MIAMI — Even as the Braves stumbled to an 0-9 start, Nick Markakis was among the National League’s most productive hitters. And when they snapped the streak and won their past two games, he was front and center after moving into the leadoff spot.
Markakis had three hits and three RBIs in Saturday’s 6-4 win over the Marlins, giving the veteran right fielder a .341 average with a major league-leading eight doubles, a .967 OPS, and 12 RBIs in 11 games, tied with Toronto’s Josh Donaldson for fourth-most RBIs in the majors.
His .667 average (8-for-12) with runners in scoring position ranks second in the majors, and Markais is also near the top at .550 (11-for-20) with runners on base. With runners in scoring position and two outs, he’s 5-for-8 with two doubles and seven RBIs including a two-run single Saturday that drove in the first runs of the game.
Since manager Fredi Gonzalez moved him into the leadoff role after the Braves were swept at Washington to start the current road trip, Markakis was 4-for-8 with a walk and four RBIs in two games, both wins.
The wins are what pleases Markakis most, and among individual hitting stats it’s hitting with runners in scoring position.
“That’s the name of the game, producing when it counts,” he said. “That’s what we’re up here to do and that’s what we try to do. We know it’s not going to happen every day, but if you can come through with some big hits in some big situations, it’s always big with two outs when you can score runs.”
Markakis said before Saturday’s win that the Braves, even after the 0-9 start, weren’t pointing fingers, hanging their heads, or waving a white flag less than two weeks into a six-month grind.
“We’re going to be around each other for a long time during the season, and we’re going to support each other,” he said. “Like I’ve said and like a lot of the guys have said, we’ve been in a lot of games this year. Just come up one pitch short, one play short, one hit short.
“We put ourselves in situations to win ballgames, and we’re just coming up short. It’s not like we’re going out there and getting blown out every night. We just need to keep battling, keep a good head on our shoulders, support each other and play the game.”
In his first season with the Braves, Markakis was coming off December 2014 fusion surgery for a herniated disk near his neck, which kept him from working out all winter.
After hitting at least 10 homers every season season and averaging 14 homers during his nine-year career with the Orioles, he didn’t hit a homer for the Braves until July and finished with three.
He hit .286 with a .347 slugging percentage and 21 extra-base hits (all doubles) in his first 75 games last season through July 19. In 75 games since then, Markakis hit .308 with 28 extra-base hits and a .424 slugging percentage before Saturday, including a .500 slugging percentage this season.
“I feel great. I feel stronger,” he said. “When you come back from injuries, it’s not going to all come back in less than one year or two years. It takes time. I like where I’m at right now, and hopefully progress on it.”
Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez said, “He’s healthy. He’s a different player. First day I saw him come in at spring training you could tell he was stronger. He’s moving around great, arm strength looks a lot better than last year. Everything. Good for him. I’m so happy for him.”
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