Stephen Drew thrilled to make positive impact, will start Wednesday

Utility infielder Stephen Drew notched the first hit in an eighth-inning rally that helped to lift the Nationals past the Braves 2-1.

For a player trying to make an impact with his new team and not getting many shots at doing just that, this was a very nice first step.

"That was great. That was his first hit as a National," Baker said. "I told him before the game, he's playing tomorrow. (Anthony) Rendon's getting a day off. I hope he can come through tomorrow as well as he did today. That's the importance of the bench I'm always talking about."

It appears Baker will start Drew at third base Wednesday night against Atlanta so that Rendon can get the day off. It would be Drew's second start at third in his 1,147-game career. He has 1,075 career starts, but just the one time at third base.

Drew's base hit came with one out in the eighth in a scoreless game. Three batters later, Bryce Harper delivered a clutch two-run double.

Drew described his vantage point on the Harper hit and what he wanted to do to try to score.

"You've got two outs, swing of the bat," Drew said. "I could tell there it was slicing away. I couldn't tell where the ball was going. I was just trying to score. I kind of looked around and Anthony was right on me. Just trying to direct traffic there as much as I could. I couldn't really get a sense of where the ball was going, but I knew it was kind of slicing. I didn't even go back and watch. I just knew it was a big hit for Bryce right there."

Drew says getting a chance to now be on the same team with Harper after facing him in the past lets him appreciate what the young slugger goes through game to game to try to get better.

"It's good. I knew he is an outstanding player and plays the game right," Drew said. "Just being on this side, it's fun to watch. It really is. Playing against him over here with the Yankees last year, off and on, but actually seeing him day-in and day-out with the preparation and stuff, he's special."

And for a player that had only three at-bats in his first three games with his new team, this first hit was a big moment.

"It was good. Just basically trying to do not too much," Drew said. "I had already gotten to a count of 0-2. He painted the first one and the second one was borderline. I kind of took a step out to slow things down again. It's good. It's good to be able to come in and get a hit. The guys like Tone right there, Rendon, drawing a walk. It's a huge at-bat because you look at the game and Harp comes up in the situation you want him to come up in and he delivers. It's good to be able to do my job and get on for the guys and kind of set the tone for that inning."

And this is a guy that's used to starting. In his well over 1,000 career starts, 949 have come at shortstop. Is it tough to then switch gears and come off the bench when you are used to getting four or five at-bats every day?

"I've basically been asking guys that have been in this situation," Drew said. "It's something new, but it's also a challenge for me and I think I'm up for it. Guys like (Chris) Heisey that have been in this situation before, I really have just asked questions.

"I've tried to soak in as much information as I can so when I do get that chance, hopefully the preparation that I've put in ... in the game when the game is going on, it pays off dividends. I was able to do that tonight and it was a big win for us."