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Trea turns heads with first Major League HR

Nats' No. 2 prospect hits game-tying shot in loss to Braves

ATLANTA -- Nationals second baseman Trea Turner hit his first Major League home run at -- coincidentally -- Turner Field in a 2-1 loss to the Braves on Tuesday night.

"That's funny," Turner said. "That's something my parents would like or find very funny. They pay attention to all sorts of stuff like that."

There was nothing funny about what Turner did at the plate. Turner, 22, displayed his power in the top of the sixth inning. The Nationals were down, 1-0, when Turner led off and hit the first pitch from right-hander Matt Wisler into the left-field stands.

"It's always nice to hit a home run, no matter if it's your first or your last. It's always fun, especially for me. I don't hit many. I enjoy every second of it," Turner said.

As he was jogging around the bases, Turner thought his teammates would pull a prank like ignoring him when he entered the dugout. He was wrong, however. He was greeted by his teammates and Ryan Zimmerman gave Turner the home run ball.

"I thought they were going to ignore me, but they were pretty happy. It was a big home run to tie the game," Turner said. "I was glad they didn't just big league me or go inside or anything like that."

Turner is considered the Nationals' No. 2 prospect, according to MLB.com, and he has already left a positive impression on his teammates since he joined the club in August.

"I never saw him play until he came up here. He has impressed me," said Tanner Roark, who allowed two runs over 6 2/3 innings in Tuesday's loss. "He works hard before the game. He takes ground balls, hitting in the cage. He wants to be here and he wants to prove to everybody else that he may look 15, but he can play at this level."

Video: WSH@ATL: Roark fans four over 6 2/3 innings

Turner is expected to be the starting shortstop in 2016, replacing Ian Desmond, who said that Turner brings a lot of energy to the team.

"He has unbelievable ability to hit the ball on the barrel. He is going to be one heck of a ballplayer," Desmond said.

Bill Ladson is a reporter for MLB.com and writes an MLBlog, All Nats All theTime. He also can be found on Twitter @WashingNats.
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