Washington Nationals at Athletics

Held to just eight total runs in a three-game sweep at the hands of the Yankees, the Nationals closed the first half below .500 and with a bad taste in their mouths. They needed to turn the tide. “After the All-Star break, everybody wanted to come back and show that we’re here to compete,” infielder Andrés Chaparro said through interpreter Mauricio Ortiz. Consider that statement made. The Nats came out swinging in Friday’s road series opener against the Athletics at Sutter Health Park, piling up 21 hits in a 23-4 romp to start the second half on a strong note. Their 23 runs were tied for the second most in a game in franchise history. “They just rake,” Washington pitcher Cade Cavalli said. “I don’t know what else to say.” Tossing six innings with nine strikeouts to pick up his sixth win of the year, Cavalli allowed just two runs. In return, he got a whopping 18 runs of support from his offense, including crooked numbers in the third, fifth, sixth and seventh innings. Chaparro, who came into Friday’s game batting just .167 (9-for-54) with a .585 OPS, drove in eight of those runs himself. The first baseman’s career night featured four hits, including two-run and three-run home runs. His first dinger, off lefty reliever José Suarez in the fifth inning, traveled 467 feet, the fourth-longest homer hit by a National under Statcast tracking (since 2015). “I feel really good,” Chaparro said. “I needed this day, right?”