An 0 for 4 game in the second game of three for Washington in Arizona left Nationals’ second baseman César Hernández 8 for 63 (.127/.203/.175) in 18 games and 69 plate appearances in the month of July, with three doubles, five walks, and 14 K’s over that stretch.
“For me, it’s getting ready on time,” manager Davey Martinez said in diagnosing what was behind Hernández’s struggles. “Staying on top of the baseball, and being early. He’s been late a lot, and he’s been getting underneath the baseball, so we’re trying to get him on time, trying to get him to stay back, you know, here’s a guy that we know he’s hit a bunch of home runs last year.