MRI shows Kendrick has hamstring strain (Nats win 6-4)

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - An MRI on Howie Kendrick's left hamstring confirmed the original diagnosis of a strain, and Nationals manager Davey Martinez is hopeful the versatile veteran can rehabilitate the injury and be ready for opening day.

"MRI came back and it's what they expected, a mild strain," Martinez said. "He's going to be day to day. It'll probably take him a little bit to get going again."

Kendrick sustained the injury running out an RBI infield single in the first inning of Tuesday's game against the Red Sox. He was moving more freely around the clubhouse this morning, the leg no longer wrapped.

"It's good," Kendrick said. "Just sore, that's all."

Martinez said Kendrick underwent an MRI on Wednesday and that the Nationals were still waiting for team doctors to read the results, which had already been seen by local physicians.

But the manager said he'd take a "cautious" approach with Kendrick moving forward.

"Let him go in there with the training staff and get ready," Martinez said. "Hopefully, it won't take him too long. As of right now, we're hopeful he's ready for opening day. I think he'll be ready."

* Infielder Adrián Sanchez is playing first base for the first time in a B game this morning against the Mets. Martinez has wanted to get a look at how Sanchez handles first, thinking the infielder has the adaptability to add a new position to his resume.

Signed as an undrafted free agent out of his native Venezuela in 2007, Sanchez, 28, is the second-longest tenured member of the organization behind first baseman Ryan Zimmerman. In 12 minor league seasons and parts of two seasons in the majors, he's played mostly second base, but also third base, shortstop and left field.

Martinez thinks he could develop into a super utility player.

"I think, one, necessity for him in the future," Martinez said. "That if he can do all these things, it just helps him out. And two, our needs. If he can play all (infield) positions and even the outfield - we're going to put him in left field one day soon - that he's a guy that can help us out."

After last season, Martinez suggested that Sanchez concentrate on his footwork in the infield and lose some weight. Sanchez came to camp trimmer and more able to quickly maneuver around the infield on defense, Martinez said.

* Right-handed reliever Justin Miller continues to work his way back from a lower back strain that interrupted spring training. He played catch with no apparent problems on Tuesday.

Martinez said he would throw next off a mound.

"Throw off the mound and see how he feels after that," he said.

Update: The Nats loaded the bases off Jacob deGrom with one out in the first, sandwiching two walks around Anthony Rendon's single. Ryan Zimmerman gave them a 1-0 lead with a sacrifice fly to center field.

Update II: Adam Eaton homered off deGrom in the third to extend the lead to 2-0.

Update III: Yan Gomes' RBI infield single in the fourth made it 3-0. Strasburg is done after four innings. He allowed one hit, walked one and struck out five.

Update IV: Tim Tebow's run-scoring single got the Mets on the board in the sixth.

Update V: Michael A. Taylor's RBI single in the sixth made it 4-1.

Update VI: In the seventh, Michael Conforto hit an RBI single to left, but Telmito Augustin overran the ball, allowing a second run to score. Tomás Nido followed with a game-tying single off Matt Grace.

Update VII: Andrew Stevenson's bases-loaded single has put the Nats up 6-4.

Final update: Henderson Alvarez III walked two and gave up a double but allowed no runs in the ninth. Nats win 6-4.