Ian Desmond grounded into an inning-ending double play in the eighth inning of this past Wednesday's game against the Atlanta Braves, but more importantly, the infielder who'd just returned from a DL stint in which he was recovering from an oblique injury, stumbled at first as he ran out the play and seemed to be limping as he ran past the first base bag. Desmond told reporters afterwards that he'd hyperextended his knee. "Desi scared me to death. I thought he pulled a hamstring," Davey Johnson told reporters after the game, "And he said he just tripped, so we're alright there." The Nats' manager went on to say, "I forgot about the game when I saw him. I thought for sure that he pulled a hammy."

According to reports from Philadelphia tonight, the Nationals' skipper has decided late before the first game of three with the Phillies that he's going to give the 26-year-old shortstop the night off:

Davey Johnson has scratched Ian Desmond (right knee) from tonight's lineup as a precaution. He is available to pinch hit. Lineup to follow.

— Nationals PR (@NationalsPR) August 24, 2012

The Nats, according to all reports are just being cautious. Desmond was in the lineup when it was originally announced earlier tonight. Here's the new lineup for tonight's game in Philadelphia:

Davey's New Lineup: Lombardozzi 2b, Harper cf, Zimmerman 3b, Morse lf, LaRoche 1b, Werth rf, Espinosa ss, Suzuki c, Jackson rhp.

— Nationals PR (@NationalsPR) August 24, 2012