Nats score 15 as Escobar fills leadoff void

SAN DIEGO -- The Kyle Schwarber leadoff experiment worked well for the Nationals last month. The left fielder went on a historic home run tear, and the team moved up in the mix of the National League East standings.

So when Schwarber was sidelined on July 2 by a right hamstring strain that will cause him to miss significant time, the Nationals needed to fill the first spot in the batting order, to find a new spark plug.

Enter: Alcides Escobar.

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“It’s working out right now,” manager Dave Martinez said after the Nationals’ 15-5 win over the Padres on Wednesday night at Petco Park. “We had two different leadoff hitters -- we had a guy that went up there and hit bombs every time he got up there, and we have a guy that’s working counts, getting on base.

“They’ve both been exceptionally good. And what a perfect time to get him here, when Schwarber got injured. We plop him in, and he’s doing well.”

Washington acquired Escobar, a 12-year veteran infielder, from Kansas City in exchange for cash considerations on Saturday. By the end of the Nationals’ lopsided victory Wednesday, Escobar was 8-for-21 (.381) in five games since the trade. He has tallied three RBIs, two doubles and scored three runs as a member of the Nationals.

“It’s just amazing,” teammate Juan Soto said. “To have a leadoff hitter who can get on base and be around every time, it’s just great. It helps the team a lot because you’re going to get to your third hole, your fourth hole with men on base. That’s what you want -- you want runs.”

Escobar cited strong communication between his new teammates and the coaching staff for helping him transition quickly to his new club. He’s also comfortable in the leadoff spot, where he has made more than 1,200 plate appearances in his Major League career.

“I really enjoy it,” Escobar said. “It led me to be aggressive with my at-bats and have quality at-bats day after day.”

While Escobar had not played in the Major Leagues since 2018, the 34-year-old’s résumé included a standout ‘15 season in which he was named an All-Star, Gold Glove Award winner, American League Championship Series Most Valuable Player and played on the World Series championship team.

After Escobar played in the Minor Leagues and in Japan in recent years, his bat is heating up this season in the bigs, to go along with his defensive versatility and veteran experience.

“You look at today, we haven’t had a guy in a while go from first to third on a hard-hit ball to center field,” Martinez said. “He’s just a smart baseball player. He understands the game; he understands how to play it.

“I don’t ever have to look at him and tell him, ‘Bunt.’ He knows when to bunt. He’s just a really good baseball player.”

Escobar’s leadoff hitting sparked an offensive outburst from the Nationals on Wednesday that saw a three-run homer from the 2021 Home Run Derby contestant Soto and multi-hit performances from Soto, Trea Turner, Josh Bell, Starlin Castro, Yan Gomes and Josh Harrison.

“He works good at-bats. He battles up there,” Martinez said of Escobar. “It’s kind of a trend -- when you get one guy to do that and see pitches, it helps all the other hitters out. He’s been doing well for us.”

Escobar has been filling an immediate need in a shorthanded lineup. Five games into his time with the Nationals, he is staying focused on the here and now rather than the “what ifs” of the future, when injured players are cleared to return.

“I really don’t think about that,” Escobar said. “I appreciate the opportunity I’ve gotten with this team, and I’m looking forward to helping the team win any way I can.”