Werth rejoins Nationals for Boston opener

PHILADELPHIA -- Outfielder Jayson Werth traveled to Boston with the Nationals on Sunday evening and was activated from the disabled list on Monday. He will play his first Major League game of the season today against the Red Sox.

Werth, who missed the first week of the season because of shoulder surgery in his right AC joint, was in the lineup, batting fourth and playing left field. He had a rehab assignment last week with Class A Advanced Potomac. Outfielder Matt den Dekker was optioned to Triple-A Syracuse.

"I feel good. I haven't had a lot of at-bats, but I'm about to get a bunch," Werth said on Sunday. "It was a tough January, Feburary, March. I was just trying. I'm glad to be back. I felt really good."

Werth arrived at Citizens Bank Park in time for the Nationals' 4-3 victory in 10 innings Sunday, when Phillies reliever Justin De Fratus threw a wild pitch that scored Yunel Escobar for the go-ahead run. Werth went into Washington's dugout, and the Nationals added another run as Clint Robinson scored on a single by Wilson Ramos.

The Nationals went to Boston with a 2-4 record, but Werth believes the club will be all right when it's all said and done.

"It's a long season, and when you have a team like ours, you just have to continue to play and put yourself in a position at the halfway point to be in striking distance," Werth said. "We are such a good second-half team. We have to stay close when we get halfway, and I think we'll be good."

In other injury-related news, third baseman Anthony Rendon is swinging the bat, running, throwing, and fielding ground balls, according to manager Matt Williams. Rendon is swinging off a tee and at flipped pitches.

"It's encouraging to have [Rendon] on the road to recovery," Williams said.