The 5 best games by a Nationals batter

January 11th, 2021

For all the home runs, grand slams and standout at-bats, there were plenty of performances to choose from for the Nationals' best single-game hitting performances. Take a look back at some of the most memorable days at the plate in team history.

1. : April 30, 2017, vs. Mets
6-for-6, 5 runs, 3 HRs, 10 RBIs, 16 TB

Rendon entered the Sunday matinee at Nationals Park without a home run on the season, and he left with three. The third baseman became the first Major League player to go 6-for-6, hit a trio of homers and drive in 10 runs in a single game, lifting the Nats to a 23-5 win.

Rendon kept the heavy hitting coming throughout the game. He homered in the third and fourth innings against left-hander Sean Gilmartin and powered another off position player Kevin Plawecki in the eighth. He also nearly connected on a grand slam that turned into a double off the right-center-field wall against right-hander Fernando Salas in the fifth. Rendon holds the Nationals' record for most hits in a nine-inning game and is tied with Mark Reynolds for most RBIs in a game.

2. : July 27, 2009, vs. Brewers
3-for-5, 2 runs, 2 HRs (grand slams), 1 2B, 8 RBIs, 10 TB

Why stop at one grand slam when you can hit two? Willingham homered with the bases loaded in back-to-bat at-bats in the Nationals' 14-6 win in Milwaukee. The first slam was belted off right-hander Jeff Suppan in the fifth, followed by a shot off lefty Mark DeFelice the following inning.

Willingham became the 13th player in Major League history to hit two grand slams in the same game, and he is the lone member of the Nats to do so. He also set a team mark with eight RBIs that day, which stood until 2017, when Rendon passed it in the first game on this list.

3. : July 7, 2018, vs. Marlins
5-for-5, 3 runs, 2 HRs, 2 2Bs, 10 RBIs, 12 TB

One season after Rendon set the single-game franchise mark of 10 RBIs, Reynolds tied the record in an 18-4 victory over the Marlins. He got the night going with a second-inning home run off southpaw Wei-Yin Chen and hit a two-out blast against righty Elieser Hernández in the sixth. Reynolds bounced back from a down June performance to become the 15th player in history to drive in at least 10 runs. He was named the National League Player of the Week following this performance.

4. : July 5, 2018, vs. Marlins
3-for-5, 3 runs, 2 HRs (grand slam), 8 RBIs, 9 TB

Trailing the Marlins 9-0, Turner was the force behind the Nationals' 14-12 comeback win. Turner put Washington on the board in the fourth with a solo shot against right-hander Pablo López. Two innings later, facing lefty Adam Conley, he gave the Nats the lead with his first career grand slam. Turner’s eight RBIs are tied for most by a leadoff hitter all time.

5. : April 21, 2006, vs. Braves
4-for-5, 3 runs, 3 HRs, 1 2B, 5 RBIs, 14 TB

In addition to Rendon (see No. 1 on this list), there are four Nationals players to hit three homers in a single game -- Adam Dunn, Bryce Harper, Alfonso Soriano and Ryan Zimmerman. Soriano made the top 5 for the fact he added an extra-base hit to his performance. In Washington’s 7-3 victory over Atlanta, Soriano led off the game with a home run against Hall of Famer John Smoltz, and he went yard off the right-hander in his next at-bat in the third inning, too. After doubling off righty Ken Ray in the seventh, Soriano hit his third homer of the game in the eighth against right-hander Óscar Villarreal.

Honorable mention notable games

3 home runs

Bryce Harper: May 6, 2015, vs. Marlins
Box score: 3-for-4, 3 runs, 3 HRs, 5 RBIs

Adam Dunn: July 7, 2010, vs. Padres
Box score: 3-for-4, 3 runs, 3 HRs, 5 RBIs

Ryan Zimmerman: May 29, 2013, vs. Orioles
Box score: 3-for-4, 3 runs, 3 HRs, 4 RBIs

Hit for cycle

Trea Turner: April 25, 2017, vs. Rockies
Box score: 4-for-6, 4 runs, 1 2B, 1 3B, 1 HR, 7 RBIs, 10 TB

Cristian Guzmán: Aug. 28, 2008, vs. Dodgers
Box score: 4-for-5, 2 runs, 1 2B, 1 3B, 1 HR, 3 RBIs, 10 TB

Brad Wilkerson: April 6, 2005, vs. Phillies
Box score: 4-for-4, 1 run, 1 2B, 1 3B, 1 HR, 2 RBIs, 10 TB