ST. LOUIS -- Bryce Harper of the Washington Nationals was taken out of Wednesday night's game against the St. Louis Cardinals before the bottom of the fourth inning with tight glutes.

Harper was 0-for-2 in the game, taking a called third strike in the first inning and lining out softly to second in the fourth.

Matt den Dekker replaced Harper in center field and was batting third for Washington, which was leading 2-1 when the NL's leading hitter (.333 entering Wednesday) left the game.