Injury hurts Patterson's shot at starting

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VIERA, Fla. -- John Patterson's chances of winning the final spot in the Washington Nationals' starting rotation were dealt a blow yesterday when the right-hander discovered he has an injured right hip flexor that will prevent him from making his scheduled start today.

Patterson, who was due to throw 60 to 65 pitches this morning in a minor league game, said he began feeling tightness in his hip sometime after his last appearance Tuesday against the Houston Astros, though he's not sure exactly what caused it.

"The other night I was pitching in the rain. Maybe I extended the muscle while I was playing," said Patterson, who is trying to win the job from incumbent Zach Day. "It's nothing I can put my finger on and say this is when it happened. I don't know."

The Nationals don't consider the injury serious, but they apparently didn't want to take any chances with Patterson, who spent 10 weeks on the disabled list last season with a strained groin.

The 27-year-old does not believe the ailment will keep him from being ready by Opening Day.

"No, not at all," he said. "This is very minor. If I start [today] and I push it and make it worse, then that carries over into the season. So it's better to be smart now and take care of it."

Patterson was making a strong case to supplant Day after allowing just one run and three hits in his first five innings of work this spring. But he was tagged by the Astros on Tuesday for five runs and seven hits in three innings, then watched as Day put together five outstanding innings the following night against the Atlanta Braves to reclaim his front-running status.

Lerner tours complex

Mark Lerner, whose family is pursuing ownership of the Nationals, attended yesterday's game and took a tour of the club's spring training complex.

Lerner, son of Washington-area developer Ted Lerner, met general manager Jim Bowden, manager Frank Robinson and other key members of the organization during batting practice, then watched the game with several partners from a box next to the Nationals' dugout.