Reynolds' adjustment in Philly helped bolster slugger's confidence

Mark Reynolds raced out of the blocks when he joined the Nationals, hitting four homers in his first six games with the team. He ended up with six homers in May, his first month with the club. His next homer didn't arrive until June 29 at Philadelphia. Then came the walk-off thriller Reynolds produced as a pinch-hitter last night.

Nats manager Davey Martinez said Reynolds made an adjustment last week in the series against the Phillies that has started to pay dividends.

"He's actually been staying on top of the ball a lot better, not getting underneath," Martinez said. "I remember he was going through a stretch where he was fouling everything straight back, straight back. I told him, just try to stay to left center field. We talked about it. Stay through the ball a little longer and get your hits.

"I've seen him before get two strikes and shoot the ball to right field. I said 'Hey, when you get two strikes, stay on the ball.' He's been doing that. He's hit some unbelievable line drives as of late. And (Friday night), 3-0 I let him swing and he just missed a fastball. 3-1 he swung and hit one out of the ballpark."

Reynolds had warned after he began his Nats tenure with a hot streak that he would go through rough patches. He said last night that it is tough for any player to stay consistent when he isn't starting, getting five at-bats a game versus one pinch-hit attempt.

"Normally, I play every day, so it's kind of easier to get out of (slumps)," Reynolds said. "Getting spot starts and pinch-hits, normally off the back end of a bullpen, it's a little tough to get some confidence and get some swings. I got a couple days there in Philly where I put some good at-bats together, hit a home run and kind of got the ball rolling the other way.

"It was unraveling real quick. But that day got me going again, and I'm a lot more confident going up to the plate now."

Some prognosticators last week figured that when Matt Adams was activated July 4, Reynolds would be the odd man out. Reliever Tim Collins was designated for assignment instead. After Friday's dramatic win, looks like that was the right call. Having Adams added to the roster provided Martinez a critical fifth bat off the bench, one that could produce the longball. It all worked out Friday with Reynolds' walk-off.

Can a win like that, coupled with the 14-12 comeback win Thursday, be more meaningful for the Nats as they try to get on a positive streak?

"Oh yeah, it matters. You saw us win in Philly, blew them out and couldn't muster anything after that because there was no pressure to excitement," Reynolds said. "We won, cool, whatever, and then we came out flat.

"And then, I've never seen a win like that last night. At any level of professional baseball. to come back last night and win, and then tonight, a little closer game. But it's fun to have pressure situations and at-bats that matter. I don't want to say it's a turning point of the season, but hopefully it instills some confidence in here that it gets us back to who we know we are."

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The line score displayed only two runs allowed in five innings for Nats starter Gio Gonzalez.

In one three-inning span, he allowed only two runs, but the Marlins pounded out seven hits and left six men on.

The Nats defense put together a season-high four double plays behind him.

Afterwards, when asked about his start, Gonzalez simply talked about Reynolds hitting walk-off solo shot to give the Nats a 3-2 win.

Martinez said Gonzalez fought through a start in which the lefty threw 114 pitches to tie his season high.

"He gave us all he had for five innings," Martinez said. "His pitch count was high. That's what I expect from Gio, give me what you got, and he did that today. Got out of a big inning. Kept it tied. I was proud of him."

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The Nats had a scoring opportunity backfire in the fourth when Adam Eaton was tagged out at the plate following a squeeze bunt attempt by Spencer Kieboom.

"I knew Kieboom could do it," Martinez said. "I really liked it. Things were heating up a little bit. I thought it was going to be a good play. He just didn't get the ball far enough down the line. I looked at Adam, his jump wasn't quite as good. They do have a pick to third from the pitcher, and (Marlins starter Dan) Straily is pretty good at it, so we had to be extra careful. But I thought, in that situation, it would have worked."

The Nats did score two runs in the inning, but the failed squeeze play got them out of what might have been a bigger inning.

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Reliever Justin Miller has certainly gone through a rough valley after he also hit the ground running in his first few weeks with the Nats. Since that 21-strikeout first eight games with the club from May 26 through June 13, Miller went on a different kind of streak, in which he couldn't miss bats. Opponents scored runs in five consecutive Miller appearances.

Martinez said he was going to speak with Miller about the ups and downs. The burly right-hander was summoned to take care of the sixth inning Friday against the Marlins and fired a shutout frame, allowing one hit and striking out one.

The skipper was hoping to see Miller rebound. He certainly did with his hold on Friday.

"Yes he did. I talked to him (Friday) a little bit," Martinez said. "I told him, 'Just relax and have fun. You're a big part of our bullpen. You've done great. So just go out and relax and have fun. Try to keep that ball down.' I said 'You're really good when you're down.' I showed him the percentages of his fastballs and swing-and-misses. He appreciated that. He was really good today."