Washington Nationals third baseman Yunel Escobar had five hits in Monday’s 11-1 win over the Arizona Diamondbacks, making him the first player since Ichiro Suzuki in 2004 to record multiple five-hit performances over a span of seven or fewer games, according to Elias Sports Bureau, via ESPN Stats & Info.
Escobar singled in each of his five at-bats Monday night, finishing with two runs and an RBI in a game that saw the Nationals carry a 10-0 lead into the third inning.
Batting second in the lineup, Escobar had three hits by the end of the third inning and four hits by the end of the fifth. It appeared he would likely get a sixth at-bat when he singled with two outs in the top of the seventh, but the Nationals then made seven consecutive outs to finish off the game.
The 32-year-old previously had five singles in five at-bats during last Monday’s 6-4 win over the Miami Marlins, finishing that game with a run and two RBI.
While he owns an impressive .410 batting average through his first 10 games in March, Escobar has not recorded an extra-base hit since April 22, when he smacked a three-run double in a 7-5 loss to the St. Louis Cardinals.
Just five of his 38 hits this season have gone for extra bases, as he has 33 singles, three doubles and two home runs.
Escobar‘s .342 batting average and 13-to-9 strikeout-to-walk ratio are both impressive, but his .423 slugging percentage is rather ordinary, and his .371 BABIP, via FanGraphs, is unsustainable.
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