Nationals reinstate OF Willingham from bereavement list, option OF Patterson to minors

Nationals’ Willingham comes off bereavement list

WASHINGTON — The Nationals have reinstated outfielder Josh Willingham from the bereavement list and optioned outfielder Corey Patterson to Triple-A Syracuse to make room on their roster.

The moves were announced before Washington’s home game against the Toronto Blue Jays on Saturday night.

Willingham spent the maximum seven days on the bereavement list, missing six games following the death of his brother. He is batting .294 with nine home runs and 12 RBIs.

Patterson hit .133 with two stolen bases in five games.