Paul Lo Duca's having an MRI today on his right hand, which he re-injured last night fouling off a pitch against the Astros. Lo Duca, as you already know, spent two weeks on the DL last month after getting hit by a pitch on that hand. He admitted that it had still been sore in recent days and was really bothering him during last night's game.
When he fouled off that last pitch from Roy Oswalt in the seventh inning, "I just felt a really, really, really sharp pain," he said. "Probably the most pain I've ever felt."
We'll have to see what the MRI says, but it certainly would appear that Lo Duca is headed back for the DL. Which means Wil Nieves probably becomes the starting catcher, with some help from Johnny Estrada (who still has trouble throwing because of his own right elbow injury). The other irony: Lo Duca will probably miss the Nats' series in New York for the second time in two months, depriving Mets fans their opportunity to serenade their former catcher with either cheers or boos.
The other strange part of the Lo Duca injury last night happened as he was walking back to the dugout. A group of three rowdy fans, who apparently had been harrassing Nats players from the start of the game, called Lo Duca a not-so-nice word that I couldn't use in the paper. I paraphrased it into "wimp." Lo Duca, his hand obviously in agony, couldn't hold it in and started yelling back at the guys.
"The guy was being obnoxious the whole night," he said. "I just kept my mouth shut and didn't say anything. Then I'm coming off the field and he told me I was a [wimp]. So I said: 'If I'm a [wimp], come outside and wait for me.' He turned red as a freaking ketchup bottle."
Wow, what an exchange. Anyways, security personnel quickly came over and escorted the three guys out of the ballpark. A strange, surreal scene to say the least.
In the bigger picture, the Nats have lost two straight heartbreakers to the Astros and could really use a well-played, clean win tonight. John Lannan vs. Brandon Backe at 8:05 p.m.
Finally, a heads-up for fans who are planning to take Metro to this weekend's games against the Marlins. This is straight from a press release issued by the Nats:
"The Metrorail Green Line will undergo temporary track work on Saturday May 10 and Sunday May 11 that will delay fans' post-game ride from the ballpark. Metro will provide complimentary bus service from Nationals Park to Federal Center Metrorail Station (Blue/Orange Line), Eastern Market Metrorail Station (Blue/Orange Line) and Union Station (Red Line). Fans may drive to Nationals Park and purchase single game parking at Nationals Park Lots or park free at RFK Stadium and take the free Nats Express to the ballpark."
