Eaton leaves game in second inning, MRI scheduled

Nationals right fielder Adam Eaton got hit by a pitch from Orioles starter Asher Wojciechowski last Wednesday and had to leave the game. Eaton's leg tightened up running from first to third in the bottom of the first.

Eaton was available off and on a few times the past week as they worked on treatment for the back of his leg. He then took a couple games off and returned to start today against the Mets in a 7-3 loss.

This time, Eaton lasted two innings before having to leave the game. Gerardo Parra took his place on defense to start the top of the third.

Nationals manager Davey Martinez said he was a bit worried after the game regarding Eaton's status going forward. He said the club will schedule an MRI to see if there is a bigger problem with Eaton's knee, hamstring or leg. Eaton had already left the clubhouse before reporters arrived after the game.

"I'm a little concerned," Martinez said. "He got loose, all good, didn't bother him at all. All of a sudden it just kept getting tighter and tighter as a couple of innings went by. Once he was moving around he was OK, but just standing still.

"What got me nervous was he said it was more the back of his knee which is a hamstring deal. I didn't want to take any chances. We are going to see where we're at. We are going to get him an MRI and go from there, see where he's at."

Shortstop Trea Turner got hit by a pitch that broke his finger early in the season, forcing him to miss 39 games. He is acutely aware of what happens when a player gets hit by a pitch, and can empathize with what Eaton is going through when that pitch hits a player somewhere on the leg.

"It's part of the game, but it stinks because you can't control sometimes where the ball hits you, it's coming so hard and a half inch the other way or up or down and he may be fine," Turner said. "It's unfortunate obviously, I've been through that in the last few years. I've had that happen to me twice where you try to get out of the way but just it gets you in a bad spot."

The Nationals have outfielders Parra and Andrew Stevenson available of Eaton is out. Stevenson came off the bench and delivered a single in the sixth inning, one of only three hits off Mets starter Noah Syndergaard today.

Martinez said he would consider starting Stevenson: "He's a good fastball hitter, I know that."

Double-A Harrisburg wrapped up their regular season with a 1-0 win over Altoona today, highlighted by a solo shot off the bat of Michael A. Taylor. If Eaton has to go to the injured list, it would seem the other good replacement option is the veteran Taylor. Martinez intimated today he was thinking about adding another pinch-runner as a September call-up.

With Taylor's speed, plus-plus outfield defense and ability to start right now, it is logical the Nats would bring him back soon. Harrisburg opens their postseason play tomorrow night at Bowie, Md.

Turner seemed concerned that Eaton might be out a while. If that is the case, the shortstop said others must step up with a playoff spot on the line.

"You've got to hang with him and we got to pick him up," Turner said. "We're going to need to play good without him because he's been such a big part of our ballclub. I don't know how good he'll be and hopefully maybe not too long. I don't know what the word is, but we need to step up and fill in that role, because he's had huge games for us all year and he's very important to us."