Wire Taps: Washington Nationals take 3 of 4 from New York Mets; Kyle Schwarber three home runs; Parra Shark returns...

How did the Nationals react to the reaction to Gerardo Parra returning to Nationals Park?

“We started laughing,” manager Davey Martinez said. “It was funny, because I watched J-Hay [Josh Harrison] and Josh Bell, [Jordy] Mercer, all those guys that weren’t here and didn’t experience it all the time, and you should have saw their faces. I mean, they were laughing they were excited about it. I told them it’s pretty cool to see them all do the Baby Shark. I know J-Hay mentioned, he said ‘I’m sure my daughters are doing it right now wherever they’re at right now if they’re watching the game.’ So hey, like I said, the fans were into it, it was a lot of fun. What can I say about Parra, comes in and gets a huge pinch hit for us and gets us going that inning.”

“That’s playoff atmosphere when Baby Shark comes on,” Patrick Corbin told reporters after a solid start against the Mets, “which is a little crazy when you’ve got a bunch of adults out there doing shark movements. But I mean, that’s been Parra ever since I’ve known him in Arizona. He brings energy, I mean, you knew he was going to do something there when he got up there. And just what a great teammate.”

“I was on the other side of it, I think,” Kyle Schwarber said after homering three times in the 5-2 win. “I’m pretty sure GP got a couple at bats in ‘19 against us when I was on the other side, and the song was playing, and the fans were loving it, or it was — I saw it on Twitter, and I was like, ‘Man, this is awesome.’ And to see the way that the fans get behind it and the way that we’re going to get behind it, and things like that and get these fans rolling, it’s a great feeling.”

“To be honest, I almost cried. I almost cried,” Parra said of the reception he received upon returning to Nationals Park for the first time since he helped the club win the World Series back in 2019. “If I compare my first at bat in the big leagues and that one, I feel more like nervous right now. So my leg shaked a little bit, and happy, happy to see all the fans stand up and play, dance Baby Shark, so I feel like I returned to 2019 again. So happy for that.”

Welcome back, Parra. The rest of you, go read your links...

NATS BEAT:

’Baby Shark,’ Kyle Schwarber lift Nationals past Mets - (WaPost)
"Gerardo Parra and Kyle Schwarber give the surging Nationals a jolt of energy in a series-clinching victory over the Mets."

Gerardo Parra is back with the Nationals - (WaPost)
"Gerardo Parra, the heart and soul of the 2019 Nationals, is back in the big leagues."

Gerardo Parra back in the big leagues with Nationals - (Washington Times)
"Gerardo Parra hadn’t been back in the District since December 2019. On Saturday afternoon, the 11-year veteran was told he was heading back to the big leagues."

Kyle Schwarber's three-homer day carries Nationals to win against Mets - (Washington Times)
"He whipped his batting helmet off, lifted it up to the crowd, then vanished back down the steps, away from the spotlight that has increasingly focused on him the past eight days."

SEE IT: Crowd goes crazy after Parra doubles in first at-bat with Nationals - (NBC Sports Washington)
"Parra's hit was a clutch one as it put a man on base for Kyle Schwarber, who the crushed his third homer of the day to help the Nationals seal a 5-2 win over the New York Mets and take the four-game series."

Why the Nationals brought Parra back now - (MASN)
"Parra had his contract purchased from Triple-A Rochester, where he was batting only .222 but with five extra-base hits, 12 RBIs and a .385 on-base percentage in 21 games."

Parra, Schwarber, fans bring the thrill back to Nats - (MASN)
"It began, appropriately enough, with Gerardo Parra stepping to the plate to the familiar strains of 'Baby Shark' for the first time since October 2019."

Nationals' Kyle Schwarber hits 3 more homers, has 5 in 2 games - (The Athletic)
"Maria Torres, Nationals beat writer: It's not just batting leadoff. It's selecting better pitches to hit when he does choose to chase a pitch outside the zone. Schwarber was in an 0-for-19 slump before starting his current stretch."

Kyle Schwarber hits three home runs in Nationals' win vs. Mets - (MLB.com)
"Kyle Schwarber has said the Home Run Derby is not on his radar. Even so, he has been hitting in games like he’s taking batting practice for it."

Gerardo Parra, Baby Shark returns to Nationals' lineup - (MLB.com)
"The text he received from his family said it all: “I want to hear the ‘Baby Shark’ again, Daddy.'"

NATIONAL(S) BEAT:

The Nationals' 'Pips' are starring without Max Scherzer and Stephen Strasburg, keeping the team in harmony – (The Athletic)
"The most recent Pip was Erick Fedde, pressed back into the rotation soon after missing almost a month following a positive COVID-19 test."

Kyle Schwarber’s Huge Day Pushes Nationals Past Mets - (The New York Times)
"Kyle Schwarber homered three times and tied a major league record with five in a two-game span..."

Kyle Schwarber’s three-homer day vs. Mets was 'special' - (NY Post)
"Long speculated as a possible left-handed fit for the overly right-handed Yankees lineup because of his ability to pull pitches over the short porch, Schwarber hit nine home runs on the Nationals’ 10-game homestand."

NL EAST UPDATES:

J.T. Realmuto homers as Phillies lose on the road again - (MLB.com)
“'To get that last one would have been huge,' Eflin said about the final game of a six-game road trip."

Mets' Brandon Nimmo takes successful step in rehab start - (NY Post)
"Brandon Nimmo, who has missed nearly two months after tearing a ligament in his left hand that was originally thought to be nerve damage, began a minor league rehab assignment Sunday for Triple-A Syracuse, going 1-for-2."

Zach Thompson impressive as Marlins lose finale - (MLB.com)
"After getting swept in St. Louis, the Marlins went to Chicago and reversed course, taking two of three from the National League Central-leading Cubs."

5 takeaways after Braves split doubleheader vs. Cardinals - (AJC.com)
"Outfielder Ronald Acuna hit his 100th career home run in the third inning off Cardinals lefty Kwang Hyun Kim. It was his 19th homer this season and ultimately won the game."