Nick Green picks up Elijah Dukes' broken-bat after a scary encounter in the second inning.

AP photo / Manuel Balce Ceneta

WASHINGTON -- Nick Green could smile after Wednesday's game.

The Red Sox shortstop was very fortunate he could showcase his pearly whites, because he came dreadfully close to what could have been a serious injury.

"Greeny almost got stabbed, or impaled," said Red Sox manager Terry Francona.

In the bottom of the second inning with one out and a runner on first, the Nationals' Elijah Dukes' bat shattered in two when he hit a groundball to shortstop. The barrel headed in Green's direction.

Green, focused on turning a double play, never saw the bat until the last possible moment.

"It happened so fast you really don't have time to react. I just did what I had to do to try to get out of the way of the bat," he said.

The barrel bounced directly in front of him and hit him in the forearm.

"I didn't see the bat until it bounced right in front of me," said Green. "I saw it bouncing at me, so I put my arm up to try to get out of the way. It hit me in the arm and the ball rolled right between my legs. It's unfortunate because it was a double-play ball."

When Green turned to retrieve the ball, he saw the shrapnel sticking out of the ground and he almost tripped over it. He didn't realize how bad it could have been until he saw the replay.

The debate over maple and ash bats is being studied by Major League Baseball due to the increasing number of bats breaking.

"They say they fixed it, or whatever, but it's obviously not fixed," said Green. "I think it's more a concern for the pitchers than us because we're pretty far away."

Jon Lester was very concerned for his shortstop's safety despite the fact the Nationals were able to score a run in that inning.

"It's pretty scary seeing that bat go flying that far," said Lester. "I thought they did some research this offseason to figure that stuff out, but obviously we still have a long ways to go. You have to take cover. It's a tough play to make when you have a bat head flying at you, looking to take your head off. I was able to pitch around it a little bit."

Francona made light of the situation, but also realized how serious it could have been had Green been pierced with the bat.

"I'm probably not sounding like a loyal manager, but I wanted him to make the play. Get out of the way, catch it and make the play," Francona said with a smile. "When you see it sticking in the ground like that, I'm sure that's why the league is doing tests on bats because someone is going to get hurt."

Red Sox captain Jason Varitek had a good look from behind the plate and hopes the league can figure something out before someone really gets hurt.

"I use ash, and ash sometimes really doesn't do the same," said Varitek. "I've had them break in funny ways this year on different balls. That was a freaky thing. The bat went farther than the ball. The things they have done with the studies, hopefully we'll get some results and get things cleaned up before anyone gets hurt. You get a sharp piece coming at your face it is pretty scary."

jmcdonal@projo.com