Despite Lombardozzi’s big night, Espinosa will be back in lineup on Tuesday
Slumping Nats second baseman Danny Espinosa doesn’t have to worry about becoming Wally Pipp, even though his replacement on Monday, Steve Lombardozzi, went 4 for 5 and knocked in the winning run with a two RBI double.
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Espinosa will be back in the lineup Tuesday night against the Astros, according to manager Davy Johnson, who has no immediate plans to use the versatile Lombardozzi at another position.
“He had a heck of a night,” Johnson said. “But Espy is my second baseman.”
Johnson compared Lombardozzi’s ability to hit with two strikes to one of the best second basemen in baseball, Tampa Bay’s Ben Zobrist. Lombardozzi’s game-winning hit came on an 0-2 count.
“He knows the strike zone. He makes pitchers throw the ball over,” Johnson said. “He’s a little more aggressive in this role, which is good. It’s hard to take a lot of pitches and be a really good two-strike hitter.”
Lombardozzi was drafted in the 18th round, but hit consistently at every minor league stop – Rookie (.283), A-Hagerstown (.296), AA-Harrisburg (.295), A-Potomac (.293), AA-Harrisburg (.309), AAA-Syracuse (.310). In 38 major league at-bats, including a September call-up last year, Lombardozzi is doing his thing — .286.
After his big night, Lombardozzi wasn’t lobbying for more playing time.
“You get that itch after you watch a few games. You want to get out there,” Lombardozzi said. “But I’m gonna do whatever Davey wants me to.”
