportunity for the first time in his career to play every day and at last realize his potential as a power hitter, Pena now must watch from the dugout.