WASHINGTON _ For much of their time in spring training, the Phillies ogled two 22-year-old second basemen. Scott Kingery and Jesmuel Valentin generated strong impressions. They headed to Reading and Lehigh Valley, respectively, with confidence that they could each be a part of the future.
That is fine with Cesar Hernandez, 26 and presently the best hitter on the Phillies. He added muscle during the winter, which pairs well with his exceptional on-base skill and above-average glove. Now he can start a rally with a bunt single or hack at a 91-mph Joe Blanton fastball to change a game with one swing.
The Phillies beat the Nationals Saturday, 4-2, when Hernandez smashed a two-run homer to deep right in the eighth inning of a tie game. It ended a four-game losing streak. It prevented another bullpen conundrum and preserved a victory for Jeremy Hellickson.
Hernandez, through 11 games, has produced offensive numbers that rival almost any second baseman in baseball. He emerged in the second half of last season as one of the more valuable players in the Phillies' lineup, and the start of his 2017 season has only perpetuated that notion. He has become, in short, quite the interesting figure in this Phillies' rebuilding quest.
Hernandez is batting .313. He has a .353 on-base percentage and a robust .542 slugging percentage. The .895 OPS ranks behind Daniel Murphy and Ian Kinsler for all second basemen. It is among the best for all leadoff hitters across baseball.
Sample sizes are small in mid-April. Things can and will change. But Hernandez, making $2 million in the first of his four arbitration years, appears entrenched atop Pete Mackanin's lineup.
The first nine Phillies were retired in order by Nationals right-hander Tanner Roark. Hernandez began the fourth inning with a perfect bunt up the third-base line. He easily beat Anthony Rendon's throw to first.
Howie Kendrick followed with his own bunt single. Then Odubel Herrera slashed a double to the opposite field to score Hernandez. A Maikel Franco groundout scored Kendrick.
In the eighth, Hernandez batted with the go-ahead run at second. He whiffed at a Blanton change-up on the outside corner. He did not miss a meaty fastball. It was his second home run of the season; he did not collect his second homer last season until June 14, in the Phillies' 65th game.
Hellickson earned the win. Hector Neris pitched a flawless eighth. Joaquin Benoit, 39, tossed a perfect ninth inning for his first save as the Phillies' closer.
A Phillies starter not named Jerad Eickhoff reached the seventh inning for the first time in 2017. Hellickson survived his seven innings thanks to a bevy of deep outs that almost sailed over the green wall. He recorded 11 lineouts and flyouts to the outfield, some of them on the warning track. Howie Kendrick and Michael Saunders did not employ the most graceful routes to secure the balls, but they managed.
