Crews crushes first MLB HR in leadoff debut as Nats win series from Yanks
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.
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 -- 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.
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.
Crews, who made his Major League debut on Monday, 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.
Crews got the start at the top of the order when Abrams got the day off against a southpaw starter. Rodón entered the game with a 7.27 ERA in the first inning, ranked fifth worst in baseball with a minimum of 20 starts. Additionally, only three pitchers had allowed more first-inning homers than Rodón’s eight going in.
“I would really like him to hit up at the top because he does take pitches, he understands the strike zone but yet he’s aggressive,” manager Dave Martinez said pregame. “I know that he can walk, so I would love to hit him up at the top. But against some tough righties, I feel like he might be better suited in the bottom for now until we can get him going a little bit.”
Crews set the tone for the Nationals in the series win against the postseason-chasing Yankees. The speedy Nats stole five bases in the first two innings alone, including a career-high three by No. 2 hitter James Wood. Nasim Nuñez, who was born in the Bronx, recorded his first career RBI.
Starting left-hander MacKenzie Gore delivered six innings with six hits, two runs, one walk and six strikeouts. He reached triple-digit pitches (102) for the first time since June 25 at San Diego.