CHICAGO -- Nasim Nu?ez has seen limited playing time in the first six weeks of his Major League career, but that has only emphasized the importance of staying prepared for the 23-year-old rookie infielder.

When his number was called in Game 1 of the Nationals¡¯ doubleheader against the White Sox on Tuesday at Guaranteed Rate Field, Nu?ez was ready. In Washington¡¯s 6-3 win, Nu?ez pinch-ran and scored the go-ahead run in the eighth inning, sparking a Nats rally with great baserunning.

Washington split the twin bill, dropping the nightcap, 4-0.

The Nationals selected Nu?ez in the Rule 5 Draft this past offseason, and he made their Opening Day roster this spring. But entering Tuesday, he had only appeared in nine of Washington¡¯s 39 games and received just three plate appearances.

¡°A lot of the coaches and teammates, they help me,¡± Nu?ez said. ¡°They mentally help me, let me know certain situations, and as I'm sitting there watching the game, I kind of start reading the situations.¡±

Nu?ez pinch-ran for Joey Meneses, who singled to lead off the eighth, when the score was tied at 3. He was attempting to steal second base when Luis Garc¨ªa Jr. grounded out to third baseman Zach Remillard on a ball that pulled Remillard closer to the shortstop hole.

Nu?ez recognized this and quickly turned on the jets. He advanced to third, where he slid in safely with a dive to beat first baseman Andrew Vaughn¡¯s throw across the diamond.

¡°Honestly, I didn't even think I was going to make it to second because the pitcher [John Brebbia] was pretty quick,¡± Nu?ez said. ¡°But they told me I should go, and it was a perfect situation. When I got to second, I looked up and the third baseman was kind of lackadaisical. He was a little slow. So [the] opportunity just presented itself.¡±

Adding to his dash from first to third, Nu?ez¡¯s helmet came off as he pulled into second base. He said he has a ¡°little bit¡± of experience playing running back from a time before his Major League career, which showed as he cradled his helmet like a football for a few moments as he ran before tossing it aside.

¡°I don't remember, honestly,¡± Nu?ez said with a laugh when asked about what happened with his helmet. ¡°I just know it wasn't on my head when I was going to third, and I was hoping I didn't get hit in the head with the ball.¡±

It didn¡¯t appear to slow him down any. According to Statcast, Nu?ez¡¯s sprint speed on the dash was 30.5 feet per second. For reference, Kansas City¡¯s Bobby Witt Jr. entered Tuesday first in MLB this season with an average of 30.4 feet per second.

¡°It¡¯s a split second to decide whether I can make it with my speed versus [Remillard¡¯s] speed, so I chose mine,¡± Nu?ez said.

The Nationals went on to score three times in the inning. After Nick Senzel walked, Nu?ez scored the go-ahead run on Keibert Ruiz¡¯s pinch-hit single. Then Trey Lipscomb¡¯s single drove in Senzel, and Ruiz scored on a Victor Robles sacrifice fly. The late-inning rally backed a solid start from Trevor Williams, who was charged with three runs (one earned) over five innings.

¡°Great baserunning right there,¡± manager Dave Martinez said. ¡°I figured we got one shot to get [Nu?ez] in there and try to get something going. He did a great job getting to third base.¡±

Sticking to the theme of being ready when your number is called, rookie lefty Mitchell Parker continued his impressive first stint in the Major Leagues with a solid outing in Game 2. He allowed three runs and five hits in five-plus innings, with two walks and three strikeouts.

The damage came on one swing in the third, when Parker gave up a three-run homer to Andrew Vaughn on an 84.9 mph splitter just below the knees.

¡°It was a good pitch,¡± Parker said. ¡°Good pitch, good hitter. A little disappointing because it was a good one, felt good, but it's going to happen. Just got to move on.¡±

Parker exited with the bases loaded and no outs in the sixth, but Jordan Weems got out of the jam unscathed on three pitches thanks to a 1-2-3 double play and flyout.

Parker, the Nationals¡¯ No. 20 prospect according to MLB Pipeline, joined the rotation last month in place of the injured Josiah Gray. In six starts, he has a 3.09 ERA over 32 innings.

¡°When you can leave the game just giving up three runs, it gives us a chance to win games,¡± Martinez said of Parker. ¡°He did well.¡±