Reserves help Nats tally season-high-tying 18 hits

WASHINGTON -- Not one, but three members of the Nationals' starting lineup had the day off on Sunday afternoon.

With catcher Keibert Ruiz, second baseman Luis García and shortstop CJ Abrams given the afternoon to rest amid a heavy early-season workload, Riley Adams, Michael Chavis and Ildemaro Vargas filled in at their respective positions, and they delivered from the bottom of the order in the Nationals’ 6-4 win over the Tigers.

“I can’t say enough about those guys that don’t play every day going out there and doing what they do,” said manager Dave Martinez.

There has not been an abundance of playing time for Adams in the backup role; Ruiz is tied for fifth in the NL with 39 games caught. But Adams makes an impact at the plate, as exhibited by finishing a triple shy of the cycle in the series finale. He crushed his second home run in three games, hustled for two doubles and singled into center field.

“The day as a whole,” Adams said when asked which hit stood out to him the most. “I was getting back into where I feel comfortable and not expanding the zone, getting pitches in the zone and being aggressive. … It’s been a goal of mine to try to be a little more aggressive and swing at strikes, and I think I was able to accomplish that today. So that was the best part.”

Adams (4-for-4, one run, one RBI) set career highs in hits and total bases (nine).

“When [he's] aggressive and he swings at strikes, he can hit,” said Martinez. “He’s got a lot of power, we know that. But it’s getting him to swing before he gets to two strikes. That one’s a big key, that’s something that we always talk to him about -- ‘Just let it go. Get a ball in the zone and let it go and see what happens.’ Today was a perfect example of what he can do when he does that.”

Vargas followed suit by belting his first home run of the season in the third inning. He had not gone yard since Aug. 28 last year. The two-run dinger was the 13th of the veteran’s seven-year career. He finished the day 2-for-4 with two RBIs and one run scored.

“When [he's] aggressive and he swings at strikes, he can hit,” said Martinez. “He’s got a lot of power, we know that. But it’s getting him to swing before he gets to two strikes. That one’s a big key, that’s something that we always talk to him about -- ‘Just let it go. Get a ball in the zone and let it go and see what happens.’ Today was a perfect example of what he can do when he does that.”

Vargas followed suit by belting his first home run of the season in the third inning. He had not gone yard since Aug. 28 last year. The two-run dinger was the 13th of the veteran’s seven-year career. He finished the day 2-for-4 with two RBIs and one run scored.

“Very good, very good, excellent,” Vargas said of hitting the homer. “I was anticipating an inside pitch, and the pitch came out a little slow. With my swing path, it connected in the right spot.”

Since returning on May 3 from an 18-game absence because of a right shoulder strain, Vargas has played in seven games at four positions plus a pinch-hit appearance.

“You don’t miss a beat with him out there, you really don’t,” said Martinez. “He plays hard, he understands the game, he’s very talented at multiple positions. He plays with a lot of energy and he keeps everybody involved. It was fun.”

Chavis contributed to the Nationals’ season-high-tying 18 hits with a 1-for-4 afternoon. It was his 14th game of the season as a member of a deep infield.

“He’s a student of the game,” said Martinez. “He wants to get better. He wants to help us in any way possible. … He stays engaged and he works hard, and I love that about him.”

Playing at second base for the seventh time this season, Chavis made a head-turning play late in the game. With runners on second and third in the seventh, Chavis fielded a ground ball from Akil Baddoo and fired it off to Jeimer Candelario at third base to nab Nick Maton well before he reached the bag.

“He knew he had time,” said Martinez. “I thought it was a heads-up play. … It was something that he thought through, and for me, it was a big play.”

Expect Abrams, García and Ruiz back in the lineup to face the Padres on Tuesday following a team off-day. The next time an everyday player needs a game to rest, Sunday’s win is an example of how there is a bench behind him ready to step up.

“I don’t think whether it’s me, Chavis or Vargas -- it’s everybody is pulling for everybody,” said Adams. “We’re definitely excited when we can see that we’re helping the team out and getting hits in situations, but everyone’s pumped for everybody there.”