Entering Tuesday’s game against the Phillies, Nationals shortstop Ian Desmond was hitless in his last seven at bats. Then, he grounded into a double play in his first at bat against the Phillies on Tuesday.
Then he decided it was time to make a change.
Instead of opting to swap bats or change batting gloves, Desmond headed straight for the clubhouse and shaved off his chin beard. When he walked up to the batter’s box in his next plate appearance in the third inning, Desmond was sans facial hair.
Did the superstitious shave work? Well, Desmond flew out and grounded out in his next two at bats but did single in his final plate appearance of the game, snapping his hitless streak at 10 at bats.
