Washington Nationals’ lineup for first of three with the Philadelphia Phillies

Victor Robles wrapped up the “first-half” of his 2019 campaign with a 2 for 4 game against the Kansas City Royals last Sunday in which he hit his 13th home run of the season.

The two-hit game left the 21-year-old outfielder 71 for 289 on the season (.246/.320/.443) in 85 games and 331 plate appearances, over which he’s hit 14 doubles, the 13 homers, walked 17 times, struck out 80 times, been hit 16 times, stolen 12 bases (in 18 attempts), and been worth 1.1 fWAR.

Robles also showed off his arm in that final game of the “first-half” as well, throwing a runner out at home for his fifth assist of the season.

Nationals’ skipper Davey Martinez talked after the Nats’ 5-2 win about Robles’s all-around performance in the first 89 games.

“He plays the game,” Martinez said, “the whole game. He’s a young player, loves to play, and he’s been playing well. The home run, as we all know, he’s got pop. We want his at bats to be consistent, and he’s working on that diligently, and not really trying to think about hitting home runs, just try to stay in the middle of the field and hit line drives.”

And the throw home and out at the plate?

“Unbelievable,” Martinez said.

Robles’s blast put Washington up 2-0 in the finale of the three-game set with Kansas City, but the Royals rallied to tie it up at 2-2 before Nationals’ third baseman Anthony Rendon doubled and scored as part of a three-run eighth that lifted the home team to a win.

“He’s an All-Star,” Martinez said of Rendon, who was selected for the Midsummer Classic but did not attend so he could rest and recover from some lingering injuries.

“I think at times he might try to do a little ‘more’,” Martinez said, after Rendon’s 1 for 4 game that day, but, he added, “that last at bat he just tried to stay in the middle of the field, that’s where he’s good.”

He is pretty, pretty, pretty good.

Rendon’s in there again tonight for the first of three with the Phillies. Robles too. Let’s get the second half started...

HERE’S THE LINEUP FOR THE 1ST OF 3 IN CITIZENS BANK PARK: