Zimmerman’s record homer lifts Nationals
CINCINNATI — The NL East leaders opened the second half of the season with a franchise record, a series sweep and a significant upgrade — exactly how the Nationals wanted to keep their momentum going.
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.
“It’s special to be in one place your entire career,” said Zimmerman, in his 12th season with the team that made him a first-round draft pick. “You can’t do stuff like this if you’re not in the same place for a long time. So I feel very lucky to have spent my entire career here, honored to have hit more home runs than any Expo or National. It’s cool.”
The Nationals 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.
ROCKIES 9, PADRES 6: In Denver, Charlie Blackmon ‘s fourth leadoff homer of the season hit the facing of the third deck, hardthrowing rookie German Marquez tied a career high with nine strikeouts and Colorado beat San Diego.
Trevor Story added a two-run double as part of a five-run third to help the Rockies win back-to-back games for the first time in nearly a month.
Marquez (7-4) allowed three runs over 6⅔ innings. He perplexed the Padres by effectively mixing in his curve with a 98 mph fastball.
CUBS 4, BRAVES 3: In Atlanta, Jon Lester bounced back from the shortest start of his career by allowing only one run in seven innings and Chicago stopped Atlanta’s ninthinning comeback.
The Cubs led 4-1 before Atlanta scored two runs in the ninth off closer Wade Davis and loaded the bases with two outs.
PIRATES 4, BREWERS 2: In Pittsburgh, Gregory Polanco doubled twice, drove in two runs and threw out a potential go-ahead run at the plate to lead the Pirates win over Milwaukee. Polanco finished 4 for 4 and is hitting .446 this month.
CARDINALS 6, METS 3: In New York, Paul DeJong homered against the Mets for the fourth straight game and Adam Wainwright hit an RBI double while winning his fourth consecutive start, sending St. Louis to a victory.
MARLINS 6, PHILLIES 5 (10): In Miami, Giancarlo Stanton homered twice and Dee Gordon hit an RBI single with two outs in the 10th inning that sent the Marlins over Philadelphia .
Justin Bour also homered for the Marlins, who ended a three-game losing streak.
MARINERS 9, ASTROS 7 (10): In Houston, Kyle Seager and Danny Valencia hit back-toback homers in the 10th inning to lift Seattle.
The wild back and forth game was tied at 7-7 entering the 10th when Seager, who finished with three hits, connected off Tony Sipp (0-1) on a shot to the seats in right field. Valencia added an insurance run when he launched a slider to center field three pitches later.
TWINS 4, YANKEES 2: In Minneapolis, Eddie Rosario had two RBI doubles and Eduardo Escobar added the go-ahead, pinch-hit single in the eighth inning to help Minnesota beat the Yankees.
Brian Dozier had two hits and Adalberto Mejia gave up one run and struck out four in 5⅓ innings for the Twins, who were tied 2-2 when Escobar delivered a base hit to left field off left-hander Caleb Smith (0-1).
ORIOLES 3, RANGERS 1: In Baltimore, Seth Smith hit a tiebreaking homer in the seventh inning and the Orioles used a strong performance by its struggling pitching staff to beat Texas.
Smith connected off Andrew Cashner (4-8) to make it 2-1, Baltimore’s first lead since the All-Star break following a three-game sweep by the Cubs. TIGERS 10, ROYALS 2: In Kansas City, Mo., Nicholas Castellanos and Mikie Mahtook went deep, Jordan Zimmermann smothered the Royals with strikes and Detroit proceeded to trounce Kansas City. RAYS 3, ATHLETICS 2: In Oakland, Calif., Jake Odorizzi and two relievers combined on a two-hitter, and Tampa Bay beat the Athletics. BLUE JAYS 4, RED SOX 3: In Boston, Steve Pearce hit a solo homer, then added the goahead single in the eighth inning in Toronto’s victory over the Red Sox. INDIANS 5, GIANTS 3: In San Francisco, Josh Tomlin struck out five and pitched into the eighth inning to win back-to-back starts for the first time this year, and Cleveland capitalized on two costly errors to rally.