Nats’ 8 HRs include 4 in row

WASHINGTON — The Washington Nationals tied a franchise record with eight home runs, including two apiece by Bryce Harper and Ryan Zimmerman, and Max Scherzer pitched six innings of three-hit ball in a 15-2 rout of the fading Milwaukee Brewers on Thursday.

Washington matched two major league records in a seven-run third inning: most consecutive home runs (four) and most home runs in an inning (five).

After Harper connected off Michael Blazek (0-1) in the first inning, Brian Goodwin started the long-ball barrage in the third with a two-run drive. Wilmer Difo, Harper and Zimmerman followed with long home runs. The streak was interrupted when Daniel Murphy flied out, after which some of the fans reacted with good-natured booing.

Anthony Rendon resumed the fun with a shot to dead center that finally chased Blazek, whose first major league start was memorable for all the wrong reasons.

BLUE JAYS 8, ATHLETICS 4: Steve Pearce hit a gameending grand slam in the 10th inning as Toronto beat Oakland to complete a four-game sweep.

YANKEES 6, RAYS 5: Shortstop Adeiney Hechavarria and second baseman Tim Beckham watched Gary Sanchez’s playable grounder bounce between them for a tying single with two outs in the ninth, Brett Gardner homered leading off the 11th, and host New York beat Tampa Bay.

CUBS 6, WHITE SOX 3: Kyle Schwarber homered twice and had four RBIs, and the rolling Cubs beat their crosstown rivals at Guaranteed Rate Field for their third straight win..

DIAMONDBACKS 4, CARDINALS 0: J.D. Martinez hit a grand slam, and Zack Godley pitched seven innings as Arizona won at St. Louis.

INDIANS 2, ANGELS 1: Trevor Bauer pitched a seasonhigh eight innings, Francisco Lindor singled to break a tie in the seventh, and Cleveland won its seventh straight game, beating Los Angeles at home.

MARLINS 4, REDS 1: Chris O’Grady pitched seven scoreless innings to help host Miami beat Cincinnati in the opener of a four-game series.

PADRES 7, METS 5: Manuel Margot came within a triple of the cycle, and fellow rookie Dusty Coleman hit his first major league home run, leading San Diego past New York at Petco Park.