Ohlendorf sticking around in bullpen role

DENVER -- Ross Ohlendorf got a pleasant surprise Thursday morning when Nationals manager Davey Johnson told him he would be sticking around a little while longer.

Ohlendorf, who went six innings and gave up only one run Wednesday night in a spot start, will move to the bullpen as a long reliever. Many expected Ohlendorf to head back to Triple-A Syracuse after the fill-in start, but Ohlendorf will stay with the Nationals at least through Sunday as the backup starter for Stephen Strasburg in case a last minute setback keeps him off the mound.

"[Ross] is more of a veteran pitcher," Johnson said. "You like veterans in that role more than a young arm. It also frees me up to line up [Craig] Stammen and use him not just in the long-relief role, which has been valuable, but also in the latter parts of the game."

The right-handed Ohlendorf bolsters a bullpen that Johnson said he is much more confident in than the one he had to start the season. Since late May, Washington has added two left-handed relievers to the bullpen in Ian Krol and Fernando Abad.

"It gives us the balance I like in the bullpen," Johnson said. "… You got to control matchups late in the ballgame, that's when you manage. So, I should be smarter from here on in."

While Ohlendorf was primarily a starter with Syracuse, he made several relief appearances with the Padres last year.