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Will Nationals' offensive revival in St. Louis continue in Kansas City?

Dusty Baker was happy to see some Washington Nationals' hitters not named Bryce Harper step up in the three-game sweep of the St. Louis Cardinals. Will it continue as the Nats start their series in Kansas City?

By Patrick Reddington

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Jamie Squire/Getty Images

If Dusty Baker was concerned about the offensive issues the Washington Nationals experienced during the last three games of their recently-completed homestand, he wasn't sharing his concerns with the public.

After producing just three runs in three games as they were swept by the Philadelphia Phillies, the veteran skipper remained confident that things would sort themselves out.

"We'll get it fixed," Baker said. "It's just not easy while you're in it and it doesn't take long to really get in a funk like that. We don't have any choice, you've just got to keep playing and keep grinding and hopefully we'll get it fixed on the road trip."

"It's good to see some other guys coming through and sometimes you've just got to be patient and wait on them. It's hard because everybody wants you to panic, but there's no panic around here." -Dusty Baker after the Nationals dropped three straight to the Phillies

Asked how to fix the problems, Baker said that's what everyone always wants to know.

"If I knew at the moment, I would have fixed it a long time ago," he said. "So, like I said, we'll get it fixed. You've got to work your way out of these things. We're getting good pitching and that's where it starts. And you've just got to go back to work, it's that simple."

"There's not much you can do about that, you've just got to play, and things aren't always going to go your way and when they don't, then it's a test of your endurance and a test of your determination, and so right now we're getting tested."

In St. Louis, against one the highest scoring team in the majors, Washington took three straight, outscoring the Cardinals 17-6 as they swept the three-game set, with dominant outings from each of their starters and offensive contributions from some previously struggling hitters.

"It's good to see some other guys coming through and sometimes you've just got to be patient and wait on them,"  Baker said after the first game of three in Busch Stadium.

"It's hard because everybody wants you to panic, but there's no panic around here."

Baker was, of course, happy with the results in St. Louis.

"I can't remember ever coming in here and sweeping the Cardinals," he said after the series finale.

"Now we're going to the other league and I can give some guys some DH time and some rest on defense off our legs." -Dusty Baker on starting three-game set in Kansas City

"They're a tough bunch, especially here. They're operating a little bit -- when they got in at 4:30 in the morning [on Friday], I'm sure they're not going to use that excuse, but that has probably something to do with it, then the day game afterwards. But these are things that you have to deal [with] -- especially in baseball, hockey, NBA, where you've got tough travel and then an early game the next day, so our guys took advantage of it and we pitched well here."

The Nationals even got help from their pitchers on offense, which Baker said shouldn't be too surprising.

"They work on it. Prior to coming to pro ball and prior to DHing in the minor leagues and stuff, a lot of these guys were the best hitters where they came from and I remember when we were kids in Riverside, Bobby Bonds used to hit two home runs and throw a no-hitter, you know what I mean, and so it's just a matter of practicing, a matter of confidence mostly and just trying to be part of the team and the offense and not just realizing that your only job is to pitch."

"That's why it's exciting, hopefully, to keep the DH out of our league and keep it in the other league. Now we're going to the other league and I can give some guys some DH time and some rest on defense off our legs."

Cards' skipper Mike Matheny was asked about losing a series to the Nationals when his pitchers managed to keep the Nats' top offensive player in check. Bryce Harper went hitless in St. Louis, but the Cardinals still dropped three straight.

Nationals sweep three-game set with Cardinals in St. Louis

 Photo Jeff Curry-USA TODAY Sports

"We knew coming in that Harper has been hot and been very productive, but they've got quite a few guys that can hurt you and you see some players like the guys in the middle of their lineup that aren't or haven't been swinging it well you know it's a matter of time before they get something going.

"They have a very strong potential offensive team. It was nice to keep Harper at bay, but they had plenty of other guys that could do damage."

Here's the Nationals' lineup for the series opener with the Royals:

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