LaRoche gives Nats lead over Reds

By Dan Kolko

Nationals

April 14, 2012, 1:20pm

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In his 43 games played last season, Adam LaRoche had 15 RBIs. This season, in nine games, LaRoche already has 10 runs batted in. The Nationals first baseman added to his team-high RBI totals with a two-run double in the bottom of the third inning, giving Washington a 3-1 lead. LaRoche is now hitting .324 on the season and has exactly one-third of the Nationals' 30 RBIs this season. Think for a second about where this team would be through the first week and a half of the season without LaRoche. They sure wouldn't be sporting a 6-2 record; I can say that with confidence. LaRoche's double broke a 1-1 tie and gave Nats starter Edwin Jackson a bit of breathing room. Jackson gave up a double, hit a batter and allowed a Drew Stubbs RBI single in succession in the second, but has had clean first, third and fourth innings. He's thrown just 38 pitches through his four frames, which for Jackson is excellent. Jesus Flores has the only non-LaRoche RBI for the Nats today. Flores is now 5-for-9 this season after his fourth-inning single.