Harper and Werth updates following 4-1 win over Pirates

Following Friday's 4-1 win over the Pirates, Nationals manager Matt Williams had an update on right fielder Bryce Harper. Harper did not play in the game as he nursed a sore left hamstring strain.

Williams said Harper worked in the weight room and got treatment throughout the day after slipping on the wet field Thursday night against Tampa Bay when making a throw from the outfield to the plate.

"He did OK," Williams reported. "He did some leg work today, didn't hit, but did some leg work and got some blood flow in there. Doc looked at him. Poked around and we'll see how he is tomorrow. It was a good workday for him today and he was able to do some things. Did some leg work this afternoon and got through it fine. That's an important step for him, so we'll see where he is tomorrow."

Williams described the leg work as lifting, not sprints. He also said part of the workout for Harper was recovery and strengthening from the pitch that hit him on his quad muscle that occurred last week's series in Milwaukee.

"More weights, more lifting. Remember he got hit in the quad," Williams said. "So he did some quad work today to make sure that hematoma gets out of there. You know, he's still hampered by it a little bit because it was a pretty good hit by pitch, so he has to make sure he doesn't rest on that. He did some PT work. He was out for BP, didn't do much, but he went out there. Good day, all in all, and we'll see how he is tomorrow."

Prior to the game, left fielder Jayson Werth was catching fly balls during batting practice with no brace on his left wrist. Werth has missed 29 games (35 total) with a left wrist fractures, an injury that was first diagnosed as a contusion. Williams said the practice session for Werth went "good."

"He was shagging flies with his glove on his regular hand, so that's a good sign that it's healing up," Williams said. "And he's confident that he can get out there and catch fly balls and put a little pressure on it. He's trying to keep his legs in shape as best as possible. Not swinging a bat yet, but getting the glove on the hand is an important step for him."

As he exited the clubhouse after Friday's game, Werth said that he believes he will be back in a month.

The Nationals were able to stop a hot Pirates team for a night and snap their season-high eight-game win streak. It was Pittsburgh's first loss since June 9.

Williams was pleased the way Washington's offense attacked right-hander A.J. Burnett, generating 14 hits. It was the first time this season the veteran had allowed more than eight hits in a start.

"I like it. Good approach, good mentality," Williams said. "Played solid defense. All of those things combined give us a chance to win games. We got enough tonight. Bullpen was good. Good formula for us tonight.

"The ball was up a little bit for A.J. tonight. We took advantage of it. Wilson (Ramos) hit a breaking ball for the double, a fastball up for the other RBI single. We had a lot of opportunities out there, which we created, which is great. That's what we want to do. That's the kind of style of baseball we want to play. We got some opportunities to score some runs tonight which was good."

Williams said the offensive strategy was what he had focused in on prior to the contest, a game plan he wants to see from his team all the time.

"Middle of the diamond works. We talked about before the game," Williams said. "Middle of the diamond works against A.J. if we can stay on it, and it works for our ballclub, too. So bunching those base hits together is important for us."