Athletics catcher’s historic performance part of team’s 16-run onslaught against Nationals

The Athletics have not had much to smile about in 2025, but Tuesday night was a different story.

The Washington Nationals, who had lost five straight coming into the game, had no answer for the offensive onslaught as the Athletics won handily, 16-7.

Led by the trio of catcher Shea Langeliers, right fielder Brent Rooker and center fielder JJ Bleday, the Athletics combined for 16 runs, 24 hits and never looked back after a five-run first inning.

Langeliers became the first Athletics catcher with a five-hit game since 1972, three of which were home runs.

He got the scoring started for the Athletics in the first inning with this 402-foot shot to center field off Nationals starter MacKenzie Gore.

Langeliers’ second homer of the night came in the fifth when he hit a 387-footer to left off reliever Orlando Ribalta to give the Athletics a 10-1 lead.

He capped his second career three-homer game with a 419-foot home run to center off a 94 mph four-seam fastball from Andry Lara to give the Athletics the 11-3 advantage in the seventh.

He joins Travis d’Arnaud, Gary Carter and Johnny Bench as the only catchers with multiple three-home run games, per MLB.com’s Sarah Langs. Langeliers is the first player since at least 1900 to have three homers in his first career game starting at leadoff (h/t Elias Sports).

This double in the eighth secured the five-hit game for Langeliers. Per Langs (h/t Elias Sports), his 15 total bases are tied for the most by a catcher in a game since at least 1900 with Wes Westrum (1950) and Walker Cooper (1949).

According to MLB Stats, Langeliers joins Cal Raleigh, Mike Piazza, Earl Williams and Rudy York as the only catchers to hit 20 or more home runs in three of their first four MLB seasons with a minimum of 50 percent of their games at catcher.

The Athletics (50-65) are still last in the AL West and have struggled to find any consistency all season. Despite the struggles, Tuesday night was a needed distraction from that on a historic night at the plate from Langeliers.

Colby Colwell

Colby Colwell is a freelance contributor with a bachelor’s in Computer & Information Technology and a minor in Psychology from Western Kentucky University. With a deep passion for sports, especially NASCAR, he offers his substantial knowledge along with his adept writing skills. When he’s not writing, Colby enjoys traveling, cooking, and spending time with his family