Nats clubbing homers and scoring late to key recent streak

The Nationals have hit 14 homers in the last six games. The four homers, including Stephen Drew's inside-the-park roundtripper, were the most hit in a game by the Nationals since five homers on May 24 against the Mets. They also hit four homers on April 19 at Miami.

Last season, the Nationals hit four or more home runs on May 8, May 19, June 16 and September 14.

The Nationals have made it a habit of scoring late in their last four games. Since Saturday's game, the Nationals have plated 14 runs from the seventh inning on.

* The athletic ability of Clint Robinson was on display again Tuesday night. He made a couple of outstanding plays near the wall in left field. His defense is not talked about much because many point to his pinch-hitting work from the left side of the plate. He also is known as Ryan Zimmerman's back up at first base and has held his own there. But having been able to just pick up the work in left field and make plays that some players would drop is big for the Nationals, as they rest regulars or they look to get through Bryce Harper's knee bruise.

* Triple-A Syracuse Chiefs shortstop Trea Turner has hit safely in 17 of his last 19 games and is hitting .314 this season. In seven of those games, he had two or more hits.

Turner has 13 doubles, five triples, three homers, 21 walks, 16 stolen bases and 24 RBIs. He is hitting .360 on the road and .340 vs. left-handed pitchers.

A lot of fans want him to be called up, but Turner cannot match Danny Espinosa's defense or game experience. Turner is getting close and certainly can hit. Espinosa is starting to get some hits, too, and is on a good roll. I expect we will see Turner sometime this year, but not in the next few days or weeks.

* The Nationals are 17-10 on the road, second only to the Cubs (17-8) in the National League. The Giants are also 17-10 on the road. The three-city 11-game trip continues in Cincinnati after tonight's finale in Philadelphia. Then the longest trip in terms of days this season finishes in Chicago next week against the White Sox. The Reds are 12-15 and the Pale Hose are 13-12 at home.