Nationals complete 4-game sweep of Reds

Ryan Zimmerman homered to become the Washington Nationals all-time career leader in a 6-2victory over the Cincinnati Reds on Monday afternoon, completing a fourgame sweep.

CINCINNATI » Ryan Zimmerman set the Nationals’ career home run record with a solo shot, and Bryce Harper connected again on Monday as Washington powered its way to a 6-1 victory for a four-game sweep of the Cincinnati Reds.

Zimmerman’s 235th career homer moved him ahead of Vladimir Guerrero for most in Expos and Nationals history. Guerrero quickly tweeted congratulations, saying he doesn’t mind being second.

The NL East leaders emerged from the All-Star break with an emphatically successful series — 13 homers, including three by Harper, and 35 runs overall by the league’s top offense. It was the Nationals’ first four-game sweep of the Reds and left them 6-1 against Cincinnati this season.

Washington improved to a season-high 20 games over .500 (56-36) with its ninth victory in 11 games.

The Nationals’ roster got a little better during the series, too. Washington shored up its weak bullpen by getting relievers Ryan Madson and Sean Doolittle from Oakland on Sunday. They’ll join the team in Los Angeles for the start of a series against the Angels on Tuesday.

Stephen Strasburg (10-3) recovered from his shortest start of the season by fanning 11 in seven innings and allowing four hits, including Eugenio Suarez’s homer. Strasburg left his last start — a 13-0 loss to Atlanta — after Nick Markakis’ liner deflected off his hip in the third inning.

Scott Feldman ( 7- 7) lasted only one inning. He gave up a double, a single, Harper’s three-run homer and Zimmerman’s solo shot in his first 12 pitches. Feldman left after facing nine batters and giving up five runs on 33 pitches.

Harper’s homer extended his hitting streak to 12 games. Brian Goodwin’s solo shot made it 6-1 in the sixth.

JOHN MINCHILLO — THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Washington Nationals’ Ryan Zimmerman runs the bases after hitting a solo home run off Cincinnati Reds starting pitcher Scott Feldman in the first inning of a baseball game, Monday in Cincinnati. Zimmerman’s became the Nationals’ career home run leader...