The offensive uprising also included homers from Starlin Castro, his third, and the first blast of the season from Jordy Mercer. Castro went 2 for 4 with four RBI, including the go-ahead hit in the third; Josh Bell added three RBI; and Washington collected 18 hits for its second-highest run total this season to sweep the two-game series.
“It’s a matter of getting pitches in the zone and just kind of getting lucky,” said Turner, who jammed his left middle finger sliding into third and is day-to-day, according to Manager Dave Martinez. “I’ve said in the past that I think cycles are a bit lucky. Obviously, you’ve got to hit the ball well, which takes skill and what not, but just hitting the right hits at the right time is a little of luck, so I got lucky today.”
Turner’s feat on his 28th birthday was capped with his second triple of the season. The fifth cycle in Nationals history included a first-inning single, a double in the third and a homer in the fourth. He finished the day 4 for 4, raising his average to .318, and it all came from the No. 2 slot in the lineup, behind Schwarber, who struck out three times and ended his torrid June with 16 home runs, the most in a single month in Nationals history.
Starter Jon Lester labored through five innings, throwing 96 pitches while yielding seven hits and five runs, all earned. Relievers Andres Machado, Ryne Harper, Kyle Lobstein and Kyle McGowin finished the game, combining to preserve Lester’s second win.
Trailing 4-2 heading into the bottom of the third, Washington took a 6-4 lead and went ahead to stay on Castro’s bases-loaded two-run single off reliever Andrew Kittredge that scored Juan Soto and Bell. Soto and Bell each drove in a run earlier in the inning.
Soto left the game after a flyout in the eighth, favoring his left hamstring. Martinez indicated afterward the slugging right fielder was dealing with cramping, as was Mercer in his right quadriceps.
“I think Juan is going to be okay,” Martinez said. “I talked to him. He said he feels fine, just a cramp. Jordy, we’ll check back [Thursday], as well as Trea. I took [Turner] out for precautionary measures just because I know he jammed it pretty good. We’ll see how he feels.”
Lester gave up an RBI double to Randy Arozarena in the fourth, but in the bottom half of the inning, Turner launched reliever Michael Wacha’s first offering to him over the right field wall for his 14th home run to expand Washington’s advantage to 7-5.
Harper allowed one hit in working all of the eighth, but Lobstein recorded only one out in the ninth before issuing a walk and allowing a single, compelling Martinez to turn to McGowin for the final two outs to provide the rest of the taxed and injury-depleted bullpen a welcomed break during Washington’s rugged stretch of 20 games in 20 days that began June 22.
Oppressive conditions, with the heat index into the low triple digits, presented an especially demanding challenge for Lester, who has dealt with fatigue and excessive perspiration stemming from hyperparathyroidism. Lester had corrective surgery in early March during spring training to remove one of his four parathyroid glands.
He rejoined the Nationals in West Palm Beach, Fla., a week later to begin the arduous rehabilitation process intended to ease him to full health.
The results had been mixed entering his second start this season against Tampa Bay. There were starts in which he finished or pitched into the sixth inning while permitting two runs or fewer. Then there were performances such as his most recent this past Friday when he did not get out of the third after yielding seven runs, all earned.
Lester encountered early trouble again against Tampa Bay, hanging a 3-2 curve to Yandy Díaz in the first inning. The Rays’ cleanup hitter drove it over the left field wall for his third homer. It was the 10th home run Lester has surrendered and the sixth straight game he allowed at least one.
“It’s not like you can use it as an excuse,” Lester said of the weather. “I mean, there’s 18 other guys that are playing in it, or 17 other guys that are playing in it and have to deal with it and have to execute pitches and have good at-bats and do all that stuff, so it’s not like I’m out there all by myself trying to do this.”
"cycle" - Google News
July 01, 2021 at 07:21AM
https://ift.tt/3xfmNfS
Birthday boy Trea Turner’s third career cycle sparks Nationals past Rays - The Washington Post
"cycle" - Google News
https://ift.tt/32MWqxP
https://ift.tt/3b0YXrX
Bagikan Berita Ini
0 Response to "Birthday boy Trea Turner’s third career cycle sparks Nationals past Rays - The Washington Post"
Post a Comment