Historically, the leadoff hitter’s main objective is to get on base, use his speed to get in scoring position for the batters behind him. However, Kyle Schwarber rather score himself with home runs.
The Washington Nationals slugger once again hit a leadoff homer. This time he got Washington on the scoreboard in the nightcap of Saturday’s doubleheader against the New York Mets. Schwarber crushed a sinker from Mets starter Robert Gsellman 443 feet into the center field stands.
Needing a kick at that top of the lineup, the Nationals turned to the unorthodox solution of Schwarber. Saturday’s blast was his third leadoff home run in nine games this season.
But Schwarber wasn’t finished. In the fourth inning with two runners on, the lefty belted a three-run blast to extend the Nationals lead to 6-0. This one was off reliever Sean Reid-Foley.
He may neither hit for contact nor run the bases well, but he trots the bases just fine. Schwarber now has six home runs and 12 RBIs at the leadoff spot following his second blast of the game. Looks like the Nationals may have themselves a leadoff hitter with pop.
