WASHINGTON (AP) — Even at age 35 and with a history of hamstring injuries, Howie Kendrick keeps making it tough for his manager to keep him out of the lineup.
Kendrick answered the call again Sunday with three hits and three RBIs, including his eighth home run, in Washington’s 9-6 victory over the Miami Marlins.
“You want to put him out there every day,” Nationals manager Dave Martinez said. “But I’ve got to make sure that he’s rested and he stays healthy throughout the whole year.”
Injuries have forced Kendrick into more early action than expected, and without him Washington’s struggles so far could’ve been even worse.