Bryce lucks out, avoids severe damage to knee
WASHINGTON — The news could have been much worse for Bryce Harper and the Nationals.
General manager Mike Rizzo announced Sunday morning that Harper does not have ligament or tendon damage in his left knee after a scary-looking injury during Saturday night’s game vs. the San Francisco Giants.
Harper suffered a “significant” bruise on the play, according to Rizzo, and the club is hopeful he will be back this season.
“Although we feel we’ve dodged a bullet a bit here with any long-term ligament and tendon damage, the bone bruise is something of significance, and we’re going to treat him cautiously and hopefully have him back later on this season,” Rizzo said.
Asked for his initial reaction when he tumbled, Harper said, “I don’t like wet bases.
“It’s just a freak accident, freak situation. I think (the season) flashed before your eyes and you realize there’s nothing you can do,” Harper added.
An MRI revealed no structural damage. Harper was placed on the 10-day disabled list and the Nationals activated Michael Taylor ahead of Sunday’s doubleheader against the Giants.
The Nationals lost game one, 4-2, and then won the nightcap, 6-2, in thrilling fashion on a walk-off grand slam by Howie Kendrick in the 11th. — Andy Clayton
BLUE JAYS 7, PIRATES 1: J.A. Happ pitched six innings to win his third straight start, Josh Donaldson hit a two-run home run and host Toronto beat Pittsburgh.
INDIANS 4, RAYS 3: Austin Jackson led off the eighth inning with a home run, sending Corey Kluber and AL Centralleading Cleveland over Tampa Bay in St. Petersburg.
MARLINS 5, ROCKIES 3: Giancarlo Stanton homered for the fourth straight game, hitting his 42nd of the year to tie the season record for host Miami, which completed its first series sweep of Colorado since 2006.
BREWERS 7, REDS 4: Neil Walker had two hits in his Milwaukee debut, helping the home team to a victory.
BRAVES 6, CARDINALS 3: R.A. Dickey held host St. Louis to one run in seven innings, Brandon Phillips hit a tworun homer and Atlanta stopped the Cardinals’ season-high, eight-game winning streak.
ASTROS 2, RANGERS 1: Dallas Keuchel took a shutout into the sixth inning, Jose Altuve homered and AL-leading Houston stopped its longest losing streak of the season at five games, beating Texas in Arlington.
ATHLETICS 9, ORIOLES 3: Matt Chapman hit a tiebreaking three-run homer off Jeremy Hellickson in a five-run fourth inning, and host Oakland overcame an early two-run deficit to beat Baltimore.
DODGERS 6, PADRES 4: Justin Turner hit two home runs and Los Angeles won another series, beating San Diego at Chavez Ravine.
ANGELS 4, MARINERS 2: Parker Bridwell threw six strong innings and visiting Los Angeles completed a four-game sweep for its sixth straight win. — AP