Harper doubles, scores in rehab game
WOODBRIDGE, Va. — Washington Nationals outfielder Bryce Harper made his first rehabilitation assignment Tuesday night for SingleA Potomac, going 1-for-1 with a double, a walk and a run scored.
Last year’s National League Rookie of the Year batted second in the lineup and played three innings in left field before being pulled.
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The Las Vegas product hadn’t played since May 26 and was put on the disabled list June 2 with bursitis in his left knee. Entering Monday, Harper had missed 25 straight games and 31 of the first 75 this season for Washington.
After having the best record in the majors last season at 98-64, the Nationals have struggled without Harper and are 37-38.
Harper wore a knee brace during warm-ups, but it wasn’t visible during the game.
In Harper’s first at-bat he hit a pop-up into shallow left field that was dropped by Myrtle Beach shortstop Edwin Garcia. Harper showed no signs of the knee ailment as he raced around first base and into second for a stand-up double.
Harper’s second at-bat ended after seven pitches with a walk.
The next batter, Jason Martinson, doubled Harper to third. Again Harper’s knee looked fine as he raced around the bases so fast that his helmet couldn’t keep up and flew off his head before reaching third.
Harper wasn’t at third base long as the next hitter, Adrian Nieto, singled him home.
Manager Davey Johnson, speaking before Washington’s game against Arizona, said Harper probably won’t rejoin the Nationals this weekend when they travel to New York.
“I doubt if he’ll be able to make it that quick,” Johnson said, pointing to a series starting Monday in Washington against Milwaukee for Harper’s likely return. “He’ll probably do three or four innings tonight, and then, if there’s no problem, gradually up it.”
YANKEES — Injured third baseman Alex Rodriguez has tweeted that his hip surgeon has cleared him to play in rehabilitation games.
The tweet sparked the ire of the team’s general manager.
“You know what, when the Yankees want to announce something, (we will),” the GM, Brian Cashman, told ESPN New York. “Alex should just shut the (expletive) up. That’s it. I’m going to call Alex now.”
Rodriguez had left hip surgery on Jan. 16 and has been working out at the Yankees’ complex in Tampa, Fla. He took swings in a simulated game situation for the first time Monday. On Tuesday night, he tweeted the message, “Visit from Dr. Kelly over the weekend, who gave me the best news — the green light to play games again!” along with a photo of himself and Dr. Brian Kelly, who performed the operation in New York.
Manager Joe Girardi said that no date had been set for A-Rod to start playing in minor-league rehab games. Rodriguez is expected to return to the Yankees around the All-Star break, shortly before he turns 38.
ASTROS — Right fielder Justin Maxwell left Houston’s game against St. Louis because of a concussion. Maxwell was injured when he banged his head on the grass while diving for a fly ball in the fourth inning.
DIAMONDBACKS — Bench player Eric Hinske’s suspension for participating in a June 11 brawl at Dodger Stadium has been reduced to one game from five.
He dropped his appeal and served the suspension Tuesday night as Arizona opened a threegame series in Washington.
Hinske said his agent informed of him of Major League Baseball’s decision.
In all, eight members of the Diamondbacks and Dodgers organizations were suspended, including Diamondbacks right hander Ian Kennedy, who is serving his 10-game suspension.
DODGERS — Los Angeles activated Matt Kemp from the disabled list, and the All-Star outfielder was in the starting lineup against San Francisco after missing 24 games because of a right hamstring strain.
Kemp was batting .251 with two homers and 15 RBIs. He had struck out 60 times in 191 at-bats following shoulder surgery last October. Los Angeles went 11-13 without him.
A two-time All-Star, Kemp was injured May 29 while running down a double in right-center field by Mike Trout at Angel Stadium.