Royce Lewis is seeing results after starting a new pregame ritual.
For the past week, the Twins’ talented 26-year-old has sought out manager Rocco Baldelli for a conversation before the first pitch. Sometimes the discussions take place on the field while batting practice is underway, and sometimes they happen in Baldelli’s office.
Lewis will look to stay hot at the plate when the Twins play the Washington Nationals on Saturday evening in Minneapolis.
He doubled in the Twins’ 1-0 victory over the Nationals in the series opener Friday night. During his past five games, he is 8-for-18 with three doubles, three homers and six RBIs.
“I feel like I’ve been driving the ball,” Lewis said. “It’s just finally finding holes, per se. … I feel like I was the same, it’s just now they’re not catching it. I’m not getting robbed. I’m not hitting it right at the warning track in right-center field.
“Just picking better spots. Putting the ball in the air helps.”
The Nationals hope to experience similar success at the plate after they were shut out for the second straight game.
Washington left-hander Mitchell Parker (6-10, 5.00 ERA) will try to do his part on Saturday as he takes the mound for his 21st start of the season. Parker, 25, is looking for back-to-back victories after he held the San Diego Padres to two runs on five hits in six innings in his last outing, a 4-2 Nats victory.
This will be Parker’s second career start against the Twins. In his first matchup, he got the victory after allowing three runs on seven hits in six innings.
The Twins will counter with right-hander Joe Ryan (10-4, 2.63), who will make his 20th start. He has 132 strikeouts in 116 1/3 innings this season.
Ryan is aiming for his third victory in a row. He earned wins against the Pittsburgh Pirates and the Colorado Rockies in his last two outings.
In his only previous start against the Nationals, Ryan earned the victory after pitching seven scoreless innings. He allowed three hits, walked two and struck out six.
Nationals outfielder Dylan Crews remains sidelined because of a left oblique strain, but he is getting closer to returning. Crews has resumed baseball activities and took swings in the batting cage this week, and he could start a minor-league rehabilitation stint soon.
Crews, 23, hit .196 with seven home runs, 15 RBIs and 11 stolen bases in 45 games before his injury. The Nationals have high hopes for the future of Crews, who was the No. 2 overall pick in the 2023 MLB amateur draft.
“I’m very anxious (for him to return),” Nationals interim manager Miguel Cairo said. “He’s very anxious. He wants to play. He wants to come back.
“He’s going to be one of the leaders on our team. I’m looking forward to seeing him play and come back and be healthy.”
–Field Level Media
