Major League Baseball

Nationals recall Cuban-born Maya for majors debut

Published Sep. 7, 2010 11:47 p.m. ET

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The Washington Nationals recalled right-hander Yunesky Maya from Triple-A Syracuse on Tuesday, hours before his major league debut against the New York Mets.

Maya, a Cuban defector who signed with the Nationals on Aug. 3, faced another pitcher making his debut in the majors, New York's Dillon Gee. It was only the fifth game since 1980 in which both starting pitchers were making their big league debuts.

Maya had a standout career in Cuba, going 48-29 with a 2.51 ERA over six seasons with Pinar Del Rio Vegueros. He went 13-4 with seven complete games and a 2.22 ERA last season and was chosen the league's top pitcher. He also pitched for Cuba in the 2006 and 2009 World Baseball Classic.

The 28-year-old pitcher quickly worked his way through Washington's minor league system, making five starts at three different levels in less than a month. He went 1-1 with an 0.87 ERA in two starts with Syracuse.

The Nationals also selected right-handed pitcher Joe Bisenius from Syracuse, recalled left-handed pitcher Ross Detwiler from rehab and reinstated him from the 15-day disabled list, and designated catcher Carlos Maldonado for assignment.

Bisenius, 27, went 1-0 with a 2.70 ERA in 14 relief appearances with Syracuse this year. He signed with the Nationals as a minor league free agent in May after spending six seasons in the Philadelphia Phillies' farm system.

Detwiler, 24, went on the disabled list on Aug. 8 with a strained hip muscle, retroactive to Aug. 6. He is 0-2 with a 3.46 ERA in three starts with Washington this season.

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