Nationals shortstop Trea Turner singled to lead off the seventh inning, stole second and later scored for a two-run edge.
In the next inning, center fielder Michael A. Taylor led off with a walk, stole second and eventually scored to give the Nationals a three-run lead.
Those back-to-back innings in a 5-2 win Tuesday over the New York Mets represented a new look for the Nationals, a team that just a few years ago relied too much on the homer to score.
Last season, the Nationals were seventh in the National League in walks with 542.