Werth on his knee, Desmond and Strasburg

Right fielder Jayson Werth got his knee caught up under him during the play at the plate Sunday. He was removed from the game as a precaution. Werth said the knee stiffened up a bit, but feels it will be OK. He said it depends on how he feels today. "I don't think it is a big deal", Werth said. On the play at home, Werth and shortstop Ian Desmond scored back-to-back runs after the fielder's choice in the infield off the bat of Wilson Ramos. Werth said it was fun to be a part of. "Looks good, looks good, playing the game the right way," he said. "That ol' run- til-they-tag-you theory. That seems to work for us." Werth enjoyed watching Desmond react to seeing catcher Erik Kratz slow to retrieve the ball and race home with another run. "If you watch Desi play on a day in, day out basis, he is fun to watch," Werth said. "He really brings it when he comes to the yard every day. He kind of runs the infield, big spark in our lineup. He has potential to be a really good player as time goes on. But definitely a big part of the team, keeps playing the way he is playing, hopefully some guys can fall in line. "The whole play was kind of startling, really. It was kind of a dying quail in the infield there. I got a pretty good read on it. I turn and look and I saw the ball was coming home. I knew there was going to be a play. I kind of felt something with me knee when I got up. I saw the ball there. I heard the crowd's reaction. I turned around and there was Desi sliding in. It was a pretty interesting play for sure, but glad it worked out." Werth had to have treatment on his knee, so he wasn't able to see Stephen Strasburg finish off the complete-game shutout, but he realizes that the Nationals have something in Strasburg as a pitcher that can affect games he is in. Werth said being able to control your pitch count is a commodity that takes most pitchers years to perfect. "You play long enough, you see these top-end pitchers that are some of the best in the game. That is what they do: They pitch deep into games, they pitch seven or eight or nine innings, they control the game," Werth said. "I think as Strasburg gets older, he will learn to do that. Not only is it good for them, it is good for the team. It01 saves the bullpen."