Red-hot Garcia gets Nats out to early lead to end losing streak (updated)

He’s not the most important player on the Nationals roster, and there are others who probably have more to prove over the next two months. But make no mistake, this is an important stretch for Luis García Jr., who would love nothing more than to continue what he’s done so far this summer throughout August and September and state once and for all the Nats should consider him their second baseman of the present and future.

It was exactly one year ago when the Nationals were quite unsure about that and optioned a slumping García to Triple-A to send him a message that he was assured of nothing. And the way manager Davey Martinez talked about him this spring, it seemed clear García still was assured of nothing and the organization wouldn’t hesitate to go in another direction at second base if he didn’t perform.

Four months later, García has done just about everything in his power to put those thoughts to rest. His defense is tremendously improved. And after an up-and-down first half at the plate, he’s now turning into one of the team’s most productive hitters, which he certainly proved this afternoon.

"It's definitely paying off for him," Martinez said. "I see a different kid. More confident. Understands what he needs to do. ... He's playing really well."

During a 6-4 victory over the Brewers that got a bit too tense late, García went 3-for-4 with a homer, a double, a single and a stolen base. By day’s end, the 24-year-old's offensive numbers for the season were creeping up on those of double play partner and National League All-Star CJ Abrams.

García, who since July 3 is batting .397 and slugging .679, now sports a .287 batting average for the season and a .772 OPS that trails Abrams’ mark by only .008. It was only fitting Martinez moved him up to the No. 3 spot in the lineup this afternoon.

"I feel sometimes in the past, I would focus on the big things and not worry so much about the little things, and it would affect my play. Now, it's the other way around," García said, via interpreter Octavio Martinez. "I focus on the little things, and somehow it just lets the big things play out. It's definitely helped a lot."

García jump-started a four-run bottom of the first that set the tone for the day for the Nationals, who extended their lead to 6-1 after the fifth. But they still ultimately needed closer Kyle Finnegan to come through with a four-out save to preserve this victory, with Finnegan allowing a pair of runners inherited from Joan Adon to score in the eighth before coming back out to pitch the ninth and secure the win for DJ Herz.

If García’s consistent offense has been one of the Nationals’ best developments of the summer to date, Herz’s consistent pitching since returning from Triple-A Rochester hasn’t been far down the list. The rookie left-hander was all over the place prior to the All-Star break, but in three starts since getting called back up from his brief demotion, he’s delivered nearly identical performances, all of them good.

Today’s start was Herz’s best yet. He cruised through his first three innings on 42 pitches, issuing a walk and hitting a batter but allowing nothing else to that point. He would surrender a leadoff double to William Contreras in the fourth, but he responded by retiring the next three Milwaukee batters, two via strikeout, each via the fastball he seems to go to most when he needs a big out.

"I feel like it's always been my best pitch, and it's been the pitch that I attack with," he said. "When the fastball's on, it's going to be a good day. And it's been good as of late."

The one run Herz allowed wasn’t even entirely his fault, with Sal Frelick reaching on an error by first baseman Juan Yepez, then taking second on a wild pitch. That did put him in position to score on Jackson Chourio’s two-out single to center, but the run officially was unearned and thus not charged to Herz.

His pitch count a mere 77, with just that one run and two hits on the board, Herz looked like he easily could’ve kept going deeper into the afternoon. But Martinez’s usage with him has been consistent. Herz was pulled after exactly five innings and exactly 79 pitches each of his two previous starts. This time, he was pulled having thrown two fewer pitches as the Nationals carefully monitor the 23-year-old’s workload in an effort to get him through the rest of the season.

"He's one of those younger kids that we've got to watch his innings," Martinez said. "And it was hot today. But there will have to be a time where we feel like if he can give us another couple outs in the sixth, we'll keep him out there."

Herz departed with a comfortable lead in hand, thanks to the Nationals’ four-run first and some tack-on offense later on against Aaron Civale, who didn’t look like the same pitcher who held this lineup to two runs over 5 2/3 innings in late June while still pitching for the Rays.

García was the star, but he wasn’t alone. Keibert Ruiz followed his first inning double with an RBI single to right to get the Nats on the board. Two batters later, Travis Blankenhorn (celebrating his 28th birthday) drove a double to deep left field to score two more runs. Then Blankenhorn came around to score on Alex Call’s single to center, completing the four-run opening rally, all of it coming with two outs.

"It was huge," Call said. "You go from just a 1-2-3 inning, then Luis hits one past the first baseman ... First of all, it's a deflater for them, because it's like: 'Ugh, again with two outs.' So it puts pressure on Civale. We did a great job of just making him work."

Call continued his unexpected hitting spree with a three-hit afternoon. The 29-year-old outfielder, summoned from Rochester last weekend after Jesse Winker was traded, is now 7-for-12 with four walks since rejoining the club, and in 12 total big league games this season he’s batting an eye-popping .429 with a 1.175 OPS.

"It is really satisfying, exciting, fun," he said. "Getting hits is fun. Helping the team is fun. And I know I'm a player that can help the team and be productive in all aspects of the game. So to have a nice sustained stretch of consistency, it means a lot."

Call is making the most of this opportunity, but most realists understand he’s a stopgap solution until top prospect Dylan Crews is deemed major league ready. García, however, still has the opportunity to prove he should be considered part of the long-term plan around here.

And with each passing day, he’s bolstering his case, a remarkable turnaround from where he was one year ago.

"It's something that probably had to be done," García said of his August 2023 demotion. "It's a lesson that had to be taught to me. And I think now that I'm up here, I've learned a lot from it. Now, just keep going forward."