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Nationals' shortstop Ian Desmond connects for 100th career home run

Washington Nationals' shortstop Ian Desmond hit the 100th home run of his seven-year major league career out to center field in PNC Park. Unfortunately it came in a loss. Desmond was 2 for 4 tonight though, so there's that.

By Patrick Reddington
Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

If you're desperate for a silver lining, we've got your hook up. Are the kids still saying that? But as we were saying, if you need something positive to take from the Pittsburgh Pirates' 7-3 win over the Washington Nationals in the series opener in PNC Park, how about the fact that Ian Desmond had another good night at the plate?

"I was in a pretty bad place before, so it's not really hard to feel much better than that, but I'm working. I'm working hard..." -Ian Desmond on trying to turn things around at the plate

That's right, no.20, fresh off his inspiring chat with one of the three former Baltimore Orioles' greats who have positively impacted his career (we're talking about Cal Ripken, Frank Robinson and Davey Johnson just to be clear), Desmond had another good night at the plate against the Pirates, going 2 for 4 with a home run and two runs scored.

And the home run? It was the 100th of Desmond's career! Congrats, Desi.

We're trying to make the #Wecandothisbat hashtag a thing for Desmond so that people can eventually take it and use it like #InRizzoWeTrust and #Rizzopointstohead (okay no one uses that one) and all the other great hashbrowns we've (some of you've) come up with over the years.

But back to Desmond's big night in PNC Park. The 2 for 4 game left the Nationals' shortstop 7 for 13 with two home runs, two walks and four RBIs in his last four games.

Both Nats' skipper Matt Williams and Desmond were asked after tonight's game what's different that's allowed Desmond to see the ball better recently.

"I think the more calm he is at the plate, the better chance you have to see a baseball as a hitter," Williams said.

"If you're traveling toward the pitcher, it's more difficult, it makes everything look better whether it's 97 like the last guy [Arquimedes Caminero], or it's a changeup or a breaking ball, it makes it look like it's a better pitch than it really is, but if you can stay back enough and let the ball come to you a little bit, you have success. And I think he is doing a better job of that."

"If you can stay back enough and let the ball come to you a little bit, you have success. And I think he is doing a better job of that." -Matt Williams on Ian Desmond at the plate recently

"Obviously I feel better," Desmond said.

"I was in a pretty bad place before, so it's not really hard to feel much better than that, but I'm working. I'm working hard just like I was in April. I'm just getting hits now. But I definitely can say I feel better that's for sure."

Asked what was allowing him to see the ball better, Desmond said he wasn't really sure.

"I don't know. Partly confidence and partly some mechanical stuff and then a little bit of luck mixed in there."

Whether it's luck, a well-placed fastball or whatever it is, it's nice to see Desmond hitting the ball, and it was fun to see the reaction from his teammates on no.100.

Take a look through the link below if you missed it:

We talked about Desmond's night at the plate, Doug Fister's struggles, some rumors about the Nats and more on tonight's edition of Nats Nightly:

Check Out Baseball Podcasts at Blog Talk Radio with District Sports Page Nats Nightly on BlogTalkRadio

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