"We joked earlier, saying we're going to try to get some back-to-back hits because it felt like we hadn't done that in awhile," Newman was saying after the game.
It wasn't a joke during Sunday's game. It was a reality. Newman went 4 for 4 and reached base a fifth time on a HBP. Bryan Reynolds went 2 for 4 from his traditional number two spot, including a go-ahead bases clearing triple and a walk.
Newman was put back into the lead-off role this weekend. He has gotten occasional starts batting first after spending most of June hitting out of a spot he enjoys.