Washington Nationals Rapid Reaction: Even With Injuries, Nats Offense Delivers For Max Scherzer

Jun 25, 2015; Washington, DC, USA; Washington Nationals left fielder Matt den Dekker (21) hits an RBI single against the Atlanta Braves during the eighth inning at Nationals Park. The Washington Nationals won 7 – 0. Mandatory Credit: Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports

den Dekker Delivers At Bottom Of The Order

With about an hour till game time, Denard Span was scratched from the lineup due to back spasms. That moved Michael Taylor to center field, Clint Robinson to left field, and Matt den Dekker into right field. den Dekker, who was playing in his tenth game of the season, had a pinch-hit RBI in the Nats’ 7-0 win over the Braves on Thursday.

Last night, den Dekker came up in the top of the sixth inning and helped give the Nationals a commanding lead. He took a 0-1 changeup from Harang and hit it into the seats in center field for his first home run of the season and the second home run of his career to give Washington a 5-0 lead.

Even though the 27-year-old only went 1-for-4 in last night’s game, he was able to move the runner over in his first at-bat of the game In the second, he moved Tyler Moore to second base on a ground out to second.

When the Nationals acquired den Dekker from the Mets back in March for reliever Jerry Blevins, the team valued his versatility in terms of being able to play all three outfield positions.

den Dekker was one of a few players last night who contributed when giving the chance to get more than one at-bat. Tyler Moore got the start at first base and went 2-for-4 with a run scored. Clint Robinson, who moved from right field to left field, went 1-for-4, and Michael Taylor, who was moved up to the leadoff spot, led off the game with a double and scored the game’s first run en route to a 2-for-5 night.

The Nationals didn’t have a night filled with home runs, but they were able to score runs with small ball. It started in the first inning when Wilson Ramos was able to leg out an infield single to put the Nats in front, Now, he may have got help from umpire Jerry Meals being in the way of Cesar Hernandez at second base, but it goes as a hit in the box score.

Moore, Robinson, and Taylor are three players who have gotten the chance to play every day with the injuries to the Nationals’ lineup. It’s good to see them take advantage of their opportunity and being that “next man up” to help the Nats stay on this seven game win streak.

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