Harper hit in head after slide, but stays in game

NEW YORK -- The Nationals received a scare in the second inning of Monday's opener against the Mets.

After Bryce Harper walked to lead off the second inning against right-hander Dillon Gee, Ian Desmond hit a ground ball to third baseman David Wright, who threw to second baseman Eric Young Jr. for the forceout.

As Young was throwing to first, his right leg hit the sliding Harper in the head. Harper was down on the ground for several minutes as manager Matt Williams and head athletic trainer Lee Kuntz came to his aid.

Harper got up under his own power and remained in the game, collecting his first hit of the season during the Nationals' two-run seventh.

"I saw him sliding into second base, trying to wipe me out," Young said. "He just happened to hit my shin and dinged me up a little bit, but obviously, I hit him in the head. He was making a hard slide, taking me out and it was one of those ... wrong place wrong time [kind of things]."

Harper was twice given a full concussion test -- once right after the incident and another after the game -- and said he is fine.

"He is good. He had a concussion test from the doctor. He was cleared, he felt OK. He got banged, but he passed all the tests," Williams said.