Washington Nationals’ lineup for the second of three with the St. Louis Cardinals...

Through seven games this season, new Washington Nationals’ outfielder Adam Eaton is 8 for 24 (.333/.485/.583) with three doubles, a home run, eight walks and seven Ks. He’s spent the last two games atop the Nats’ order with Trea Turner unavailable, and he’s 4 for 8 with a double, two walks and two Ks in that role.

Eaton took the majority of his at bats in the leadoff role with the Chicago White Sox last season, posting a .276/.360/.421 line with 22 doubles, seven triples and 11 HRs in 119 games and 546 plate appearances.

Not bad for a backup plan with Turner unavailable for the next week or so.

“We had a double leadoff man from the time we got [Eaton],” Dusty Baker told reporters after last night’s 14-6 win over the St. Louis Cardinals.

“I told Trea that tonight’s a learning night, until he gets back, to just play the game in your mind, ‘What do you think he’s going to throw? What do you think the situation is?’ so when he gets back it won’t be foreign to him.

“Adam, I was telling the whole time to try to sleep like Tony Gwynn used to sleep, cause then he said that means you get two or three hits every night, so I’m sure he’ll sleep well tonight.”

Eaton went 3 for 4 with a walk and a sac fly last night, scoring two and driving in three.

He was one of four Nationals who had 3+ hits in the win, joining Bryce Harper (4 for 4), Ryan Zimmerman (3 for 4) and Stephen Drew (3 for 4).

Harper, in particular, stood out for Baker, who talked about the 24-year-old slugger’s big game after the 3 hr, 47 minute endurance test.

Harper reached base in each of his six plate appearances, singling off Adam Wainwright in his first two trips to the plate in the first and third, walking in the fourth, bunting his way on in the sixth, then taking another free pass in the eighth before sending a scorched grounder to second for his fourth and final hit in his second at bat of that inning.

That grounder ate up Kolten Wong, who was unable to knock it down or make a play.

The official scorer ruled it a hit.

“I’m glad that scorekeeper gave him that last hit, because he deserved it,” Baker said.

“I remember when I was a kid, there was the so-called, ‘too hot to handle.’ And that ball was too hot to handle. That ball ate him up. Bryce is hitting the ball hard, he’s using the whole field, and he’s patient and I’ll tell you, again, I didn’t know he went 4 for 4, I just know he got a lot of hits, so I just hope he stays hot.”

The Nationals try to keep things rolling tonight in the second of three with the Cards.

Here’s the lineup for tonight’s game:

NOTE: Dusty Baker told reporters yesterday, before the start of the series opener with St. Louis, that it was going to be Stephen Drew at short last night and then it would be Wilmer Difo today. Apparently Anthony Rendon is getting a day off too, so Drew is back in the lineup.