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Denard Span was 1 for 2 with a walk and an RBI in his second rehab game with Low-A Hagerstown Friday night, leaving him 2 for 4 with three walks after what will likely be his last game with the Suns before he returns to the majors on Saturday, the first day he is eligible to return from the 7-Day DL.
In his rehab game with @HagerstownSuns, @thisisdspan was 1-for-2 with an RBI and a walk. #Nats
— Washington Nationals (@Nationals) April 19, 2014
Washington's center fielder ran into Atlanta second baseman Dan Uggla while rounding first during last weekend's series with the Braves in Turner Field and he went on the Disabled List the next day with a concussion, which was a concern considering the 30-year-old outfielder missed significant time after a June 3, 2011 collision with Kansas City Royals' catcher Brayan Pena when Span was still with the Twins.
"He came out of yesterday great and he'll play again tonight and see where he's at," Matt Williams told reporters before the Nationals' game with the St. Louis Cardinals on Friday.
"Made a tough play in center last night, got four at bats, couple of hits and felt fine. That's the biggest thing. He felt good about it, " Williams said.
Williams told reporters he wanted to see Span get another four at bats, and with a day game on Saturday they would see how he feels after he was back in D.C.
Span felt good after the game:
Had another good night.. Gotta say thanks to the Hagerstown suns for rolling out the red carpet for me.. Now time to get back to #work
— Denard Span (@thisisdspan) April 19, 2014
"Three at bats tonight, he's all good to go," Williams said after the Nationals' 3-1 win. "He's going to come back here and we'll evaluate tomorrow, but he was good tonight."
With Span out of the lineup, Anthony Rendon has led off in six of seven games, going 7 for 28 over that stretch with a double, triple and two home runs. On the year, the 23-year-old infielder has a .313/.352/.582 line with five doubles, two triples and three home runs in 17 games.
Anthony Rendon wrecking the ball so far. Third homer, OPS over .950. http://t.co/vgN6Fb9wsY
— Buster Olney (@Buster_ESPN) April 19, 2014
Williams said tonight that Rendon has helped out atop the order, but is, in his opinion, more of a fit in other spots.
"He's been doing a great job in the leadoff spot," Williams explained.
"It's not ideal for him, but when, certainly against a left-handed pitcher if we want to move Denard or Nate [McLouth] down in the order, he can hit leadoff. Generally somewhere two, five or six, early in the season he drove in a lot of runs for us hitting lower in the order, so he's versatile. He can do a lot of things and play second and third as well."
Back to hitting second for Rendon on Saturday in the third game of four with the Cardinals?