By Barry Svrluga
Washington Post Staff Writer
Saturday, May 10, 2008

On Opening Night, Elijah Dukes was the Washington Nationals' starting left fielder. That night, he aggravated a right hamstring strain and went on the disabled list. Yesterday, he returned to Nationals Park, an active major leaguer, but not a starter despite how he feels.

"I was feeling good down there," Dukes said of his 13-game stint at Class A Potomac and Class AAA Columbus. "Everything was clicking. . . . I had no troubles running. That was the most important thing was to be able to run and run hard and not think about it."

Dukes, 23, returns as an extra outfielder, Manager Manny Acta said yesterday. Wily Mo Peña, whose strained oblique muscle in spring training turned Dukes into the starting left fielder, remains in his spot. Dukes, though, said being a reserve could be difficult.

"It will be very hard for me," Dukes said. "Being young and [I] ain't never had to have to come off the bench during the minor leagues, that's just an adjustment I'll have to make and hopefully one day I can find myself playing more often."

Dukes hit a combined .211 in the minors. He was inserted into left field in the seventh inning of last night's 7-3 loss to the Florida Marlins, striking out twice in two at-bats.

When third baseman Ryan Zimmerman answered a survey from Sports Illustrated about who he would like to have lunch with and answered "President Bush," he didn't know it would result in an invitation to the White House. Monday, before the team left for Houston, Zimmerman and teammates Nick Johnson and Austin Kearns had lunch with Bush and White House Chief of Staff Joshua Bolten.

"It was fun," Zimmerman said. "They took us everywhere in the White House and got to see everything that I guess normal people aren't allowed to see without getting in trouble."

The talk: "Baseball most of the time, but about his ranch and his daughter getting married," Zimmerman said. The order: Zimmerman and Johnson both ordered cheeseburgers. "Best burger I've ever had," Johnson said.