“I love having fans out there,” Espino said after the game as he met with reporters via Zoom.
“Like I’ve always said, our fans, they’re the 27th man.
It’s all about seeing if Max can go deeper in the game and not have to pinch-hit for him as early.” But that doesn’t mean Martinez is ditching his plans to hit Robles ninth in National League games, creating a situation where a de facto second leadoff hitter turns over the lineup, setting the stage for Trea Turner, Juan Soto and company.
Back in 2005, the Nats’ first season in D.C., Short earned an 11-game cameo on the strength of a stellar campaign at Triple-A New Orleans, where he flirted with a .400 average before finishing with a .383 mark.