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Nationals recall LHP Xavier Cedeno, option RHP Taylor Hill to Triple-A Chiefs

Xavier Cedeno has been up and down between the majors and the Washington Nationals' Triple-A affialite in Syracuse repeatedly over the past two seasons and the left-hander is coming back again with right-hander Taylor Hill returning to the Chiefs.

Jonathan Daniel

Taylor Hill, 25, made his major league debut on Wednesday afternoon in Milwaukee, four years after the Washington Nationals' selected the right-hander out of Vanderbilt in the 6th Round of the 2011 Draft. Hill threw 3 ⅓ innings, giving up five hits, a walk and two runs, both earned, in relief of 2009 no.1 overall pick Stephen Strasburg in the series finale with the Brewers in Miller Park.

"I like that feel of him certainly against a lefty in a situational spot or a left-right-left-type situation..." - Matt Williams on Nats' lefty Xavier Cedeno, Spring 2014

"Got here this morning," Nats' skipper Matt Williams told reporters after the game. "[He] went through everything with regard to the signs and all that stuff and went out there and pitched. And he did well. He threw a lot of pitches, but it's okay, he's been used to that, and he was excited, so different circumstance it could be a better day for him, but nonetheless he's excited to be here."

"Hill threw the ball good, saved our bullpen today," Williams said.

Hill's second appearance with the Nationals took place Friday afternoon in Wrigley Field in Chicago, where he gave up a hit in a scoreless 13-pitch frame.

As expected, the Nats announced after the 7-2 loss to the Cubs, that Hill was being reassigned to Triple-A Syracuse.

"I talked to Taylor after the game today," Williams said. "Let him know that he's going to go back and continue to start and [Xavier] Cedeno will be with us tomorrow."

After 4 ⅓ IP with Washington, Hill is returning to the International League's North Division-leading Chiefs, where he was (9-2) with a save, a 1.92 ERA, a 3.44 FIP, nine walks (0.86 BB/9) and 65 Ks (6.25 K/9) in 15 games, 14 starts and 93 ⅔ IP before he was called up.

Xavier Cedeno, 27, has been up twice already this season, making two appearances for the Nationals and throwing 2 ⅓ scoreless. In 15 games and 17 ⅓ IP at Triple-A this season, Cedeno is (3-0) with a 1.56 ERA, 1.37 FIP, six walks (3.12 BB/9) and 26 Ks (13.50 K/9) for the Nats' top minor league affiliate.