MRI on Reds RHP Harang reveals no structural damage

Jul 29, 2007 - 5:30 PM CINCINNATI (Ticker) -- An MRI on Cincinnati Reds righthander Aaron Harang revealed no structural damage to his lower back on Sunday.

Harang, who left Saturday's game with the Chicago Cubs with lower-back soreness after just one inning, will miss his next scheduled start and will not travel with the Reds for their upcoming series with the Washington Nationals.

A possible return for Harang is Cincinnati's three-game series with Pittsburgh, which begins Friday.

On Saturday, Harang faced five batters, allowing a walk and a two-run homer to Derrek Lee. He was relieved by Mike Gosling.

Harang said his back tightened on him playing catch before he took his warmup pitches from the bullpen mound.

"It was one of those weird things," Harang said on Saturday.

"My lower back tightened up I couldn't finish my pitches. I thought it would get loose but they decided to take me out so I didn't hurt my arm. To show you how I couldn't finish, the pitch to Lee was supposed to be a sinker but it stayed flat."