Espinosa powers Nats to 7-4 comeback win

BALTIMORE - The comeback campaign for Danny Espinosa continued with a huge three-run homer in the sixth inning to lift the Nationals over the Orioles 7-4.

Espinosa scuffled mightily with his bat the last two seasons, leaving the Nationals requesting that the 28-year-old abandon switch-hitting in favor of batting exclusively from the right side. Espinosa spent all of spring training attempting to get comfortable facing right-handed pitching from the right side. Once opening day arrived though, the plan was scrapped and Espinosa was back to hitting from the left.

That's the side of the batter's box Espinosa occupied when he launched his three-run blast off Orioles right-hander Miguel Gonzalez to give the Nats a two-run advantage.

Espinosa's 10 homers lead all National League second baseman. Although, the versatile Espinosa has been far more than a one-position player for the Nationals this season. With all the injuries, the Nationals have relied on Espinosa to play first base, third base, shortstop and left field in addition to second this year.

"He's kept us afloat a little bit," Williams said. "He's played all over the diamond and done everything we've asked him to do and then some. It says something about his character.

"He contributes. Good defense wherever we put him. And from both sides of the plate, he's got some power. He's been playing really well."

Espinosa's homer allowed Jordan Zimmermann to collect his eighth win despite giving up four runs on nine hits after only five innings.

"(Espinosa) comes to the field every day ready to play," Zimmermann said. "We knew all along that he was solid defensively and one of the best defenders in the game. It just took a little longer for him to figure out how to hit a little bit and you can see now what he's doing and what he's capable of doing."

Zimmermann was also the beneficiary of some flashy defense from Espinosa in the third. After Chris Parmelee reached on a single, Adam Jones ripped a line drive up the middle that seemed destined for center field before Espinosa snagged it on one hop and then flipped to Ian Desmond, who completed the double play on a bullet to Tyler Moore at first.

"The one that was hit at my face," Zimmermann recalled with a laugh. "I didn't know they had him shaded up the middle and I was just trying to get out of the way and then all of sudden I look and there he is. So it was definitely good to see."

The Nationals entered the sixth trailing 4-2 until Bryce Harper crushed a solo homer to right off Gonzalez. Clint Robinson and Wilson Ramos followed Harper's home run with singles, setting up Espinosa's clutch moment.

"He's a Gold Glove second baseman," Harper said. "He's doing it from both sides of the plate this year. We're very excited to have him. He's very, very good up the middle. He's coming with the bat also this year, and he's one of the best second baseman in the league right now."

Espinosa's 10 homers are a distant second to Harper's 26 on the Nats, but the infielder's timely power has been instrumental to an offense searching for more longballs.

While Harper has been the Nationals' most valuable player through the first half of the season, Espinosa arguably has been the team's most reliable.

"I've just stayed with my work ethic," Espinosa said. "I come in every day wanting to play and look for (my) name in the lineup. Anyway I can help. Just continue with my routine every single day. I go out there and take my batting practice the way I want to and take my ground balls and do what I do in order to feel that I'm ready for every ballgame."