WASHINGTON (AP) – St. Louis Cardinals shortstop Rafael Furcal might return home from the team’s road trip for further testing after straining his right elbow in an 8-1 loss to the Washington Nationals on Thursday night. Furcal was asked whether he was concerned the injury might end his season.  “Sort of,” Furcal said. “It’s bad.”  Furcal left after making back-to-back throws to home and second in the sixth inning.

He said he felt a pop and then tingling on the two throws and that he will have an MRI on Friday. “My wish is nothing crazy,” said Furcal, who had never dealt with elbow problems before this game. Furcal is hitting .264 with five home runs and 49 RBIs.  “You can’t really describe it as losing a piece right now until we get all the information,” Cardinals manager Mike Matheny said. “He’s been a phenomenal part of this team. He’s had a great season.”