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Nationals Injury Update: Denard Span ready to return from 7-Day DL

Denard Span was 1 for 2 with a walk in his second start with the Hagerstown Suns as he works his way back from a concussion suffered during last weekend's series in Atlanta, Georgia's Turner Field.

By Patrick Reddington
Greg Fiume

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.

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's going to come back here and we'll evaluate tomorrow, but he was good tonight." - Matt Williams on Denard Span's second rehab start on Friday

"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:

"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.

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.

Nationals 3-1 over Cardinals in D.C.

 Photo © Greg Fiume/Getty Images

"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?

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