Jays trounced by Nationals

Nationals 6, Blue Jays 3

Edwin Jackson stymied Toronto into the ninth inning and Bryce Harper had three hits as visiting Washington cruised past the Blue Jays, who lost starter Brandon Morrow to a left oblique strain.

Jackson (3-3) posted his second straight sensational outing to earn his first road victory i n seven starts since joining the Nationals as an off-season free agent. The hard-throwing righty went eight-plus innings, limiting Toronto to three hits while walking three and striking out three.

Toronto’s Yan Gomes belted a two-out, two-run pinch-hit homer in the ninth off reliever Sean Burnett to make things interesting, but J.P. Arencibia followed with a groundout to the pitcher to send the Blue Jays to their fourth loss i n five games.

Morrow (7-4) left after just nine pitches, appearing to be in discomfort following a pitch to Harper. The Blue Jays said Morrow is considered day-to-day and will be re-evaluated Tuesday.

The Nationals wasted little time exploiting his absence. Harper drilled a run-scoring single off Chad Beck to bring home Steve Lombardozzi, who hit a leadoff double. Three batters later, Mike Morse plated Harper with a sacrifice fly.

After Colby Rasmus answered with a solo home run in the bottom half of the first, the Nationals stretched the lead to 41 on an Adam LaRoche two-run homer to right field, his 11th of the campaign.

Washington extended the advantage in the seventh, as Ian Desmond’s two-out bases-loaded single scored Lombardozzi.

Rick Ankiel capped the Nationals scoring in the eighth with a solo shot to center field, his fourth.

— Reuters