NEW YORK — Washington Nationals pitcher Tomo Ohka’s next turn in the rotation will be passed over as the club tries to determine what has caused the right-hander’s struggles on the mound.
Ohka, who lasted just three innings Saturday in the Nationals’ 10-5 loss to the New York Mets, would have been scheduled to pitch again on Thursday. The Nationals, though, are off that day, and manager Frank Robinson wants to make sure staff ace Livan Hernandez remains on his regular schedule and pitches Friday.
Robinson reiterated yesterday that he believes Ohka is injured. The 28-year-old has given up 13 earned runs, 21 hits and 15 walks in 20 innings in four starts this season. And though his spring training numbers were far better, Robinson said he began noticing problems back then.
“The last three starts for Ohka in spring training, he pitched the same way he’s pitching right now,” the manager said. “That’s not a sign of being OK. Because this young man doesn’t pitch or perform like this when he’s healthy. I’ve seen him for three years, and I know what he’s capable of doing when things are right.”
Ohka, who missed three months in 2004 after fracturing his right forearm, acknowledged after Saturday’s game that he’s not 100 percent healthy, though he would not divulge what part of his body was hurting. Team doctor Bruce Thomas examined Ohka and found no physical ailments.
The Nationals must now determine their next move. With right-hander Tony Armas Jr. nearly ready to return from a pulled groin, Ohka is the most likely member of the rotation to get bumped. He could be placed on the disabled list or even sent to the minors, though his outright release seems unlikely considering his $2.75 million contract.
Whatever the resolution, Robinson does not want to simply give Ohka 10 days off and then put him back on the mound.
“That could just be a case of prolonging the agony,” he said. “We have to find out what it is with him before he goes back out there again, or get him on track or something. Just passing him for his next start isn’t going to do the trick.”
Horgan down, Rauch up
The Nationals optioned left-hander Joe Horgan to Class AAA New Orleans following yesterday’s game and recalled right-hander Jon Rauch.
The move came one day after Horgan was tagged for five earned runs in one inning of relief, the second time that happened to him in five days. Horgan’s ERA in eight appearances had ballooned to 21.00, and Robinson decided enough was enough.
“After the other night, it just didn’t look like it was going to happen here,” Robinson said.
Though Rauch dominated at New Orleans as a starter, posting a 2.51 ERA with 18 strikeouts and one walk in 141/3 innings, the 6-foot-11 right-hander will be used as a long reliever in Washington.
Extra bases
Nick Johnson’s torrid production at the plate continues. The first baseman singled in the fourth inning yesterday to extend his career-high hitting streak to 14 games. That tied Baltimore’s Brian Roberts (April 4-19) for the longest streak in the majors this season. Johnson, who is batting .308, also has reached base in every game he has played this season, making him one of only four major leaguers who could claim that entering play yesterday. …
Right fielder Jose Guillen, whose status for yesterday’s game was in question after he strained his groin Saturday, was in the starting lineup and did not appear to show any ill effects of the injury. Guillen was lifted for a pinch-runner in the eighth inning, but with the Nationals ahead 9-3 at the time, the move was strictly precautionary.
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