Washington Nationals' Adam LaRoche Leaves Game With "Back Tightness"

32-year-old Nats' first baseman Adam LaRoche was 1 for 2 today with a one-out single in the fourth which left him 10 for 22 with three home runs on the Washington Nationals' six-game trip through New York and Milwaukee. LaRoche was stranded after his hit and he came back out for the fourth before leaving the field. 25-year-old rookie 1B/OF Tyler Moore replaced LaRoche at first and went 1 for 2 with a double and an RBI in the Nationals' extra-innings win over the Brewers. During the game the Nationals (via Twitter @NationalsPR) sent out the following update:

1B Adam LaRoche left today's game in the middle of the 4th inning with back tightness. He is listed as day-to-day.

' Nationals PR (@NationalsPR) July 29, 2012

After the game, Nats' skipper Davey Johnson talked to reporters about the issue, explaining that LaRoche's, "... back was spasming," and when the first baseman complained to third base coach Bo Porter, the manager said to himself, "'Well, I can't lose him,' so [we] immediately made a change." Johnson noted that LaRoche saw a doctor, "... and the doctor said it was just muscle spasms and [trainer Lee Kuntz] came out and confirmed that and [LaRoche] should be alright. A day off, he should be fine."

Johnson said LaRoche is never one to complain or come out of a game, "He's pretty durable. He never says anything, never comes out of a ballgame, so when I heard that he had a problem I immediately made the change."

When LaRoche spoke to reporters after the game, including the Washington Post's Adam Kilgore, he told them his back had been bothering him for around a week and he was quoted stating he had "no clue" if he'd be good to go when Washington starts a three-game series with the visiting Philadelphia Phillies Tuesday night. LaRoche did say, however, as the WaPost's Mr. Kilgore wrote, that he was, "... confident the injury will not hold him out a significant portion of games."

In 95 game and 347 at bats this season, the veteran of nine MLB seasons, in his second year in DC., has a .265/.342/.499 line with 22 doubles and 19 HR's.