Nats outwit O's with small ball, Soto at No. 2

Juan Soto can hit a baseball just about anywhere in a park, so when he’s moved around the batting order, it’s just as intriguing.

Manager Dave Martinez plugged the left-handed slugger into the second spot in a right-handed-heavy lineup against southpaw John Means. The spot is usually held by right fielder Adam Eaton, who had the day off.

The plan was a success, resulting in a 6-5 win over the Orioles at Camden Yards. Means was chased after just two-thirds of a frame.

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“I wanted Juan to get as many at-bats as possible, so we bat him second,” Martinez said. “And it worked out.”

Soto said he was surprised to learn he was batting second. He shifted his focus to getting on base and which swings he wanted to take. Soto delivered, going 2-for-3 with three runs scored. He also drew two walks and struck out once.

“I liked it,” Martinez said. “[Leadoff hitter] Trea [Turner] gets on, he gets a chance to bat with somebody on. He got a couple hits, had a walk. We thought about hitting him third, but I wanted Cabby [Asdrúbal Cabrera] to give him some kind of protection. It worked out.”

The 21-year-old entered the game with a .402 on-base percentage, 22 hits and 13 runs from the two-spot. Moving just one place up in the order sped up the pace of his plate appearances.

“The bats get quicker and quicker,” Soto said. “All the at-bats are just coming down and you find out you’re hitting the next inning. ... I just tried to figure it out and find a way to help my team.”

The top of the order is usually reserved for speed. Soto has been working on making sure his legs stay fresh since opening the season on the COVID-19 injured list. He scored the Nats’ go-ahead run in the eighth when he came home from second base on Rio Ruiz’s throwing error to first. That run helped preserve Max Scherzer's seven-inning, 10-strikeout afternoon. Scherzer allowed five runs (including three homers) on eight hits over 111 pitches as Soto and the Nationals’ late-game offense pulled ahead for his second victory of the season.

“I just try to keep my legs in shape and rest my legs as much as I can,” Soto said. “I know it’s a long season. It’s a 60-game season, but we’ve got to keep my legs healthy, my hamstring, calf and everything. I just try to get massages and other stuff, try to feel well [in] my legs, so when I need it, they can respond.”

Soto increased his batting average to .425 on the season. He continues to step up as the Nationals are without some of their major offensive contributors. Starting second baseman Starlin Castro is on the IL with a broken right wrist, and infielder/designated hitter Howie Kendrick has been dealing with tight hamstrings.

“With him, we’ve got to be very careful,” Martinez said of Kendrick. “I’d rather him just take the two days off, and hopefully tomorrow he feels better and we pop him in the lineup either at DH or first. … I told him, ‘Let me know when you’re right. We’d rather give you a few days off than you miss three weeks. Cause you miss three weeks, that’s pretty much it.’”

Soto will step up to fill the voids where he can, wherever that may be in the lineup.

Up next
The Nationals continue their road trip on Monday in Atlanta, where right-hander Aníbal Sánchez will take the mound in pursuit of his first win of 2020. He will face fellow righty Touki Toussaint at Truist Park at 7:10 p.m. ET, live on MLB.TV.