Montreal Expos

Nationals pitcher Christian Garcia told MLB.com his forearm is "100 percent" after pitching an inning in an extended spring game Thursday.

Garcia is expected to join Double-A Harrisburg next week to start on his rehab assignment. He will be used as a reliever in the minors, though there was talk in spring training of him becoming a starter.

Nationals pitcher Christian Garcia, who is working his way back from a partially torn tendon in his forearm, is expected to join Double-A Harrisburg this weekend, according to MLB.com. Garcia will be used as a reliever in the minors.

Nationals outfielder Bryce Harper homered Wednesday against the Giants for the first time since missing time with a bruised left knee.

Harper went the other way with a solo home run in the sixth inning to open the scoring. He added a double in the 10th and came around to score the winning run in a 2-1 game.

Harper went 2 for 5 with an RBI and two runs scored. He struck out once. He's hitting .288 with 12 home runs, 23 RBI and a .994 on-base plus slugging percentage. 

Nationals closer Rafael Soriano bounced back Wednesday from two blown saves with a 1-2-3 inning to secure a 2-1, extra-inning win over the Giants.

Soriano needed 17 pitches for a perfect 10th inning, a night after he blew a save chance. He retired all three batters he faced on fly balls for his 13th save of the season.

Soriano has 13 saves in 16 opportunities with a 3.00 ERA in 21 innings. 

Nationals starting pitcher Gio Gonzalez had one of his best starts of the season Wednesday against the Giants, but ended with a no-decision in a 2-1, 10-inning victory.

Gonzalez held the Giants to a run in 7 1/3 innings. He walked Angel Pagan with one out in the eighth inning then was pulled for reliever Drew Storen. He allowed four hits and two walks, while striking out five. He threw a season-high 116 pitches.

Gonzalez, who has lowered his ERA to 3.66 with four quality starts in a row, will next start Tuesday against the Orioles.