By Chico Harlan
Washington Post Staff Writer
Sunday, May 11, 2008

Andrew Miller, the Florida Marlins' starting pitcher in their 11-0 win against the Washington Nationals last night, is 22 years old, still very much a prospect, despite a 6.52 ERA. He's a former first-round pick -- sixth overall. And, as Nationals Manager Manny Acta said, you don't earn such status for having "a pretty face."

But for much of the season, facing Miller has created a pretty prospect. Entering yesterday, opponents were hitting .382 against him. Even the Nationals had beaten him up, never allowing him to record an out after the fifth in two previous outings this year against him.

This time out, though, Miller faced 24 hitters, striking out seven. He rendered the middle of Washington's lineup helpless. Cristian Guzmán and Felipe López accounted for the Nationals' only hits during Miller's seven innings. In his final inning, he still was throwing in the mid-90s.

Dmitri Young, placed on the disabled list April 8 with a sprained lower back, will head to Class AA Harrisburg on Tuesday to begin a rehab assignment. General Manager Jim Bowden did not predict when Young would return to the big leagues, but hoped the team could use him as a designated hitter during its stretch of June interleague games in American League ballparks.

"I can't answer the role," Bowden said. "I know we have a lot of DH games in June. He's capable of doing that. He can give Nick [Johnson] a rest and play against certain left-handed pitchers."

Hours before yesterday's game, Wily Mo Peña took some extra drills in the outfield with first base coach Jerry Morales. Fungo bat in hand, Morales spent 20 minutes sending Peña after grounders and short flies. The hope? That the added attention to defense will help with Peña's shortcomings -- especially getting jumps on balls and tracking balls over his head.

"The other day in Houston," Morales said, "he went back on a ball, [Kazuo] Matsui hit -- and he dropped it. Should have been caught. Once you put leather on the ball, you should catch it."