Trea Turner finished what he started Thursday. The Nationals are hoping their speedy shortstop’s thoroughne s will start a surge toward where they think they should finish.
Turner hit a pair of bookend home runs a solo shot in the fourth inning and a grand slam in the sixth to help Washington rally from a nine-run deficit and Turner drove inruns in four consecutive innings (fourth through seventh) and finished with eight RBIs total, tying a major-league record for most in a game by a leadoff hitter.
His yell right after the grand slam Yasir Durant Jerseys landed was equal parts rallying cry and release of stre s. The Nats, heavy preseason favorites to win the National League East (and one writer’s World Series pick), were feeling the pre sure of being below . Cameron McGrone Jerseys 500 and third in the division behind the Braves and Phillies in early July.
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“Hopefully, thats something we look back on in a month or two from now, or four, five months from now, and be like, ‘Man, that changed the course of the season,'” Nats reliever ShawnKelley told reporters, .
About 24 hours earlier, Turner and his teammates were hearing a different kind of yell. Ace pitcher Max Scherzer was airing them out, reportedly, in a players-only meeting after a lo s to the Red Sox. Turner delivered the G-rated version of the meeting notes.
“I think we all know that we are capable of playing better baseball, and Devin Asiasi Jerseys it’s time we do it,” . “It’s do or die now.”
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The Nats played dead for the first 3 1/2 innings Thursday. The 25-year-old Turner an NL All-Star candidate with 11 home runs, 22 stolen bases and nine defensive runs saved (tied for fourth in the NL) gave them life.
“I keep talking about the momentum,” he told reporters, . “I think that game was a huge momentum swing for us. If we can continue to ride that and play good baseball like we did after maybe the first four innings or so then I think we can beat anybody.”
They certainly can beat their remaining pre-break opponents: the Marlins (three games), Pirates (three games) and Mets (four games). The favorable schedule, more than Thursday’s thunderbolt, should get them up to full speed.
They’ll be Dalton Keene Jerseys more charged up if they get Stephen Strasburg, Ryan Zimmerman and Matt Wieters back from the disabled list in the next week or two, a potential development. There’s even a chance all three will be ready for the team’s first series after the break, which is at home vs. Atlanta.
A succe sful setthat weekend, and Washington might not slow down for a long time.