Flores, Young Likely Done For the Year

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By Marc Carig

Washington Post Staff Writer
Tuesday, September 16, 2008; Page E05

Though he stopped short of completely ruling out a return before season's end, Washington Nationals Manager Manny Acta conceded for the first time yesterday that Jesús Flores and Dmitri Young are likely done for the season.

The news came after both Flores and Young underwent MRI exams yesterday. Until the exams, the Nationals had expected both to play before the conclusion of the season.

Acta said Flores, who has been out since spraining his left ankle in a plate collision, still feels pain when he squats into his catching position. Continued swelling prompted the MRI.

"He might be done," Acta said.

Meanwhile, Young's MRI revealed a strained left hip, an injury that threatens his return.

Though he has been on the roster since last week, Young hasn't played. He has instead received treatments for an injured quad.

Young underwent the exam for fear that he had suffered a hernia, a more serious injury that he endured once before, during the 2002 season.

Young was hitting .280 with four home runs and 10 RBI in 150 at-bats before missing time with complications from diabetes and the subsequent quad and hip injury.

"If it happens, it happens," Young said of returning to action. "If it doesn't, I'm not going to lose sleep."

Day of Firsts for Montz

Lost in the shuffle of Sunday's bullpen meltdown was catcher Luke Montz's special moment. Montz collected his first major league hit and RBI, all on the same swing, a second-inning single off Aníbal Sánchez.

"It was a big tank off the shoulders, for sure," said Montz, who was called up on Sept. 2. "Once it happened, my next at-bats were much more comfortable. I just felt better. I didn't try to force anything."

Montz had been 0 for 9 before his second-inning single. . . .

Starting Thursday, Nationals games will no longer be broadcast on WWWT 107.7 FM because of the station's upcoming format change. But games will continue to air on WFED 1500 AM. . . .

Nationals third base coach Tim Tolman has left the team so he could tend to a family matter. Rick Eckstein, a coach with Class AAA Columbus, will coach third base in Tolman's absence.