TORONTO – He singled. He doubled. He stole a base. He doubled again, this time driving in the tying run. He was diving all around second base, in one instance making one of the best defensive plays of his career.
CJ Abrams was everywhere Tuesday night. And though the Nationals ultimately lost 5-3 to the Blue Jays, it wasn’t for lack of effort by their dynamic shortstop, who had his best all-around game of the young season.
“He’s been doing really well,” manager Davey Martinez said. “I’m happy because he’s hitting, but I’m also happy because he’s playing really good defense right now. He made some really good plays today.”
Yes, even on a night in which he went 3-for-4 with two extra-base hits, Abrams’ glovework stood out above all else. He found himself diving to make several plays at shortstop, none of them more impressive than his sixth-inning robbery of Will Wagner’s sure base hit up the middle.
On the play, Abrams dived to his left to snag the ball well to the right side of second base. Then he hopped to his feet and fired to first just in time to get Wagner. The Blue Jays challenged the call at first base, but replays were inconclusive and the call stood, much to the Nats’ delight.