Adam LaRoche hit a pair of homers and drove in four runs Friday in the win over the Padres.

LaRoche had a three-run shot in the fourth and then hit the second of back-to-back homers with Ryan Zimmerman in the sixth. He's now collected four homers in three games after totaling just three in his first 36 games.

Adam LaRoche has reached base in 16 of his last 24 plate appearances.

LaRoche has a modest six-game hitting streak going and has picked up multiple hits in three of those contests, raising his average from .129 to .196. The first baseman hasn't homered since April 20, but he's in a much better place at the plate, so the power should come around. "It feels good," LaRoche said after Wednesday's game. "Just being a little more patient overall, taking some walks, getting in some better hitter's counts. For a week or two there, I felt like I was 1-2 every at-bat and in defensive mode. So getting back to seeing it again is nice."

Adam LaRoche is out of Wednesday's lineup against the Cardinals.

LaRoche went 0-for-4 with four strikeouts on Tuesday and is hitting just .172 through 17 games, so Nationals manager Davey Johnson is giving him a breather. Tyler Moore will make the start at first base and bat cleanup against left-hander Jaime Garcia.