After a family loss, Rutherford records elusive first hit

So far, it’s been a weekend of firsts for members of this Nationals squad.

Jake Alu recorded his first major league home run on Friday. And on Saturday, after seven minor league seasons and a week in the majors, Blake Rutherford recorded his elusive first hit.

“I don't even know if it's really sunk in. It was a surreal moment,” Rutherford said of his first hit after the Nationals’ 3-2 walk-off win over the Athletics. “I can't really thank all these players, all the coaches for having my back and for telling me to keep going, to keep pushing. Every single one of them is picking me up every single day and I couldn't be more thankful for that. To have my brother fly in and my girlfriend here to be able to see it, not as many people as the debut, but to still have people here who are part of the journey is special and I'm extremely grateful for them and for all my family back home watching. It's just a special moment for all of us, not just me.”

The 26-year-old wasted no time in last night’s game. In his first at-bat in a 1-2 count, the left-handed hitter slapped a 100-mph outside sinker from righty Luis Medina the other way for a single to load the bases.

He had a huge smile on his face as he stood on the bag with his teammates giving him a standing ovation from the dugout and first base coach Eric Young Jr. giving him a big hug.

“I think everyone just saw me, I was grinding, I was in the cage a lot trying to just get the monkey off the back trying to get the hit,” he said of the reaction he got from the Nats. “And finally, I got the hit and it just felt really good. It felt good to get on base, contribute to the team any way I can. To cap it off with a walk-off by Keibert (Ruiz), it was just an awesome day. I'm extremely grateful to have this opportunity and thankful to have this opportunity. I'll never take it for granted.”

And he wasn’t done yet.

In the eighth inning, he recorded his second hit, a single up the middle, as part of a potential run-scoring rally. Then in the eighth, he drew an eight-pitch walk to load the bases and set up Lane Thomas’ game-tying, pinch-hit RBI single.

“Great at-bat,” manager Davey Martinez said of Rutherford’s first hit. “He stayed on the ball. He drove the ball to left field and then another one up the middle against a lefty. I actually thought he was gonna get a big hit for us. He took a walk, which is awesome. But I told (catching and strategy coach) Henry (Blanco) this could be his day right here. But what a great at-abt he put together just to get a walk.”

“Just try and simplify it,” Rutherford said of his approach in that eighth-inning plate appearance. “Try and put the ball in play or get a good pitch to try and hit out to the outfield to score a run. And if I don't get a pitch to hit, try and get it to the next guy. Obviously, Lane came up and did what he did and got a base hit and scored a run. So I just tried to get it to the next guy any way I can, whether it's a sac fly to score a run or to walk or whatever it takes.”

Rutherford has been with the Nats now for a little over a week. Entering last night, he was 0-for-16 with five strikeouts across five games. It’s hard for that not to weigh on a new major leaguer.

“I'd be lying if I said it wasn't weighing on me,” he said. “I wanted the first hit. It's been hard on me for sure, my family for sure. They've been riding ups and downs trying to get that first hit. But to get it out of the way and at home especially and to have the fans all cheer for me, it meant a lot for sure. Never know if you'll get this opportunity. And so to get this opportunity to get my first hit at home in front of fans was awesome and I'm extremely grateful for it.”

“Man, everybody knows how that feels,” Thomas said. “Your first time up and trying to grind for that first hit. So just excited that now he can relax and take his real at-bats.”

“Something we talked to him about was about chasing,” Martinez said. “Just don't chase. Get the ball in the zone. You've hit all year. Just get the ball in the zone, get the ball up a little bit and just try to hit the ball hard. Today he did that.”

Rutherford said he felt more and more comfortable at the plate as the game went on. He’s hoping he can remain comfortable up there now that his first hit is out of the way.

“I definitely felt my second at-bat, third at-bat, fourth at-bat, I just felt a little bit more comfortable when I got in the box,” he said. “Not that I was uncomfortable in the past, but just getting that first hit of the way, getting in the box, just a special moment to get that first hit. A relieving moment and thankful to god for that opportunity and just for everything that he's blessed me with.”

His first hit came at a good time personally for Rutherford and his family. As he said, only his brother and girlfriend were able to be in attendance. That’s because the Rutherfords were dealing with a death in the family on Friday.

It’s only one hit, with many more to come. But that ball signifies a moment of happiness for Rutherford and his family during an otherwise sad time in their lives.

“I got the ball, yeah,” Rutherford said. “I'm gonna give it to my dad and my mom. They're a huge reason I'm here. Love them, thankful for them. We had a family member pass away yesterday, my uncle Chuck. So it's been a long couple of days for my family. But this will be something that we'll be able to hang on to and celebrate and something that will be special for our family for a long time.”