Washington, which will go for the four-game sweep Thursday afternoon, improved to 6-1 and is 26-9 against the Braves since June 21, 2014. This was Harper’s 100th home run… Facing the Braves again on Tuesday, Bryce did something he’s never done before: He hit a grand slam. The reigning MVP hit the 100th career on Thursday, which gave the Nationals a huge lead at home over the Braves.
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The Las Vegas native became the eighth youngest player to ever reach the 100 homer mark, per Baseball Tonight.
Jason Hammel pitched six scoreless innings, drove home one run and scored another to lead host Chicago (8-1) to its best start since 1969. He turned on a fastball from Julio Teheran and sent it sailing over the out-of-town scoreboard in right field.
Teheran had a 1-0 lead after Markakis’ RBI single before loading the bases in the third on a walk and two singles.
“It’s a humbling game and right now we’re being humbled in a lot of different areas”, manager Fredi Gonzalez said.
White Sox 3, Twins 1: Matt Latos won his second straight start and Minnesota dropped to 0-9. McGowan retired Juan Lagares on a comebacker, but Plawecki singled just past the outstretched glove of shortstop Miguel Rojas for his first hit this season.
Those runs were more than enough for Strasburg, who looked strong despite any illness. Pitching on five days of rest, Roark (1-1) struck out four and left after 100 pitches.
The Braves have lost 13 straight in Washington, matching their worst stretch on the road against one opponent (a 13-game skid at the Dodgers in 1951-52) since the then-Boston Bees lost 17 straight at the Cubs in 1935-36, according to STATS LLC.
“Once the game got going, I started to, I guess I sweated it out a little bit and started to lock in”, Strasburg said. “I wish I could tell you, “Man, I’m hurting.’ But I’m not”.Freeman is batting”.
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Strasburg might take the ball in the finale of this four-game set, but the Nationals have Yusmeiro Petit ready for a spot start. The right-hander gave up one run and five hits through seven innings. With a ideal penalty-killing effort and a power-play goal by John Carlson, the Capitals beat the Philadelphia Flyers 2-0 last night in Game 1 of their first-round series.
