Moved to leadoff, Harper homers as Nationals win
WASHINGTON » Slumping Bryce Harper was moved to the leadoff spot for the first time since 2013 and responded with a threerun homer that helped Max Scherzer win his fifth straight start as the Washington Nationals beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 12-4 Wednesday night.
Harper entered in a 5-for35 slump and had not gotten an extra-base hit since April 16. He grounded out in the first inning against Chad Kuhl (3-2), followed Wilmer Difo’s go-ahead homer in the third with a flyout, then gave the Nationals a 5-0 lead in the fifth with his ninth homer this season.
Harper walked for the major league-leading 39th time this season in the sixth, then left the game with Washington ahead 12-0. He led off in 16 games in 2013, his second major league season.
“Last night I spoke to Harp and I just came to the conclusion: ‘Why not?”’ Washington manager Dave Martinez said before the game. “He’s a little frustrated and, hopefully, he gets some more pitches to hit.”
Harper raised his batting average to .250. The home run was the fifth of his career from the leadoff slot. BRAVES 3, METS 2 » Mike Soroka pitched six impressive innings to win his major league debut for Atlanta, and the baby Braves hammered Noah Syndergaard at the outset of a victory over New York.
With the three youngest players in the majors all in their starting lineup, including the 20-year-old Soroka, the surprising Braves (17-11) began the game with four consecutive hits off Syndergaard to build a three-run cushion. Freddie Freeman laced a two-run double to drive in newbies Ozzie Albies and Ronald Acuna Jr. before Nick Markakis added an RBI single.
Soroka (1-0) became the latest top prospect called up by the Braves and the righthander from Canada fit right in with an excellent performance on the mound. With his father among family and friends in the stands who brought a Canadian flag, Soroka gave up one run and six hits. He struck out five and walked none. ROCKIES 3, CUBS 1 » Charlie Blackmon and David Dahl opened the game with consecutive homers off Kyle Hendricks, and Colorado cooled off Chicago.
The Cubs had won a season-high five straight games, scoring three runs or fewer in each one. BREWERS 7, REDS 6 » Ryan Braun hit a tiebreaking double and Travis Shaw ended his deep slump with a tworun homer, powering Milwaukee to a victory over Cincinnati. RANGERS 8, INDIANS 6 » Joey Gallo and Isiah Kiner-Falefa homered on consecutive pitches off Nick Goody in the 12th inning and Texas beat Cleveland.
Michael Brantley tied the game in the ninth with a two-out grand slam off Keone Kela, but the Rangers bailed out their closer who entered the game with a 6-2 lead. TIGERS 2, RAYS 1 » Matthew Boyd allowed one run in six innings, and that finally was enough to earn the lefthander a victory when Detroit beat Tampa Bay.
Boyd (1-2) began this season with three straight outings of at least six innings with one run allowed, but he took a loss and two no-decisions. Against Tampa Bay, he allowed seven hits and a walk and struck out seven, and his teammates provided just enough support.