Meneses’ bat (5 RBIs) menaces Sox in rubber-game win
WASHINGTON — Two years in the past, Joey Meneses was taking part in for the Red Sox’s Double-A and Triple-A associates, making an attempt to climb his option to his Major League debut. His subsequent membership could be the Nationals, with whom he achieved that large league aim in August 2022.
Meneses confronted his former group for the primary time since then this week, and he wrapped up the collection by propelling the Nats to a 10-7 win with a career-high 5 RBIs in Thursday afternoon’s rubber recreation at Nationals Park.
The 31-year-old designated hitter went 2-for-5 with a pair of doubles and two runs scored en path to Washington’s fifty fifth victory of the season, tying the membership’s 2022 complete.
“It feels good,” Meneses stated. “It didn’t really feel actual good when [Boston] let me go, however on the identical time, I really feel prefer it taught me loads. It taught me to work laborious, hold working, and I feel it created a greater work ethic in the long run to by no means hand over.
“So when you play against them and you’re able to hit so well against them, obviously it feels good.”
Meneses’ 5 RBIs are tied for many in a single recreation and not using a residence run in group historical past (2005-present). He joins Yadiel Hernández (May 1, 2022, at Giants), Daniel Murphy (July 4, 2017, vs. Mets; April 25, 2017, at Rockies), Ian Desmond (June 9, 2014, at Giants) and Jayson Werth (July 1, 2013, vs. Brewers).
Meneses additionally tied Stone Garrett with probably the most RBIs in a recreation this season for the Nats.
“It means a lot,” Meneses stated of the RBI complete. “Obviously, I try to go out there and try to produce any way I can. I’m trying to help the team win any way possible, so when the results are there, it’s definitely a great feeling.”
Meneses did his injury with extra-base hits. After grounding out in his first at-bat in opposition to lefty Chris Sale and reaching first on an error by third baseman Rafael Devers within the third, Meneses started making contact within the fifth. He doubled off righty reliever Josh Winckowski in his third at-bat to drive in Alex Call and Jeter Downs.
In the sixth, Meneses plated Downs and Lane Thomas in opposition to southpaw Chris Murphy to offer Washington an 8-1 lead.
Meneses’ offensive efficiency supplied sufficient cushion to fend off the Red Sox’s six-run rally within the seventh — which included a grand slam by Luis Urías and a two-run blast by Devers off reliever Robert Garcia — and protect the win for Patrick Corbin.
“They’re a good team,” Red Sox supervisor Alex Cora stated. “If you look at what they’ve done the last month, they’ve been playing well. They’ve got good arms, they hit the ball, they put together good at-bats.”
When Meneses debuted final season, he showcased his energy with 13 homers in simply 56 video games. Driving in all 5 runs on a pair of doubles on Thursday is an instance of the changes he has made to be efficient in different methods on the plate.
Meneses is batting .357 this season with runners in scoring place (sixth within the National League amongst certified hitters).
“I tell him all the time, it’s about the RBIs, about run production,” supervisor Dave Martinez stated. “Every time we get guys on base, he hits the ball laborious. It’s been superior. Some guys have the knack to do this, some guys actually don’t.
“He’s one of those guys that with guys on base, he bears down and hits the ball hard.”
In the previous two weeks, Meneses has delivered in opposition to two of the three organizations he performed with throughout his 10 seasons within the Minors. Hitting two homers (together with a game-winner) in opposition to the Phillies and logging 5 RBIs vs. the Red Sox reveals how a lot Meneses has grown since breaking via within the bigs final 12 months.
“He’s come a long way,” Martinez stated. “He got an opportunity here with us, and he’s taken full advantage of it. From last year to this year, he’s done really, really well.”
