Nats cut into Met lead

Stephen Strasburg returned to Washington’s rotation with a bang Saturday night, striking out 12 in seven innings and contributing three hits as the Nationals beat the visiting Colorado Rockies 6-1. The righthander had been on the disabled list with a left oblique strain since July 4.

The victory helped the Nationals (57-52) move within 1.5 games of the Mets in the NL East.

Strasburg (6-5) didn’t walk a batter, allowed one run and three hits. Strasburg also went 3 for 3 at the plate, the first three-hit game of his career, and his first hits of the season.

Wilson Ramos gave the Nationals a 2-0 lead with his two-run double to right-center in the second. Ian Desmond made it 3-0 with an RBI single in the third.

l Kris Bryant belted a long home run, Addison Russell had his second career three-hit day, Kyle Schwarber had two hits and Jorge Soler extended his hitting streak to eight games as the surging Chicago Cubs, behind the four rookies, beat the San Francisco Giants, 8-6, at Wrigley Field.

Bryant’s big day powered Chicago to its third straight win and ninth in 10 games. He also walked and scored on Miguel Montero’s tiebreaking single in the fifth as the Cubs opened a 2.5game lead over San Francisco in the chase for the second NL wild card.

Bryant’s two-run shot off Matt Cain (2-3) in the third was the rookie’s first homer since July 27 against Colorado.

KANE HIRES LAWYER

Chicago Blackhawks star Patrick Kane has hired an attorney and called off what was to have been a public display of the Stanley Cup on Saturday because he is under police investigation over what the Buffalo News has reported to have been an alleged sexual assault at his home last weekend.

Without providing details, lawyer Paul Cambria confirmed in a text message to The Associated Press that he has been hired to represent Kane.

The developments come a day after Hamburg police confirmed Kane is under investigation for an “incident that allegedly occurred” at the player’s offseason home in suburban Buffalo.

KRISTAPS TRICK SHOT

Kristaps Porzingis looks like a heck of a H-O-R-S-E player.

In footage from the NBA’s rookie trading card photo shoot Saturday at the Knicks practice facility in Greenburgh, the Knicks’ 7-1 rookie banks a shot high off the glass from the right wing — and from behind a screen that looks to be about 12 feet high.

For video of the shot, visit www.nydn.com/sports.