Harper homers, Nationals outlast Braves, rain in 6-2 win

Harper homers, Nationals outlast Braves, rain in 6-2 win

WASHINGTON (AP) – Bryce Harper homered, Max Scherzer struck out seven in six innings and the Washington Nationals beat the Atlanta Braves 6-2 on Sunday.

Anthony Rendon also had two hits and drove in two runs for Washington, extending his hitting streak to 10 games and helping the Nationals earn a split of the series after Saturday’s game was rained out. Adam Eaton and Juan Soto each had three hits.

Two days after a heated exchange with teammate Stephen Strasburg during Friday’s 8-5 loss, Scherzer (13-5) allowed two runs and eight hits in his third straight win. The three-time Cy Young Award winner has pitched six or more innings in his last 19 starts.

Washington Nationals’ Kelvin Herrera (40) and Bryce Harper, right, celebrate after a baseball game against the Atlanta Braves, Sunday, July 22, 2018, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

Kelvin Herrera got five outs for his first save with Washington.

The start of the game was delayed 1 hour, 55 minutes by rain, and another downpour stopped play for almost 100 minutes between the sixth and seventh innings.

Atlanta’s Mike Foltynewicz (7-6) gave up four runs and nine hits over 5 2/3 innings.

Harper singled in Eaton to give Washington a 4-2 lead in the sixth. Matt Adams added another RBI single in the seventh, and Harper added a solo drive in the eighth for his 24th homer.

Scherzer was staked to an early 3-0 lead and then got some help from his defense.

Atlanta rookie Ronald Acuna Jr. led off the third with a drive off the wall in center, but he was thrown out by Harper while trying for a double. With a runner on first in the fifth, Freddie Freeman’s blast to right was chased down by Eaton on the warning track.

Then in the seventh, Michael A. Taylor made a leaping catch at the wall in center to rob Dansby Swanson of extra bases with one runner on.

Washington got off to a fast start with three runs in the first. Rendon drove in Eaton and Harper with a triple down the right-field line, and then scored on Soto’s groundout.

Swanson drove in Atlanta’s runs with a groundout in the second and a single in the fourth.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Braves: All-Star 2B Ozzie Albies, who left Friday’s game with right hamstring tightness, got the day off.

Nationals: RHP Sean Doolittle (left toe inflammation) experienced extended soreness after throwing off the mound Friday. An MRI Saturday revealed a stress reaction, comparable to a bone bruise, in the bridge of his foot and he is wearing a walking boot. … RHP Koda Glover (right shoulder tendinitis) was reinstated from the 60-day DL and optioned to Triple-A Syracuse.

UP NEXT

Braves: LHP Sean Newcomb (8-5, 3.51 ERA) pitches the opener of a two-game series in Miami on Monday. He already has beaten the Marlins twice this season, allowing one run in 12 innings.

Nationals: LHP Gio Gonzalez (6-6, 3.72 ERA) opens a three-game series in Milwaukee on Monday night. He is 2-4 with a 4.93 ERA in nine career starts versus the Brewers.

Washington Nationals starting pitcher Max Scherzer delivers during the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Atlanta Braves, Sunday, July 22, 2018, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

Washington Nationals starting pitcher Max Scherzer delivers during the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Atlanta Braves, Sunday, July 22, 2018, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

Washington Nationals center fielder Michael Taylor makes a catch on a fly ball by Atlanta Braves' Dansby Swanson for an out during the seventh inning of a baseball game, Sunday, July 22, 2018, in Washington. .(AP Photo/Nick Wass)

Washington Nationals center fielder Michael Taylor makes a catch on a fly ball by Atlanta Braves’ Dansby Swanson for an out during the seventh inning of a baseball game, Sunday, July 22, 2018, in Washington. .(AP Photo/Nick Wass)

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