Washington Nationals’ lineup for third of three with San Francisco Giants in D.C.

Adam Eaton was welcomed back to the Washington Nationals’ lineup with a fastball off his left elbow guard.

He shrugged it off and took his base, scored the first of the seven the Nats put up in their 7-5 win over the San Francisco Giants, and went 1 for 4 with two runs scored on the day after 53 games on the Disabled List recovering from an ankle injury and subsequent surgery.

Eaton was tested in right field too, where he started, with Bryce Harper in center and Juan Soto in left.

Don’t read into Michael A. Taylor’s absence though, because Davey Martinez said he’s going to be back in the lineup after a day off on Saturday.

“I talked to Michael, and he’s going to play too,” Martinez said. “I’m not going to sit Michael down. It’s nice to give him a day off today, but he’ll be back in there tomorrow.”

On Saturday, the Nationals’ skipper went with three left-handed outfield bats.

“It’s nice to get those three left-handed bats in the lineup,” Martinez explained.

“Juan is doing awesome. And it’s hard to sit him down right now, it really is. He’s hitting left-handed, right-handed pitching and he’s doing well, so he’s going to get an opportunity to play, and we’ll figure all this other stuff out as the days go on, but it’s a good problem to have.”

Having Eaton back in the lineup, what does that do for the Nationals?

“You see him,” Martinez said. “He got on base a bunch of times for us, and then he makes things go. So it’s nice. With him and Trea up there they make things happen. Plus he gives us a little bit more length in our lineup, so it’s nice.”

Eaton said he knew that the Nationals were going to work him back in slowly, however, so he’s getting a day off today after his first game back. Taylor’s back in there, Harper’s back playing right field, and Soto’s in left for the finale with the Giants (weather permitting)...

HERE’S HOW MARTINEZ IS LINING THE NATS UP VS THE GIANTS TODAY: