Webb hit in back during batting-practice mishap

WASHINGTON -- Marlins reliever Ryan Webb was hit in the back by a line drive during the Nationals' batting practice on Thursday. A team spokesman said that the righty had only sustained a bruise.

Webb was stretching with the rest of the team along the third-base line when Nationals reserve outfielder Scott Hairston hit him with a foul ball. Hairston walked over to check on Webb as the reliever was escorted to the dugout by a team trainer. Hairston and Webb were teammates in San Diego in 2010.

The incident occurred in the middle of manager Mike Redmond's pregame news conference in the visitors' dugout. Redmond said that Webb was already probably going to be unavailable for Thursday night's game after pitching 3 1/3 innings following a rain delay the night before.