Nationals place C Ivan Rodriguez on 15-day DL, recall C Jesus Flores from Syracuse

By Dan Kolko

Nationals

July 08, 2011, 11:33am

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The Washington Nationals today placed catcher Ivan Rodriguez on the 15-day disabled list, retroactive to July 7, with a right oblique strain and recalled catcher Jesus Flores from Syracuse of the Triple-A International League. Nationals Executive Vice President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcement. Flores, 26, joins the Nationals after batting .234 (49-for-209) with 15 doubles, five homers and 30 RBIs in 56 International League contests with Syracuse. Eight of Flores' 20 extra-base hits this season have come in a 20-game stretch beginning June 8. Flores returns for a second stint with Washington this season. He went 1-for-2 for the Nationals during a nine-day stint with the club in April. Flores is a career .260 (150-for-576) hitter with 30 doubles, 16 home runs and 99 RBIs in 200 games with Washington spanning portions of four campaigns (2007-09, '11). The 39 year-old Rodriguez is currently batting .214 (25-for-117) with seven doubles, two home runs and 19 RBIs in 39 games with the Nationals. Washington will especially miss Rodriguez's game-calling expertise and throwing arm, as he has thrown out 10 of 22 would-be basestealers (45 percent) this season.