Espinosa adjusts to new role as utility hitter (updated)

With the return of three starters, players like Danny Espinosa have had to go back to their utility role planned from opening day. Espinosa is extremely valuable because of his defensive ability and has had a pretty good season at the plate. Obviously, he went through a tough period beginning in late June, but despite the loss Friday, had a solid night at the plate.

Espinosa went 2-for-4 with a double, two runs and a hit by pitch. On Wednesday, he started at shortstop going 0-4 with a strikeout, but did have a lineout to first and flyouts to left and right field. He said it's tough to go back to coming off the bench and still be able to maintain a good tempo and consistency at the plate.

"Last game I felt like I had four pretty good at-bats for not having that many at-bats," Espinosa said. "I feel alright. (It's) timing, trying to keep my timing and stay within myself and my at-bats rather than trying to go up there and try to create. It's so easy to do that when your not getting at-bats."

Friday's loss was a loss, but it was more devastating than your garden variety setback. The team had a 4-1 lead after seven innings, only to have Drew Storen give up a grand slam in a stunning turn of events. The Nationals ended up losing 5-4.

"Tough loss, you know, but tomorrow's a new day," Espinosa said. "We got two more games against them. Hopefully, come back and win tomorrow, and then have a chance to take the series. That's your goal every single series is to win the series. You have the opportunity to sweep, you sweep. But right now we'll go back (Saturday) and try to win (Saturday's) game and hopefully have a chance to win the series."

Espinosa will likely head back to the bench Saturday night with Anthony Rendon returning to the lineup. He said the team must maintain its focus even though they have now lost 13 of their last 21 games since the All-Star break.

"You just keep working," Espinosa said. "Try to clean the slate clean every single day. And you just go back out there and go after them again. There's no stopping, no one's feeling sorry for us. I guarantee you. None of the teams in our division feel sorry for us."

Updated: With Yunel Escobar under the weather, Espinosa gets back-to-back starts at second base and will also bat in the No. 2 hole.

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Shortstop Wilmer Difo had a RBI double to lift Double-A Harrisburg past Erie 5-4. Difo finished 2-for-5 with two doubles and is now batting .280.

Low Single-A Hagerstown Suns scored four runs in the eighth inning to comeback and stun Delmarva 8-5. Former LSU centerfielder Andrew Stevenson smacked a two-run bases-loaded double to ignite the rally.

High Single-A Potomac lost at Carolina 9-4. Left fielder Alec Keller and third baseman Khayyan Norfork went a combined five-for-eight with two runs and two RBIs.

Triple-A Syracuse whitewashed Pawtucket 5-0 behind Richard Bleier's (11-4) complete game shutout. Bleier went nine innings, scattered six hits, no runs, no walks and struck out two. Matt Skole hit his fourth homer.