Dukes gets benched after arriving late

This time, a Washington Nationals starter who arrived late to the ballpark was benched.

Manager Manny Acta yanked Elijah Dukes from his starting lineup Saturday after the outfielder showed up five minutes late for the team’s pre-batting practice stretch at Nationals Park. Scheduled to hit fifth and start in center field, Dukes instead took a seat on the bench and was replaced by the recently recalled Roger Bernadina.

The reason for Dukes’ tardiness was a sympathetic one - he was participating in a community event at a Little League game - but the Nationals felt they couldn’t take circumstances into account.

“He was very remorseful about it,” Acta said. “He felt bad, but we have to lay the law, whoever.”

Dukes, who left Washington’s clubhouse before reporters were let in after the game - a 9-6, 11-inning loss to Florida - did wind up entering in the eighth inning after Bernadina injured his right ankle making a spectacular catch at the fence. He flied out in two plate appearances.

This wasn’t the first time a Washington outfielder reported late to the park this season, and it wasn’t the first time Dukes was benched for such an infraction.

Lastings Milledge walked in late to a pre-Opening Day team meeting in Miami, resulting in a fine but no benching. Milledge never recovered, though, and after a dismal first week at the plate and in the field was optioned to Class AAA Syracuse.

Acta has a history of sitting a player for being late. When Dukes was tardy for batting practice last August, he was removed from the lineup for that night’s game against the Cincinnati Reds.

After this incident, Acta spoke of a larger message he is trying to send to a team that lost 102 games last year and is 1-9 this season.

“We are going to change the culture here,” he said. “Regardless of how well a guy is playing, we are changing the culture.”

Bernadina breaks ankle

The player who replaced Dukes in center field wound up departing under unfortunate circumstances. Bernadina was placed on the 15-day disabled list after fracturing his right ankle at the end of a highlight-reel catch in the eighth inning.

Bernadina went back to the wall and made a leaping catch to rob Dan Uggla of extra bases but landed awkwardly on his right foot and immediately went down. X-rays revealed a fracture, and further tests were planned to determine the severity of the injury.

“He’s going to be out for a while,” Acta said.

The Nationals plan to recall outfielder Justin Maxwell from Class AAA Syracuse to take Bernadina’s spot.

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