NATIONALS NOTEBOOK
Bruised Foot Keeps Peña Out of Lineup
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Wednesday, August 29, 2007; Page E07
LOS ANGELES, Aug. 28 -- Washington Nationals outfielder Wily Mo Peña was out of the starting lineup Tuesday night because of the bruised left foot he suffered Monday, an injury that forced him from the game only after he hit a two-run homer on one leg.
Manager Manny Acta said he doubted Peña would be available as a pinch hitter against the Los Angeles Dodgers, and Peña likely won't play in Wednesday's series finale, which wraps up a 10-game road trip.
"We'll see how he is" Wednesday, Acta said. "Even if he's not that well [Wednesday], then we'll just shut him down because we have that day off Thursday. That will give him three days."
Peña said he would test the foot Wednesday morning with a series of running and agility drills.
"It feels better, but it still hurts," he said. Asked if he thought he would be able to play Friday, when the team opens a six-game homestand with a three-game series against the San Francisco Giants, Peña said, "Not 'be able.' I'm playing Friday."
Peña's homer off Derek Lowe on Monday night was his fourth in 34 at-bats with the Nationals since an Aug. 17 trade with Boston. He hit five homers in 156 at-bats with the Red Sox. He has said since he arrived that he relishes the opportunity to play every day.
"I don't blame him, because he's only had [that] a few times in his career," Acta said. "I think he wants to take advantage of his opportunity regardless of if he's a little banged-up."
Hanrahan Dodges the Dodgers
Joel Hanrahan had spent his entire career in the Los Angeles Dodgers organization before he signed as a minor league free agent with the Nationals this offseason. Just by chance, he won't pitch against the Dodgers this week.
"I'm not sure how I feel about it," Hanrahan said Tuesday. "It's one of those double-edged swords. If I pitched, I'd probably get pretty worked up. I'd like to do it, but there are a lot of factors there."
After being selected in the second round of the 2000 draft, Hanrahan went 67-49 with a 4.18 ERA in parts of seven seasons in the Dodgers' chain.
