Day working his way back

Right-hander Zach Day, who is on the 15-day disabled list because of a fractured right radius, was in the Nationals' clubhouse on Friday afternoon. He said he was in Texas to throw the baseball and see how the forearm was coming along.
Day fractured the radius on May 23 against the Reds in Cincinnati. In the bottom of the sixth inning with two out, center fielder Ken Griffey Jr. hit a line drive that struck Day on the wrist. The ball fell to the ground and the hurler picked it up and threw Griffey out at first base to end the inning.

Two days later, Day was back on the mound and gave up five runs in two innings against the Reds, earning him a demotion to Triple-A New Orleans the next day. But the trip to the DL canceled Day's Minor League option.

Day most likely will find himself back in the Minor Leagues once he comes off the DL, but in a rehab assignment. According to manager Frank Robinson, Day may be on the assignment the entire 30 days if the pitching staff continues to throw well.

Day, who was almost traded in late May, has changed his stance about being strictly a starter with the Nationals. With the team winning, he is willing to be a team player. At the time of his demotion, Day was in the bullpen and wanted a change of scenery.

"The team is going well. I'm not here to worry about the future," Day said.

Day has spent the last few weeks in Cincinnati, and said that his sister, Erin, needs a kidney transplant. Also, Erin's baby girl, who was born weighing just 1 pound, 7 ounces, had yet to reach the 2-pound mark.

"It was good to spend a couple of weeks with them. Erin is getting around," Day said.

Tucker injured: Reliever T.J. Tucker left Friday's game against the Rangers in the eighth inning with a hyperextended right elbow. After walking catcher Rod Barajas to put runners on first and second, Robinson took Tucker out of the game.

Tucker will not pitch for at least three days with hopes that the pain will subside. Tucker told MLB.com that he was playing in pain against the Angels on Monday. He gave up four runs in three innings in that game.

Tucker was on the disabled list earlier this season because of a right groin strain.

In retrospect: Looking back on Tuesday's incident with the Angels regarding reliever Brendan Donnelly's glove, Robinson said he wished that Jose Guillen did not make his comments public about Angels manager Mike Scioscia, who suspended Guillen for the last week of the 2004 season and the postseason because of what was deemed inappropriate conduct following his removal for a pinch-runner on Sept. 25 against the A's.

Guillen said Scioscia never should have suspended him and admitted that he would have gone after Scioscia during the incident between the Angels' skipper and Robinson.

"If I got wind of this beforehand, I would have advised Jose not to say anything," Robinson said. "Just keep quiet and fly under the radar, and don't add fuel to the fire and give the opponent a reason to beat us. Be the bigger person. He was for two and three-quarter days."

Robinson said he did not talk to Guillen about his comments.

Jose Guillen / RF
Born: 05/17/76
Height: 5'11"
Weight: 190 lbs
Bats: R / Throws: R

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More on the mend: Guillen did not start in Friday's game against the Rangers because of a stomach virus. Robinson said that Guillen would be available late in the game, if necessary.

Outfielder Ryan Church also did not start on Friday because of an assortment of injuries. He is still experiencing headaches after being hit on the right side of the face by a foul ball on Tuesday. Church believes he may have had a mild concussion.

He also has a mild left groin strain that occurred while trying to beat out an infield hit and a sore right pinky toe after being drilled by a Scot Shields pitch. Both injuries came during the Angels series.

"I can play. I'm just a little beat up. You just have to play through them," Church said.

Just watch: Considering how emotional Guillen became against the Angels, Robinson is happy that right-hander Ryan Drese will not face the Rangers this weekend.

The Rangers designated Drese for assignment last week and he was claimed by the Nationals last Friday.

Drese pitched eight shutout innings against the Angels in a 1-0 win on Wednesday.

"I would not say that he would not do the job in Texas, but I know the pressure would have been there," Robinson said. "The adrenaline would be overflowing and he would have been trying too hard. He probably would have been overthrowing and probably wouldn't have been as effective."

Backing the manager: Robinson was happy that his players had his back during the incident with Scioscia.

"I'm proud of this team. That's why we preach about [watching out for] each other's back," Robinson said. "It's a new attitude here. The new players have a lot to do with that attitude, and the players who have been here have bought into the attitude."

Robinson said the 2002 and '03 Expos would've been "late" to help him on Tuesday. It's no secret that players such as Fernando Tatis, Vladimir Guerrero and Javier Vazquez didn't like Robinson.

Stat of the day: Despite limited action, Tony Blanco has seven RBIs in his last 12 games entering Friday's action.

Did you know? With a 2-1 record and 21 saves in 23 chances, right-hander Chad Cordero leads all closers in the Rolaids Relief Man standings. He has a nine-point lead over Phillies closer Billy Wagner, who won the award in 1999 when he was with the Astros.

On deck: The Nationals play the second game of a three-game series against the Rangers at Ameriquest Field on Saturday.

Tony Armas Jr. will face the Rangers for the first time. In his last start, Armas (3-3) pitched five shutout innings against the Mariners to earn his second consecutive win. He threw 107 pitches, 70 for strikes.

Source: http://washington.nationals.mlb.com/