Washington Nationals: Takeaways From 12-1 Win Vs. Reds

Danny Espinosa Does It Again 

Coming into spring training it was unclear who the Washington Nationals’ starting shortstop would be. After the spring many called for the Nationals to start young shortstop Trea Turner over veteran Danny Espinosa. I was one of the people who called for this to be done, and Sunday, as he has done all season long, Espinosa continued to prove the doubters wrong.

Espinosa came to the plate in the bottom of the fourth inning with the bases loaded again. Just as he did Thursday night, Espinosa crushed a grand slam to left, making it a 5-0  game. This homer gave Danny 17 on the season, giving him the team lead. A Harper homer in the fifth tied him at 17 on the year, but Espinosa took that lead back quickly.

In the bottom of the eighth Danny launched another homer, making it 18 on the season and giving him 15 RBI in the series alone. In one series Danny increased his RBI total from 34 to 49 on the season, and has his batting average up to .241 on the year.

Espinosa also impressed with the glove. In the sixth inning with Stephen Strasburg’s no-hitter still intact, Danny made an amazing jump throw to first, keeping the no-hitter going.

With this big series, Espinosa is in the top 10 in the N.L. in home runs, and is second on the team in RBIs, to Daniel Murphy. In my opinion, Espinosa has made a serious case that he should be the starting shortstop on this team for a long time, and the Nationals should try to lock him up. With how well Espinosa is playing, it may give the Nationals the option to shop Trea Turner at the deadline for a back of the bullpen arm.

All in all, as Nationals brodcaster F.P. Santangelo says, Danny Espinosa, is turning into the most dangerous eight hitter in baseball, and may becoming one of the most dangerous hitters in the National League

Next: Long Ball Fuels Victory And Baker Makes Tough Call