Red Sox to D.C.

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By Mark Zuckerman

PHILADELPHIA — The Boston Red Sox will come to the nation's capital in 2009.

The Washington Nationals will host the defending World Series champions in interleague play next summer, according to a preliminary draft of the major league schedule that all 30 teams received.

The Nationals are slated to face every team from the American League East, same as they did in 2006, with the venues switched around this time. Washington will host the Red Sox and the Toronto Blue Jays and will go on the road to play the Tampa Bay Rays and the New York Yankees.

The Nationals and Baltimore Orioles also will play a home-and-home interleague series - totaling six games between Nationals Park and Camden Yards - for the fourth straight year.

This will mark the first time the Red Sox have played in the District since a Sept. 19, 1971, meeting with the Senators at RFK Stadium. The Blue Jays came to Washington in 2005.

After opening Nationals Park this season with a nationally televised Sunday night game against the Atlanta Braves, Washington opens at Florida in 2009.

Stocked with shortstops

Anderson Hernandez became the latest player to start at shortstop for the Nationals on Wednesday night, joining the lineup immediately after his acquisition from the Mets.

Hernandez, the player from Sunday's trade that sent reliever Luis Ayala to New York, had to clear waivers before the transaction could be completed. The 25-year-old infielder hit .203 at Class AAA New Orleans, but the Nationals needed him now because of their injury troubles at shortstop.

Known for his defensive prowess, Hernandez sounded happy to join an organization that's going to give him a chance to play. He spent the last three seasons with New York blocked by two-time All-Star Jose Reyes and various second basemen.

“It's good because somebody wants you for something,” he said. “It's a good thing for me.”

Hernandez's stay may not be long. Cristian Guzman could return to the lineup today after missing six games with a bruised left thumb. And Alberto Gonzalez, recently acquired from the Yankees, may be ready to come back from a strained hamstring in a week or so.

Manager Manny Acta is grateful the organization has a deep stable of shortstops that can be called upon in an emergency.

“We're very happy the way we're sitting right now with having Gonzalez and having Hernandez now,” Acta said. “Our depth up the middle wasn't very good before. ... Now starting today, we won't need to put guys that, with all due respect, shortstop is not their best position.”

Staying at the top

Although Emilio Bonifacio entered Wednesday night's game in a 5-for-44 slump, Acta will continue to bat the rookie second baseman in the leadoff spot.

“It's a Catch-22,” the manager said. “Because if I move him to eighth, then they can pitch him worse, having the pitcher on deck. He shouldn't feel any pressure. For as long as we can, we're going to leave him there. Because it's not like a change of a lineup spot for him is going to make a difference whether we make the playoffs or not. It's just about the kid getting at-bats and learning up here.”