WASHINGTON — June has been a cruel month for the Nationals.
Washington (34-33) made three errors in its last two games and has a record of 6-11 this month after losing 5-3 at home on Thursday to the Tampa Bay Rays.
There was more bad news as outfielder Bryce Harper, hitting .344 with 22 homers and 53 RBIs, left the game in the top of the sixth with a mild left hamstring strain. He was injured while making a throw to the infield on wet grass two innings after the game was delayed by 17 minutes by rain.
“I came up throwing and it was really slippery out there in the rain,” Harper said. “My right knee gave out and then I put all my pressure on the left knee, and got my hamstring, lower hamstring and the knee a little bit.”
“It doesn’t feel very good,” he added. “Was in pretty good pain. A little scared at the same time, because I could feel a little bit more on the lower half of it. But see how I am tomorrow, and go from there.”
Manager Matt Williams confirmed it was a mild hamstring strain.
“I’m just going to see how it feels tomorrow,” Harper said. “Be smart about it of course. It’s still early. So just try to be as smart as I can. I want to be in there, but if I don’t feel right tomorrow, then maybe taking that day off might help me a little bit. I’ll see how I feel.”
If he goes on the disabled list, he would join everyday players Jayson Werth (outfielder) and Ryan Zimmerman (first baseman), and pitchers Stephen Strasburg, Aaron Barrett and Craig Stammen.
The injury to Harper came on the same day pitcher Doug Fister came off the disabled list to start against the Rays.