KANSAS CITY -- Nationals second baseman Daniel Murphy continues to be a hitting machine. With the second hit of his 3-for-4 showing in Monday night's 2-0 win against the Royals, Murphy reached career hit No. 1,000 at Kauffman Stadium.
Murphy, whose RBI groundout in the first inning gave the Nationals a two-run lead, was able to get his first hit of the night off Edinson Volquez in the fourth, when he singled to right field. Two innings later, the milestone hit came when he doubled off Volquez with two outs. He added a single in the ninth inning.
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Murphy was proud of the moment, but thought more about the team. He was more pleased that the Nationals won the first game of a tough three-game series.
"[The hit] was part of a W, so it makes it much more sweet," Murphy said. "It's 1,000 more hits than I thought I would get. I didn't think I would play in the big leagues, so it's a lot of fun."
Murphy has been one of the hottest hitters in baseball. He is 34-for-89 (.382) with two home runs and 13 RBIs.
"I feel pretty good in there. I try not to explain it," he said. "I keep trying to have good at-bats and keep the line moving for the offense."