Werth plays into sixth with Single-A Potomac as rehab for sore hamstring continues

Nationals right fielder Jayson Werth got a bigger test on his sore hamstring and appears to have passed. Playing for the high Single-A Potomac Nationals for the second straight night, Werth went 2-for-3 with two singles, one RBI and one run scored in a 7-3 win over the Salem Red Sox. Werth had to make a pair of catches on flyballs in right field and ran the bases two times on his base hits. His final at-bat came in the sixth inning. Manager Davey Johnson had said Thursday in Baltimore that the plan was for Werth to play three, five and seven innings in successive games to test the hamstring with more intensity each time. If Werth makes it through the day Friday with no issues, he could play at least seven innings on Friday night with the P-Nats as they open a series against Lynchburg. Johnson said Werth would not play nine innings with the P-Nats and would skip the final rehab game. But Johnson also confirmed that it was highly unlikely Werth would rejoin the Nationals in Atlanta for Sunday's game. The more likely scenario is for Werth to be activated for the Nationals next homestand, which begins June 4 against the New York Mets. Thursday's step was an important one for Werth, as it was the first time his hamstring has been tested in games on successive nights during his rehab. He got equal amounts of plays on offense and defense, with what appears to be no postgame complications for the hamstring.