Jayson Werth wasn’t activated from the disabled list until Monday, so he missed the chance to participate in Major League Baseball’s first Players Weekend, when players were permitted to display nicknames on the back of their jerseys and the league relaxed its equipment rules. Werth’s chosen nickname was “Dub,” but Nationals pitcher Max “Blue Eye” Scherzer offered a much better alternative for Washington’s hirsute 38-year-old veteran after Monday’s game. Perhaps Werth can use it next year.
“It was great to have Grandpa back,” Scherzer, who also was activated from the disabled list Monday, said after allowing one run and striking out 10 in seven innings in the Nationals’ 11-2 win over the Marlins. “Have him back, he gets two hits and hits a home run, so he’s feeling sexy about himself. So even at his old age, he feels great, so it’s great to see him back in our lineup.”
Werth, who has been out of the Nationals’ lineup since fracturing his foot on June 3 at Oakland, received a standing ovation from the Nationals Park crowd when he walked to the plate for the first time in the second inning.
Standing ovation for Jayson Werth's return. So loud you couldn't hear Game of Thrones walkup song. pic.twitter.com/2cyCU3t4Ia
— Rudy Gersten (@DCBarno) August 28, 2017
Werth grounded out in his first at-bat but crushed a Julio Urena offering 425 feet to left field to give the Nationals a 4-1 lead in the fourth. He flipped his bat, turned toward the Nationals dugout and let out a scream before starting his trot around the bases.
We will not say "Werth the wait."
— Washington Nationals (@Nationals) August 29, 2017
We will not say "Werth the wait."
We will not say "Werth the wait."
... Werth the wait. pic.twitter.com/9jbBuJ629Q
“That’s what dreams are made of right there,” Werth told MASN’s Bob Carpenter and F.P. Santangelo after the game. “It was good to be back with the guys tonight.”
MASN sideline reporter Dan Kolko was filling in for Ray Knight on the “Nats Xtra” postgame show, or he and Werth might’ve combined for another classic postgame interview such as the one that inspired their dual bobblehead given out to fans at Saturday’s Potomac Nationals game.
“I was fired up,” Werth said after Santangelo remarked that he’s never seen him look more excited before a game. “You go down to the minor leagues and you get some hard lessons. It’s tough baseball down there, but it’s good to be back with my teammates, and we’ve got a long stretch ahead of us. This team’s built for October and we’re eyes on the prize and we want to win. … It’s easy up here, right? This is an easy game. After playing down in the minor leagues a little bit, it’s kind of eye-opening. You forget what it’s like down there and you forget what you’re playing for, but when you love the game, you love the game, and this is what it’s all about, being here and being with the guys and being in the big leagues.”
Grandpa stopped short of saying that he felt sexy Monday night, but he was excited about “the rumor going around,” which was confirmed by Nationals Manager Dusty Baker after the game, that Trea Turner would be activated from the disabled list on Tuesday.
“I’ve gotta get my legs back underneath me and get up to speed, but I feel good,” Werth said. ” … We’re getting the band back together.”
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