The importance of getting Span on track (updated)

What can a five-hit game do for a guy's numbers less than two months into the season?

Well, for Denard Span, it can boost his batting average and on-base percentage in a big way and get him back closer to the type of numbers he would expect to have to this point in the season.

Span entered yesterday's game batting .239 with a .287 on-base percentage, significantly below his career averages. Largely because of Span's rocky start, the Nationals had the lowest on-base percentage out of the leadoff spot in the majors, leading to questions in manager Matt Williams' press conference session prior to yesterday's game about whether the skipper had considered bumping Span down in the lineup and using a different leadoff hitter.

This morning, Span wakes up with a batting average that jumped 24 points in one day, and an on-base percentage that moved up 21 points. He now owns a .263/.308/.363 slash line, which still isn't where he'd like it, but it's moving in the right direction.

Five-hit days are beautiful things.

Span has been tinkering with his swing for weeks now, trying to find the right mechanical approach that will allow him to have some consistent success. He's had days where he's busted out and looks like he's turned a corner, and then multiple-game stretches where it's been tough sledding.

But Span's going to continue to put in the effort, confident that things will eventually turn his way and allow him to run off a lengthy stretch where he's getting on base, scoring runs and causing havoc.

"I think you guys know me pretty good," Span said. "I work tirelessly in the cage, watching video. Just trying to get better every day. I probably said it last week or so, I've been having days where I find something and it feels good. Then maybe the next day it might not feel so good. I've been getting closer and closer to it.

"I've been seeing the ball well. I haven't been striking out, just more mechanical things have to iron out. That's why you play 162 games."

We know leadoff hitters are important to a team's success. They typically see lots of pitches, set the tone for the rest of the lineup and are the catalysts, getting on base for the guys behind them.

But check out how important Span has been to the Nats this season.

In the Nationals' 21 wins, Span has hit .369, has a .413 on-base percentage and is slugging .560. He has 10 doubles, three triples, four stolen bases, seven walks and six strikeouts.

In the Nationals' 17 losses, Span has hit .145, has a .188 on-base percentage and is slugging .145. He has no extra-base hits, two stolen bases, four walks and 14 strikeouts.

Talk about dichotomy.

The Nats need Span to produce at a consistent level, especially with Ryan Zimmerman, Adam LaRoche and Bryce Harper still on the DL. Span took a big step in the right direction last night, and the Nats certainly hope that will get him going in the positive direction for months to come.

Update: The independent Atlantic League's Somerset Patriots announced last night on Twitter that they have sold the contract of left-hander Zach Kroenke to the Nationals. Kroenke, 30, was 1-1 with a 7.59 ERA for the Diamondbacks in seven games, including one start, during the 2010 and 2011 campaigns. He was 2-1 with a 2.19 ERA in four starts for Somerset, and spent last year at Triple-A Nashville in the Brewers system, where he went 5-16 with a 4.51 ERA in 32 games, 19 of them starts. He is expected to report to Double-A Harrisburg.