Nats, 2019 World Series champs, are eliminated; Phillies stay alive

Bryce Harper showed up to Nationals Park, his old stomping grounds, and hit a pair of home runs to help his current club, the Philadelphia Phillies, keep their playoff hopes afloat and eliminate his former club, the Washington Nationals, from playoff contention a year after they won the World Series. With homers from Andrew McCutchen, Didi Gregorius and Andrew Knapp, too, the Phillies won 12-3 Wednesday night.

The Phillies were 28-29 and third in the NL East heading into Thursday’s games but right in the thick of the playoff chase with three games to play in this pandemic-truncated season. Philadelphia is a half-game behind Miami for second place in the division, which earns an automatic postseason trip. man Solomon Thomas had season-ending ACL injuries. Running backs Raheem Mostert and Tevin Coleman are likely out several weeks with sprained knees. San Francisco QB Jimmy Garappolo sprained an ankle and may not play. Nick Mullens is the likely starter, coach Kyle Shanahan said.

PATRIOTS: Florida prosecutors dropped a misdemeanor charge against owner Robert Kraft after courts blocked their use of video that allegedly shows him paying for massage parlor sex. The Florida 4th District Court of Appeal found last month that police violated the rights of Kraft and the others when they secretly installed video cameras inside massage rooms at the Orchids of Asia Day Spa in early 2019. The court then blocked use of the video footage at trial.

BRONCOS: Added QB Blake Bortles to their roster. With Drew Lock (shoulder) sidelined, QB Jeff Driskel will start Sunday when the Broncos (0-2) host the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1-1).