Caps’ Cup an inspiration to Harper

WASHINGTON — The Capitals showed off their newly won Stanley Cup as part of a pregame ceremony Saturday before the Nationals met the Giants.

Bryce Harper has his mind on bringing another piece of hardware to Washington by the end of the year.

“I think a World Series trophy would be pretty cool too,” the Nationals outfielder said.

Harper hit his National League-leading 19th homer of the season in a 7-5 victory. His 437-foot blast to right-center field came off reliever Ty Blach in the fourth inning.

Adam Eaton scored two runs for the Nationals in his return from the 60-day disabled list. He had missed 52 games with a bone bruise on his left ankle.

“(I) was able to have some fun out there,” Eaton said. “(I) got to third base in my second at-bat and (coach Bobby Henley) asked how I felt. I said ‘I’m about Round 6 with Mike Tyson.’

“I was so tired. I’m so out of shape, it’s unbelievable.”

Giants starter Dereck Rodriguez (1-1), the son of Hall of Fame catcher Ivan Rodriguez, allowed five runs in 22⁄3 innings after giving a run in six innings in his first major-league start Sunday.

“I felt the same; I just didn’t have my best stuff,” said Rodriguez, whose father was in attendance. “I went out there and couldn’t really locate pitches.”

Giants catcher Nick Hundley hit a three-run homer into the bullpen off Nationals starter Gio Gonzalez in the third. The Giants loaded the bases with one out an inning later to chase Gonzalez, but they managed only one run on Andrew McCutchen’s sacrifice fly.

“We had some good extended ABs against Gonzalez,” Giants manager Bruce Bochy said. “We just needed another hit.”