Nationals Demote Ray King

Washington, DC--Less than twenty-four hours after failing to get his job done in the sixth inning once again, The Washington Nationals demoted left-handed reliever Ray King to Columbus of the Triple-A International League. Nationals Senior Vice President and General Manager Jim Bowden made the announcement.

With the corresponding move, the Nats recalled lefty Mike O’Connor to work out of the pen. O'Connor, 27, went 2-0 with a 1.96 ERA (5 ER/23.0 IP) in four starts with the Clippers. He struck out 7.8 batters per 9.0 innings and posted a .221 (19-for-86) batting average against. In O’Connor’s two most recent assignments, both wins, he allowed just two earned runs in 13 innings, walking just one and strucking out 14.

King, 34, posted four holds and a 5.68 ERA in 12 appearances thus far in 2008. He had allowed over two base runners per inning pitched and allowed five of his nine inherited runners to score.