'Dynamic' Crews crushes first career HR to propel Nats to series win

WASHINGTON – Nationals No. 1 prospect Dylan Crews was moved up to the leadoff spot on Wednesday night to face Yankees left-hander Carlos Rodón.

The result: Crews belted his first Major League home run two pitches into his at-bat in the Nationals’ 5-2 win as they took the series against the Yankees two seasons in a row.

“It felt great just to really set the tone and get things going,” Crews said. “It felt awesome. It was a great moment, for sure.”

In a 1-0 count, Crews made contact on a 93.3 mph fastball and drove it into the visitors’ bullpen at Nationals Park, a Statcast-estimated 399 feet to left-center field at 105.4 mph.

Crews -- the No. 3 prospect in MLB who made his debut on Monday -- became the second player in team history (2005-present) whose first career homer was a leadoff home run, per the Elias Sports Bureau. He joined Steve Lombardozzi, who did so on June 3, 2012, against the Braves.

“[I was] trying to get a fastball down, something that I can handle,” Crews said. “All around, the [Yankees’] staff has good-ride fastballs at the top, especially the starters. I was really just trying to handle something down in the zone, and I was able to get something middle-in and get the barrel to it.”

Rodón, who entered the game with a 7.27 ERA in first innings, said, “I threw the fastball in. I wish I had a little more on it. He made a good swing.”

Crews’ 41-degree launch angle tied CJ Abrams on May 27 at Truist Park for the Nationals’ highest launch angle on a homer this season. It tracked as a home run in all 30 Major League ballparks.

“[I thought it could leave the park] when the outfielders started climbing the wall, honestly,” Crews said. “I thought the one yesterday [a double] was too low, and then I thought the one today was too high. But luckily, it got out.”

Crews went 2-for-4 on the night. He collected his second double in as many games. In the fourth inning, Crews drove in Jacob Young on a 105.8 mph double that he pummeled a Statcast-projected 385 feet to left field on a first-pitch fastball from Rodón.

“With runners on, we tried to go with the slide step, and he hit another fastball,” Rodón said. “So he was on some heaters, put some good swings on the ball. He’s a dynamic player.”

Crews got the start at the top of the order when Abrams got the day off against a southpaw starter. Martinez expects to stick with the same plan on Friday with left-hander Shota Imanaga starting the series opener for the Cubs. Crews has experience batting leadoff from college and the Minor Leagues.

“He got ready early and he jumped on a fastball,” Martinez said. “It was awesome, it was good to see. I’m not going to say I called it, but I had a pretty good feeling. I said, ‘If he can get the ball down, he’ll have a good day.’ He smoked two balls that were down in the zone and really had a good day for us.”

The Nationals improved to 35-17 when scoring first. Crews jump-started an offense that stole five bases, plated four runs in the first two innings and gave starter MacKenzie Gore a foundation to reach his highest pitch count (102, including 65 strikes) since June 25 in San Diego.

“It was awesome,” said Gore, who delivered six innings with six hits, two runs, one walk and six strikeouts. “I thought great at-bats all game against Carlos, and he’s got good stuff. Awesome for Dylan. He’s been fun to watch since he got here. Great day.”

Crews is slashing .364/.417/.818 with two doubles, one home run, two RBIs, one walk, one stolen base and two runs scored in three games after completing his first Major League series. He already has a growing collection of several commemorative baseballs from his feats.

“It’s been special,” Crews said. “Growing up, I was a little bit of a Yankees fan, loved [Derek] Jeter growing up. You couldn’t write it up any better playing against them. Seeing [Aaron] Judge and [Juan] Soto on the other side, it’s been awesome to compete against those guys, be on the same field as them and take two out of three from them. It’s been a great, great starting week for me, honestly.”