Washington Nationals: Offense Is Really Hot

The Washington Nationals are 8-1 on this road trip and the offense is the big reason. Here is a closer look at how they are doing it.

Bryce Harper did not produce as much as he would have liked last year for the Washington Nationals.

Some people believe he was injured part of the season, wasn’t the same after the Chicago Cubs series where he walked every at bat, and was just struggling. Well, now critics cannot say that anymore.

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In last Friday’s game, Bryce Harper had to face Matt Harvey, and Harvey had Harper’s number. Harper was 1-for-26 in his career vs the Dark Knight which did not please him. He made his adjustments alright. He hit a home run that went over the center field wall that silenced the New York crowd. Then, later in the game in the 8th inning he stayed disciplined and walked to Jerry Blevins.

The big adjustment that I saw came in the 11th inning. Harper was facing Josh Smoker. He doubled past the diving Michael Conforto. He was on second when Smoker threw a wild pitch in the dirt and Harper dove into third base safely. Two runners walked, bases loaded with Trea Turner up who also walked.

Bryce Harper was a game changer for Washington on Friday night. Instead of pulling off the ball like he did last year, he made adjustments and stayed on the ball driving it to left field for a double, stealing third, and scoring the winning run. Harper has came into this season with a mindset of leading this team to a championship and the Nationals have the best record in the National League.

Harper is not the only one that is hitting well.

Veteran Nationals first basemen Ryan Zimmerman is. This road trip he started his hitting off with a grand slam in Atlanta that boosted Washington to a win and eventually a series sweep of the Atlanta Braves at the new Sun Trust Park. Then, he went to Queens and hit a home run there on Sunday Night Baseball to propel the Nationals over the Mets.

Then, if you thought Zimmerman was done yet, you need to think again. So far in Colorado he hit a home run in the first game of the series and then a home run in the third game of the series.

Zimmerman can hit, but that isn’t it. Daniel Murphy has exploded on this road trip by hurting his former team terribly on Sunday Night with a grand slam to start the scoring to a sweep of the Mets. Then, he went into Colorado at Coors Field and hit a bases clearing triple on Tuesday and a home run on Wednesday night.

Then, if you forgot about the stud at shortstop for Washington, Turner, he has been great. On Tuesday night he made history with his first cycle of his career with a triple at Coors Field. His cycle was the second cycle of the season and the second at Coors Field this year.

Next: Rendon Showing Decent Plate Patience

The Nationals are the best hitting team in the major leagues and they are showing it led by Bryce Harper, Ryan Zimmerman, Daniel Murphy, and Trea Turner.

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