Owner’s plight serves to motivate Nationals

SAN DIEGO — Nationals manager Dusty Baker was in shock when Mike Rizzo, the club’s general manager, walked into his office at Petco Park Thursday evening and delivered the news: He was about to conduct a team meeting in the visitors’ clubhouse to announce that Mark Lerner, one of the club’s principal owners and a constant presence at Nationals Park, had his left leg amputated below the knee last week following complications with treatment for cancer.

“I remember I saw Mark about a month ago,” Baker said after the Nationals’ 2-1 win over the Padres.

“He just said he was going to be all right and we didn’t have an idea what he was going through because we just thought he had that infection in his knee.

“I got a couple friends who have the same thing. But Mark has a great attitude about life and we wish him well and the family well. And we certainly would like to win this for him.”

Doctors discovered spindle cell sarcoma, a rare form of cancer, in the 63-year-old Lerner’s left leg, above the knee, in January.

He then had radiation until March and had surgery to remove the cancer in April. Then complications arose.

Ryan Zimmerman, the only Nationals player who predates the Lerner family’s purchase of the franchise, said he had been in contact with the family in recent months.

He knew something had gone amiss in Lerner’s recovery.

“Any time you hear that about anyone, it’s tough, especially someone like Mark,” said Zimmerman, who hit the go-ahead home run Thursday.

“He’s around all the time. He’s not only an owner, but a huge fan of D.C. and baseball. I know it’s probably killing him more than anyone to not be able to be around.

“But I think the news is good news for the most part. It’s obviously going to be tough for him, but we’ll be here to support him and help him with anything he needs. But I think the important thing is it’s relatively good news, which is all we really worried about.

“We’ll look forward to seeing him out here at some point this year. I’m sure he’ll work as hard as he can to make it back.

“We miss him and we’re thinking about him.”