Ben Goessling The Washington Times - July 8, 2009, 03:26PM

We’re just underway here in Denver, where the Nats are trying to rebound from a pair of one-run losses and salvage their series against the Rockies.

Little different lineup today—days off for Cristian Guzman, Nick Johnson and Josh Bard, who is nursing a right groin injury that’s been bothering him since the series against the Orioles a week and a half ago. Bard is doing about everything he can to heal it—resistance band exercises, medication and a “hip spike” that he wears during games to limit his range of motion.

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But it probably won’t be completely healed until after the All-Star break.

“”He wants to play,” manager Manny Acta said. “What we’re going to try to do is maybe not play him that last day in Houston so he can use all those days in a row to be in better shape. I think those days are going to do wonders for him.”

Here are today’s lineups:

Nationals:

Morgan CF

Gonzalez SS

Zimmerman 3B

Dunn 1B

Willingham LF

Kearns RF

Hernandez 2B

Nieves C

Detwiler P

 

Rockies:

Fowler CF

Barmes 2B

Helton 1B

Atkins 3B

Tulowitzki SS

Spilborghs RF

Torrealba C

Gonzalez LF

De La Rosa P