Big homers for Drew and Werth might have started something for Nationals

Offense came from Jayson Werth and Stephen Drew on Wednesday, courtesy of a pair of big home runs that broke open another scoreless tie between the Nationals and the Braves.

Drew smacked a solo shot, while Werth cranked a two-run homer. The Nationals shut out the Braves 3-0.

Drew said Braves right-hander Matt Wisler was tough early, but he found a way in his second at-bat to connect for his first homer with the Nationals.

"Two-two, not really trying to do too much," Drew said. "I got a pitch that ran back over. He had a really good sinker working earlier on. I just was fortunate enough to get a ball out over right there and put a good swing on it. It was good to get on the board."

Werth added a huge two-run shot of his own later in the frame, his first homer of the season as well.

"I was just a little out-of-sync my first at-bat, felt like my timing was off a little bit," Werth said. "Really just tried to work on my rhythm. I've been kind of taking a lot of pitches, trying to get into some of my at-bats, work some counts. I got into the box there and everything kind of synced up. I got a pitch up and out over the plate and put a good swing on it, so hopefully we can build on that, keep that going. That felt pretty good there."

On Tuesday, the Nationals did not score until the eighth inning. Drew said it was nice to break through earlier in this game and give starter Tanner Roark some breathing room.

"It's good to get on the board early," Drew said. "You don't know how the game is going to turn out. So when you can get on the board first and kind of put that pressure on and Tanner doing his job like I said, J-Dub coming up right there huge for us kind of eases things even more. You don't want to take off the gas pedal, but you got a three-run lead and Tanner can go after hitters even more."

It was a good couple of days for Drew with a big hit yesterday and then got the start Wednesday, providing critical hits in both wins.

"I know my role here. I'm just trying to prep myself best I can to put myself in a way to be successful and help this team," Drew said. "Whether it's in the field or hitting. That's my job. Just trying to get as much information as I can and then go out and do it. I've played the game before, so there's nothing new there it's just the one at-bat here or there. I'll always going be ready, but the preparation going into it, that's what leads up to it."

He also started at third base for just the second time in his career. But Drew said all those games, some 982 starts, at shortstop helped him prep for other spots in the infield. The adjustment was not difficult.

"It's fine. In spring training, that's what I can go off of," Drew said. "I thought I did well. I think playing at short in the big leagues really helps anybody to go into that utility role. Because short, really, you have to be in position, there's a lot in short that you don't think about, but I think about that it makes it tough. Being able to come out playing short and then going to second and third. Playing short makes it easier playing third."

Werth was relieved to finally get that first homer after starting the season just 2-for-19 (.105) at the plate, both singles.

Has he made any changes to his swing or the position of his hands?

"Subtle adjustments, nothing too crazy," Werth said. "That's all part of it. I was able to get it all synced together there. It's really what I've been working on but for whatever reason hasn't been consistent. It's so early in the season you kind of have to stick to what you know.

"Dusty talks about it all the time, you got to believe. I've been playing this game my whole life. I've been successful doing what I do. So I'm just going to hang in there and keep plugging away. I have a chance to have a big year here. I feel good."

Manager Dusty Baker said that belief in your game when you can't get a rhythm going is one way you can draw you out of a slump. That positive talk lifted Werth.

"It's way valuable. Confidence is the key in this game," Baker said. "You've heard me say that before. Hopefully, we can start rolling from here. We've still got to get some other guys going, but like I said in spring training, if you get two or three guys kind of going, that's about really what you can ask for until everybody else gets their act together. The good thing is that we're scoring enough runs to win and we're getting great pitching."

Werth said he has stuck with his strategy from years past when he begins slow: watch a lot of pitches.

"Sometimes it works out, sometimes it's tough to pull the trigger," Werth said. "I've always kind of been one to work the count and see a lot of pitches. Sometimes you got to keep them honest."

So can one swing change everything? Can this homer start something good? Maybe. Maybe not, Werth said.

"It can. It can help a lot. It can also mean absolutely nothing," Werth said. "The next at-bat was pretty telling. I swung at a heater in and fouled that off. Then I was down in the count and I spit on some good breaking balls in the dirt. I think my timing was really good, my rhythm was good. Ended up flying out, but barreled up on a pitch away. I feel like its close.

"I've been feeling that way for awhile but without the results its tough to sell anyone else on that. Hopefully, that will get things going."