Walters homers in fourth straight game

After leading the International League in home runs last season, Zach Walters is trying to prove he's worthy of another, higher league.

The Nationals' No. 10 prospect homered for the fourth straight game and collected five RBIs on Friday night, powering Triple-A Syracuse to a 10-1 romp over visiting Norfolk.

Walters slugged his seventh homer of the season in the eighth inning, a three-run shot off Tides reliever Preston Guilmet that capped the Chiefs' scoring.

"I got lucky," he said. "The guy I was facing has owned me my entire Minor League career. When I hit it, I thought, 'That might have a chance.' When it went out, I thought, 'OK, I know what to do now.'"

The 24-year-old second baseman began his big night with a two-run double in a three-run fourth as Syracuse built a 5-1 cushion against starter Chris Jones (3-4). Walters began the long ball streak on Monday against Buffalo before hitting solo shots on Tuesday and Thursday. Corey Brown homered in a franchise-record five consecutive games from May 20-25, 2012.

"I don't [follow the streak], to be honest. It's not that important to me," Walters said. "If we win, that's a great day. If I don't get any hits and we win, that's still a good day."

Walters, who led the IL with 29 homers a year go, made his Major League debut in September and has appeared in 27 games this season for Washington, where he hit .182 with three homers and four RBIs. He started off with a bang, going yard twice in his first four at-bats, but ultimately struggled without consistent playing time.

"To put it politely, it was very interesting," the University of San Diego product said. "I want to be with the team that wants me and wants me to be a part of something. I feel like I can help the team I'm with, but I guess they didn't feel that way."

A .300 hitter his first two Minor League seasons, the five-year veteran was acquired from the D-backs at the 2011 Trade Deadline for veteran right-hander Jason Marquis, a move that signaled a change in his game from a stolen base threat to more of a line drive power hitter. Walters' power emerged in 2012 when he hit a dozen homers in 126 games across three levels. He followed that by batting .253 with 29 homers, 77 RBIs and a .286 on-base percentage with Syracuse.

This year, his time with the big club ended when Adam LaRoche came off the 15-day disabled list.

Walters evidently had some pregame inspiration on Friday as the Chiefs invited a Minor League icon, the Cowboy Monkey, to perform at NBT Bank Stadium.

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- Zachary Walters (@Zwalters02) June 13, 2014

"Those guys are fricking awesome," Walters said afterwards. "I've seen them a couple times, it's part of being in the Minors. It's like the Boy Scouts -- once you see the monkey, it's one of those badges of honor. ... I said, 'I have to meet the monkey, I have to take a picture with the monkey.' I met the guy, I asked, 'Can I hold this guy?' He climbed up and rested up my shoulder."

Steven Souza, who hits behind Walters in the Chiefs' lineup, went 2-for-4 with his eighth homer and four RBIs.