Luis Garcia Jr notched his first four hit game of his career while the Washington Nationals drew 12 walks in an 11-4 win over the Atlanta Braves
The Washington Nationals got back in the win column with an 11-4 win over the Atlanta Braves on Tuesday night, picking up just the third win at home under manager Blake Butera. Yet it was how the Nationals did it that made it most impressive with first baseman Luis Garcia Jr. leading the way.
Garcia recorded a career night after notching his first four hit game across five at bats, helping to snap a six game win streak for the Atlanta Braves. His three RBIs proved to be timely to help put the breaks on a possible Braves comeback after his single into center in the fifth inning drove in Brady House before adding a two RBI double to put the Nationals comfortably ahead, 7-3, in the seventh inning.
It marked a welcomed development for Garcia, who notched just one hit over his previous 17 plate appearances and six games.
“After I got the base hit, I [went] to him and said ‘thank you for the confidence’ and thank God I got the hit and I feel good for that,” Garcia said postgame.
It wasn’t the only development after the Nationals also drew 12 walks in the win, tied for the second most in franchise history and most since facing the New York Mets back on April 7, 2019. The Nationals turned that into four runs, including a three run home run from Curtis Mead to stamp the win in the eighth inning.
Entering Wednesday, the Nationals rank top five across baseball in runs batted in (125), hits (213), stolen bases (26), total bases (340) while leading all of MLB in runs scored (136). The Nationals also rank sixth in all of baseball in team batting average (.253) and seventh in OBP (.334).
“Just really proud of our guys, executing their plan, waiting for a good pitch to hit,” Butera said postgame.
“Our hitters did a really good job of making him come to them and laying off some pitches just outside of the zone, really close pitches too, to get him out of the game early. And then continued that same approach with the relievers they brought in as well.”
The Nationals will look to continue the streak with a chance to move ahead in the series when the two teams meet on Wednesday evening. First pitch is set for 6:45 PM ET with Zack Littell slated to make the start.