Double digits and a D.C. record (Nats win a laugher 11-5)

By Dan Kolko

Nationals

September 04, 2012, 6:15pm

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The Nationals have hung double digits on the Cubs tonight, putting up 17 hits through seven innings. Nine of those hits have been for extra bases. Five have been home runs. The five homers has set a record for the most home runs ever by a D.C. baseball team in games played in the district. Five different Nats have connected for longballs: Ian Desmond, Jesus Flores, Adam LaRoche, Tyler Moore and Ryan Zimmerman. Backed by those homers, which have plated a total of seven runs, the Nats lead the Cubs 10-4 as we go to the eighth. Edwin Jackson went 5 2/3 innings, allowing four runs. He was relieved by Christian Garcia, who was called up from Triple-A yesterday and was making his major league debut tonight. Garcia, a 27-year-old righty who twice has had Tommy John surgery, retired the only hitter he faced, getting Welington Castillo to pop up to first baseman Adam LaRoche to end the sixth inning. LaRoche tossed the ball to Garcia after squeezing it for the third out, then gave the rookie a pat on the back. Pretty cool moment. Update: LaRoche added one more homer for posterity. Make that six home runs, tying a Nats record. And make that an 11-5 Nationals win. With the win and the Braves loss, the Nats are now 7 1/2 games up in the National League East.