The Nationals have still won only one series at home this season and they have lost their last three overall — including dropping two of three games over the weekend to the San Diego Padres.
But on Sunday afternoon, the Nationals, led by a trio of 20-somethings — Juan Soto (age 20), Victor Robles (21) and Carter Kieboom (21) — served notice to the Padres and the rest of the major leagues that baseball’s future is promising in the nation’s capital.
All three hit home runs in a come-from-behind, 11-inning, 7-6 Nationals win.
“Those guys are just special ballplayers,” Nationals starter Jeremy Hellickson said. Hellickson was the rookie of the year with Tampa Bay in 2011.
The Nationals became the first team in major league history to have three players under the age of 22 hit a homer in the same game.
“That’s amazing,” Soto said.
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“That’s pretty impressive,” Nationals manager Dave Martinez said. “Kudos to the boys.”
Soto had three hits including a three-run shot in the fourth inning that trimmed the lead to 6-3.
Nationals director of player development Mark Scialabba was all smiles outside of the team’s clubhouse after three players he helped nurture went deep at Nationals Park.
“(It) was great to see our young and talented core contributing to help us win today,” Scialabba said in a text to The Washington Times. “Remarkable accomplishment for the three of them.”
Veteran first baseman Matt Adams, getting the start for the injured Ryan Zimmerman, led off the last of the 11th inning with a walk-off homer off Matt Wisler as the Nationals improved to 12-14 after losing the first two games of the series. It was just the sixth win in 18 extra-inning games under Martinez.
The Nationals entered Sunday with a 7.25 ERA in the seventh inning or later and a 9.19 ERA in the eighth inning or later. Both marks were the worst in the National League, as was an overall 7.34 ERA for Washington relievers.
But right-hander Erick Fedde threw four scoreless innings before four of his teammates each tossed a shutdown inning out of the bullpen. Fedde was called up from Double-A Harrisburg to take Zimmerman’s roster spot after the veteran went on the 10-day injured list with a foot injury.
“I can’t say enough about what Fedde did today,” Martinez said.
Justin Miller (1-0) got the win as he retired three batters in the top of the 11th inning.
Earlier, there were boos from Nationals fans after second baseman Brian Dozier booted a groundball in the top of the third. There were more catcalls three batters later when Eric Hosmer crushed a three-run homer off starting pitcher Hellickson to give the Padres a 6-0 lead.
But the Nationals responded for their biggest comeback win of the season.
Kieboom, playing in just his third major league game, hit a solo homer to tie it at 6-6 in the last of the fifth. Robles had led off the fourth with a homer to make it 6-5.
Washington had a chance to win in the last of the 10th when the first two batters reach base. But former Orioles star Manny Machado made a great play at shortstop to throw out the Nationals’ Howie Kendrick to end the 10th frame.
Hellickson went three innings and allowed six runs (five earned) on six hits. Joey Lucchesi, the third lefty to start for the Padres in the series, gave up five runs (four earned) in four innings.
“When we play like we’re supposed to play we’re as good as anybody around,” Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo said this weekend. “And we’re waiting for that to take hold and to play our best baseball.”
That has not happened enough for the Nationals — who begin a series at home Monday with St. Louis. But Sunday was a nice glimpse to the future.
“Robles really kicked it off sliding into first base to get that hit (in the third). The bullpen today was outstanding,” Martinez said. “It was a great win and let’s feed off that and do it again.”
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