MLB Rankings: Greatest Hits in Week-10
6. Josh Naylor, 40 percent
Two weeks into his big league career, Josh Naylor is finding the going a challenge. He’s batting .244, and that’s counting a three-hit afternoon in late May in Toronto. On Friday, however, Naylor tried out a more comfortable role in the Padres lineup: hero.
The Padres and Washington Nationals were locked in a 3-3 tie entering the ninth inning. Three Padres pitchers combined to shut out the Nationals until the seventh, when four hits, among them an RBI single by Yan Gomes and a 2-RBI double by Trea Turner, tied the score.
Then Brian Dozier doubled off Adam Warren to open the ninth. A sacrifice, a hit batter and a wild pitch later, Dozier was across the plate with the go-ahead run.
The Nationals turned the game over to their closer, Sean Doolittle, to put a wrap on things. Closing for the Nationals has been a treacherous pastime this season, but three batters later, Doolittle was within one out of sealing the deal, although Eric Hosmer carried the tying run at third base.
Naylor was hitless in three at bats with a strikeout. This time, however, he applied bat to ball for a game-tying single through shortstop. The Padres’ chances, which measured at just 16 percent seconds earlier, stood at 56 percent when the tying run touched the plate. When Naylor stole second and Austin Hedges singled to drive him in, the Padres had the victory on lockdown.