WASHINGTON – Keibert Ruiz continues to heat up in the month of May.
Ruiz drove in a career-high five runs in the Nationals’ 13-3 win over the Orioles on Saturday. He homered, doubled, scored a run and stole his first base of the season.
Ruiz has gone yard in three of his last five games played. Saturday put an exclamation mark on his turnaround from starting the season 10-for-56 in March/April.
The catcher came through in key moments for the Nationals, first homering in the second inning against O's right-hander Chris Bassitt. The early offense proved valuable for the Nats, who had to fend off a three-run, seventh-inning rally from Baltimore.
When the O’s cut the Nats' lead to only one run, Ruiz stepped to the plate with the bases loaded against reliever Keegan Akin. Ruiz delivered a line-drive single into left field that drove in CJ Abrams and Daylen Lile. Ruiz's five RBIs tied Abrams for most by a Nationals player in a single game this season.
In the next at-bat, Ruiz stole second base.