Washington Nationals News: Nats’ Escobar in rare five-hit company
By Pablo Roa
Good evening DoD readers, and welcome to today’s District Daily! Before the Nationals square off against the Diamondbacks later tonight, get caught up on all the latest Nats news with some great Washington Nationals articles from around the web below.
In today’s Daily, MLB.com’s Barry Bloom discusses Yunel Escobar and his incredible five-hit performance in last night’s win over the Diamondbacks. As Bloom notes, Escobar not only had a five-hit performance last night, but it’s also his second five-hit performance in the last week, making him the only player in Nationals history to ever record two five-hit games in a season.
Of course, it’s not at all surprising that Escobar has had a couple of stellar games. He’s been great all year for the Nationals, and he’s arguably been the team’s best hitter. It’s not clear what will happen once Anthony Rendon returns from the disabled list, but there’s no doubt that Escobar will be a key player for the Nationals all year long.
Also in today’s Daily, the Washington Post’s Chelsea Janes discusses Ryan Zimmerman and how the Nationals’ first baseman appears to be breaking out of his early season slump. Zimmerman has certainly looked better in recent days and he’s had a few big hits for the Nationals that have helped guide them to their current five-game winning streak.
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Things should only get better for Zimmerman going forward, and if he manages to stay healthy, he’ll be a key player for the Nationals as the race for the NL East continues into the summer.
Be sure to check out both articles below, they’re definitely worth a read. And as always, stay tuned to DoD for all your Washington Nationals needs.
Nats’ Escobar in rare five-hit company
PHOENIX — Nationals third baseman Yunel Escobar left Sunday’s game after three innings because of a sudden stomach virus. But manager Matt Williams knew Escobar was ready to play on Monday at Chase Field when he saw him before the game in the players’ lounge chowing down on a big plate of food.
Williams put Escobar back in the lineup. Of course, at that juncture, Williams had little clue that Escobar was about to pound out five hits for the second time in a week.
“It was nice to see him get back in there today,” Williams said. “He feels good. That’s all I care about. Regardless of how many hits he gets, he feels good.” Read full article here.
Ryan Zimmerman stays steady through slump, and is starting to come out of it
(Chelsea Janes, Washington Post)
Describing a baseball player as “even-keeled” often equates to commenting on his inherent makeup. Some players are even-keeled; some are not. Those who are not must learn to manage emotions, doomed as they are — unlike those even-keeled guys — to have them.
But over 162 games in a failure-based game, “even-keeled” is not a hand that is dealt; it’s a choice. Which makes Ryan Zimmerman, one of the most relentlessly even-keeled players you’ll find, noteworthy. He does not panic when he slumps, doesn’t tinker or rejigger, and because of that, he generally leaves slumps behind quickly. After struggling through most of April with a .217 average but still managing to knock in 15 runs, Zimmerman is beginning to hit in May. He didn’t change a thing. Read full article here.