ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Josh Bell was already feeling good at the plate, and it felt really nice to keep hitting in his return home to Texas.
Bell hit a go-ahead RBI single in the eighth inning, and also had a triple and double while scoring Washington’s only other run, as the Nationals won 2-1 on Friday night in their first interleague game at Texas in 17 years.
“That was cool. It was cool just knowing that I had some friends and family here,” said Bell, the big first baseman who is from nearby Irving, Texas. “Friends that played baseball with me growing up, being able to do this in front of them makes it all that more special,”
As a high school player, Bell hit a home run in the Rangers’ former stadium across the street, where he also played with the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2019. A long ball was all that was missing to keep him from a cycle with the Nationals.
Bell had a two-out triple in the first that ricocheted hard after hitting near the top of the right field wall. He scored the game’s first run in the sixth, when he had a one-out double before Luis Garcia’s ground-rule double that bounced into the Texas bullpen in right-center field.
“He had a great night. He’s been consistent for us all year long, he’s playing well,” Nationals manager Dave Martinez said. “Love him. He goes out there every day, you know what you’re going to get from him. He’s a professional. Right now, he’s having some big hits for him.”
Juan Soto led off the Nats eighth with a double off just-in reliever Dennis Santana (3-3) before Bell followed with his hit that was the difference. Bell, who estimated 30-40 friends and family being there with more expected over the weekend, is 11 for 27 (.407) his last eight games to raise his season average 12 points to .302.
“Right now, I feel really good….