1. Nats’ barrage ties HR records

Washington hits 5 HRs in third inning, including 4 in a row.

The Washington Nationals matched two major league records in a seven-run third inning Thursday: most consecutive home runs (four) and most home runs in an inning (five). Brian Goodwin started the longball barrage in the third off the Brewers’ Michael Blazek with a two-run drive. Wilmer Difo, Bryce Harper and Ryan Zimmerman followed with long home runs. When Daniel Murphy flied out, some of the fans reacted with goodnatured booing. Anthony Rendon resumed the fun with a homer to dead center that finally chased Blazek, whose first major league start was memorable for all the wrong reasons. The Nats won 15-2.

The Washington Nationals staged their version of the Home Run Derby, with Michael Blazek serving as the unwilling batting practice pitcher.

Washington tied a franchise record with eight homers and matched two major league marks during a prolific third inning that highlighted a 15-2 rout of the fading Milwaukee Brewers on Thursday.

Bryce Harper and Ryan Zimmerman each homered twice for the host Nationals, who had 19 hits in reaching double figures in runs for the 18th time this season.

“We have a lineup that can do some special things,” Harper said. “Anything can happen.”

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

“We had a big offensive barrage today,” manager Dusty Baker said, understating the obvious.

All the home runs in the third inning were hit off Blazek (0-1, 8.31 ERA), who was making his first major league start following 108 appearances in relief.

“I felt like I made some decent pitches but they were locked in on everything,” the right-hander said. “It’s not how I pictured it going.”

He could have hardly imagined becoming the first pitcher in baseball history to allow five home runs in an inning.

Only five other major league teams hit five homers in an inning, a feat that had not occurred since Milwaukee did it in 2006. Washington became the eighth team to hit four in a row, the first since Arizona in 2010.

After Harper connected in the first inning, Brian Goodwin started the longball party in the third with a two-run drive after Blazek walked Washington starter Max Scherzer.

“The last thing I wanted to do was lead off the inning with a walk, especially to a pitcher,” Blazek said. “It just kept building and building from there.”

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 homer to dead center that finally chased Blazek, who gave up seven hits — six of them long balls.

■ Pitching on his 33rd birthday, the Nationals’ Max Scherzer (12-5, 2.23) allowed one run over six innings and struck out nine to bring his total this year to 201 — his sixth consecutive season with at least 200, the longest active streak in the majors.

Rays: Tampa Bay acquired first baseman Lucas Duda from the Mets and reliever Dan Jennings from the White Sox in separate deals.

Duda, 31, has 17 home runs and 37 RBIs in 75 games for New York. Prospect Drew Smith, a righthanded reliever, goes to New York.

Jennings was 3-1 with a 3.45 ERA in 48 appearances for Chicago this season. Minor league first baseman Casey Gillaspie was sent to the White Sox.

Michael Blazek is the first to give up five home runs in an inning.