Soriano slated to pitch Friday after root canal

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. -- Nationals reliever Rafael Soriano had root canal surgery on Thursday, but manager Davey Johnson wasn't sure if the problem was entirely fixed. Soriano is scheduled to pitch in relief on Friday against the Tigers and throw in back-to-back games next week.

"I had a few of those and they are not much fun. I just hope he got enough Novocain so it didn't really hurt too bad," Johnson said. "He should be fine. I think it was just in the early stages. [The doctors] were worried that it could be an abscess. So they nipped it in the bud."

Soriano has pitched in five games, allowing six runs in 4 2/3 innings.