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BOSTON — The Nationals made their first bullpen change of the season Tuesday, promoting right-hander Rafael Martin from Class AAA Syracuse and designating lefty Xavier Cedeno for assignment.
The move comes only seven games into the season. Cedeno had pitched in five of them, including four times in the last five days, allowing two runs while putting six men on base over three innings.
Manager Matt Williams said the change had less to do with Cedeno’s performance, though, than with the club’s need for a fresh reliever who could throw multiple innings after regular long man Tanner Roark went 3 2/3 innings during Monday’s loss to the Red Sox.