Fast start

Brandon Watson homering in his major league debut

Outfielder Brandon Watson, one of the minor leagues’ most prolific hitters in the early years of the new millennium, doubles and homers in his first three at-bats in the majors 20 years ago today as the Washington Nationals beat the Astros 6-5 before a Monday night crowd of 34,255 in Houston.

Alas for Watson, he totals only 17 hits in 86 at-bats in an on-again, off-again career in the majors that lasts through the 2007 season.

After leaving the majors, Watson, whose 180 hits in 2003 with the Class AA Harrisburg Senators remain a single-season franchise record, continues to post .300 batting averages around the minors until he finally retires after the 2011 season at the age of 30.

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