Garcia spurs Senators with four-hit night
With six multi-hit games since May 22, Luis Garcia and his hot bat looms large in the Eastern League first-half playoff chase.MLB.com's No. 64 overall prospect went 4-for-5 with a double and an RBI as Double-A Harrisburg topped Reading, 6-1, on Saturday night at FirstEnergy Stadium.
With six multi-hit games since May 22,
MLB.com's No. 64 overall prospect went 4-for-5 with a double and an RBI as Double-A Harrisburg topped Reading, 6-1, on Saturday night at FirstEnergy Stadium.
It was Garcia's eighth Minor League game with at least four hits and his first since July 29 with Class A Advanced Potomac.
"I felt good tonight," he said through a translator. "I wanted to come in with a clear head. It's been a bumpy road."
He entered the season with a .299 batting average in four seasons of professional ball. This year, he slumped after a high-water mark of .296 on April 11 and is hitting .234.
"It has been a tough start," he said. "But I come in every day to get my work in. Today, the ball fell my way. I just want to keep going to help the team win."
Gameday box score
Ranked No. 2 in the Nationals system, Garcia had a one-out infield single off the glove of left-hander and Phillies No. 7 prospect
Signed by the Nationals after he ranked ninth on MLB Pipeline's Top 30 international prospects for the 2016-17 signing period, Garcia flied out to open the third, then reached on a slow roller to third in the fifth.
Facing lefty reliever
Garcia ripped a two-out double to left in the eighth off southpaw
"Hitting is contagious," the New York native said. "I want to get on base, give the other guys a chance to drive me in.
"I work hard every day. I want to win -- and I want to get five hits every game. ... If luck goes my way, I'll be 5-for-5. I don't let the slump bother me when I'm on defense. Defense is defense; offense is offense. Defense is just as important as offense. We're just trying to win. We're close to clinching, so tonight felt good."
Kieboom went 2-for-5 with a two-run homer, three RBIs and two runs scored.
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After eight relief appearances with Potomac and four with Harrisburg,
Reading was paced by Phillies No. 9 prospect
Romero (0-3) surrendered six runs on 11 hits and a walk in five innings. He struck out four.
Duane Cross is a contributor to MiLB.com. Follow him on Twitter @DuaneCrossMiLB.