Harper hits hard home run, powers Nationals over Mets

NEW YORK » Bryce Harper hit a home run so hard that it twice sailed over the head of Mets right fielder Jay Bruce, propelling Gio Gonzalez and the Washington Nationals past New York 8-3 Thursday night.

Harper lined a solo drive in the first inning that sailed about a dozen rows deep into the seats. The ball ricocheted out of the stands in a hurry and Bruce couldn’t catch the rebound, the carom flying far onto the grass.

Harper’s 17th home run left the bat at 116.3 mph, his hardest-hit ball since Statcast began tracking in 2015.

Daniel Murphy added three more hits against his former team and Michael A. Taylor hit the Nationals league-leading 100th home run to cap a five-run fifth. Manager Dusty Baker won on his 68th birthday, while Gio Gonzalez improved to 10-1 at Citi Field.

The NL East-leading Nationals had lost five of six going into this four-game series while the sub-.500 Mets had won five of six.

The banged-up Mets lost more than a game.

A day after pitcher Matt Harvey and second baseman Neil Walker left with injuries that will put both of them on the disabled list, center fielder Juan Lagares broke his right thumb trying to make a diving catch. Earlier in the game, the former Gold Glover threw out Harper at the plate.

Gonzalez (6-1) gave up two hits and five hits in seven innings. A career .102 hitter coming in, he helped himself with an RBI single.

Robert Gsellman (5-4) was tagged for seven runs and 11 hits in five innings. He had won three straight starts, but fell behind when Harper homered.