Turner turns on the burners, swipes home
WASHINGTON -- Trea Turner's speed has already had an impact in his brief stint with the Nationals this season, but he joined an elite club during Wednesday night's 8-1 win, pulling off just the third steal of home in team history.
In the sixth, with runners at the corners, Danny Espinosa was caught between first and second base on a pickoff throw from Dodgers right-hander Louis Coleman. Turner made a dash for the plate after first baseman Adrian Gonzalez threw the ball toward shortstop Charlie Culberson, and by the time Culberson turned and fired toward the plate, Turner was sliding in safely.
"I forget a lot of times that it's actually stealing home," Turner said. "I'll take the stolen base and all that, but I don't count that as much as a straight steal."
Third-base coach Bobby Henley had told Turner to be ready for the chance to go, so once Turner saw Taylor look away, he knew he had a shot.
Turner recalled stealing home a few years ago at North Carolina State, when a left-hander made a pickoff throw toward first base and Turner took off from third. Still, this counted as Washington's first swipe of home since Bryce Harper did so during his rookie season in 2012. Ian Desmond recorded the first, on April 20, 2011.
"Oh, man, it's a lot of fun," Harper said about Turner's speed. "It brings that energy, that fire that you want."
Turner was on third base thanks to a run-scoring triple to left field, his second triple in as many nights. His maximum speed the past two nights has reached 22.7 mph and 22.4 mph, according to Statcast™, the first- and third-fastest max speed on triples in the Majors this season.
"Hey, man, I'm used to speed. I love speed," manager Dusty Baker said. "You heard me say that in Spring Training. Speed ... does a lot of things. It creates a lot of mistakes. Myself, I signed on speed. I had fast cars and a lot of tickets. I love speed."
Jamal Collier covers the Nationals for MLB.com. Follow him on Twitter at @jamalcollier. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
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