Marquez ties MLB mark with 8 Ks to start game

Colorado Rockies right-hander German Marquez tied a modernday major league record with eight straight strikeouts to begin a game on his way to setting the franchise record for most Ks in a season.

Marquez matched a mark Wednesday against visiting Philadelphia that was set by Houston lefty Jim Deshaies on Sept. 23, 1986, and equalled by New York Mets righty Jacob deGrom on Sept. 15, 2014.

The major league record is held by Mickey Welch, who had nine on Aug. 28, 1884, for New York’s team in the National League.

Phillies pitcher Nick Pivetta broke the string with a slow roller as he reached on Marquez’s throwing error.

Marquez had 10 strikeouts through four innings to give him 220. He surpassed Ubaldo Jimenez’s team record of 214 set in 2010.

CAPITAL FINALE?

More than 31/2 hours before the start of what many expect to be his last game at Nationals Park as a member of the Washington Nationals, Bryce Harper stood at his locker and let his eyes linger on that familiar white jersey with the curly red “W” on the front and his last name on the back.

Then Harper, who can become a free agent at season’s end, put on his full uniform, right down to the stirrups — the only player ready that far ahead of Washington’s 9-3 victory in its home finale against the Miami Marlins, which was stopped Wednesday after seven innings because of rain.

The storm arrived, naturally, as Harper stood in the on-deck circle while the last out of the seventh was recorded. That scrapped manager Dave Martinez’s plan to remove Harper from his spot in right field during the top of the ninth, to allow spectators a chance to salute him. He went 0-for-4 with a pair of strikeouts.

Harper is the only NL player with 100 RBIs, 100 runs and 100 walks in 2018.