Ian Desmond entered Monday’s game hitless in his previous 17 at-bats, a streak that dated back to July 10, a span of 10 days. But in the Nats’ 7-2 win over the Mets on Monday night, Desmond reached base twice: once on an infield single and then later with a two-run homer, his eighth of the season and the 99th of his career.
Desmond has been struggling all season and with a .208 average after Monday knows he isn’t out of the woods quite yet. But the 29-year-old shortstop says he has been feeling better at the plate in recent days and part of the reason may be due to some words of encouragement from arguably the best to ever play his position.