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Washington Nationals Notes, Quotes

by Sports Xchange

Updated: July 4, 2008, 2:20 AM EST

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--OF Austin Kearns (bone fragments in right elbow) was activated off the 15-day DL following six weeks on the sidelines. Kearns, who needed surgery to remove the fragments, hit .412 (7-for-17) on a seven-game rehab assignment with Class A Potomac (Woodbridge, Va.) and Class AAA Columbus (Ohio). He hopes that success will carry over to the big leagues and help erase his poor start to the season. Kearns was hitting only .187 with three homers and 16 RBIs when he got hurt.

--OF-3B Kory Casto was optioned to Class AAA Columbus (Ohio) to make room for OF Austin Kearns, who was activated off the DL. Casto hit just .180 in 23 games with Washington, but the club believes he could return and become a productive player off the bench. The utilityman was 3-for-8 with a homer and five RBIs as a pinch hitter. "I really like the improvements he made up here in a part-time situation," manager Manny Acta said. "And I told him: 'The least you could be on this club is a guy who can play the corners, both in the infield and the outfield, and come off the bench.' He kind of showed that he was able to do that."

--C Johnny Estrada (nerve irritation in right elbow) has begun a rehab assignment at Class A Potomac (Woodbridge, Va.). Estrada has been out since May 9 and has appeared in only 17 games this season.

--SS Cristian Guzman extended his hitting streak to 11 games with a 2-for-4 effort against the Reds. Guzman, who leads the majors with 35 multi-hit games, is batting .356 over that stretch (16-for-45).

--LHP John Lannan continues to pitch well and have very little to show for it. The rookie left-hander notched his 12th quality start in 17 outings, allowing three runs over six innings against the Reds, but received no decision because the game was tied when he departed. Despite a 3.60 ERA, Lannan is 4-9 and has not earned a victory since May 18. He was upset at himself for blowing a 3-1 lead in the sixth and allowing the Reds to come back and tie the game. "Bad start, good start, I've got to take positives from it," he said. "Today was just frustrating on my end, because I kept the team in the ballgame but I just couldn't get the job done."

BY THE NUMBERS: 42 -- Players the Nationals had used in the major leagues this season after RHP Collin Balester's debut July 1.

QUOTE TO NOTE: "I grew up playing every game. That's how my dad raised me. I'm pretty sure that if he was here, he'd probably throw me out there tomorrow if I was in Little League. But it's a business, and we're in the big leagues. We've got to take things one day at a time." -- CF Lastings Milledge, on how he is handling the right groin injury that will sideline him for two-to-four weeks.

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