Harper put the Nationals ahead with a two-run blast down the right-field line in the fourth and made it 5-0 with a monster shot to right in the fifth for the first multi-homer game of his career, helping Washington restore its five-game lead over Atlanta in the National League East.
Harper was ejected in the ninth when he slammed his helmet to the ground after hitting into a double play.
The Nationals had a tough time putting it away, though, as Miami chipped away with one run in the fifth, two in the sixth and one in the seventh. But Michael Morse, who had an RBI triple in the four-run fourth, made it 6-4 with a run-scoring single in the eighth, Kurt Suzuki added a solo homer in the ninth and Jayson Werth made it a four-run cushion with a run-scoring single.
Nationals starter Ross Detwiler (8-6) earned the win, allowing three runs on four hits over 5 2/3 innings. Drew Storen came on with runners at second and third and no outs in the eighth and got out of the jam, getting Carlos Lee, Giancarlo Stanton and Justin Ruggiano in succession.
Tyler Clippard pitched a perfect ninth in a non-save situation.Donovan Solano had three hits for Miami, extending his career-best hitting streak to 12 games - the longest active run in the National League.
GAME NOTEBOOK: Washington finished its road trip with a 1-4 mark. The Nationals begin an 11-game homestand Thursday against St. Louis. … Harper's homer into the second deck was estimated at 425 feet. … Suzuki's homer was his first in 16 games with the Nationals and his second of the season. The other came on July 22 with Oakland. … Morse had gone 924 at-bats and 1,011 plate appearances since his last triple on Aug. 27, 2010. … Miami was denied its first three-game winning streak since July 4-6. … The Marlins continue their homestand with a three-game series against the New York Mets beginning Friday.
Washington | Miami | |
Ross Detwiler | Player | Jacob Turner |
Win | W/L | Loss |
5.2 | IP | 5.0 |
4 | Strikeouts | 6 |
4 | Hits | 6 |
4.76 | ERA | 9.00 |
Washington | Miami | |
Ian Desmond | Player | Donovan Solano |
2 | Hits | 3 |
1 | RBI | 0 |
0 | HR | 0 |
2 | TB | 4 |
.667 | Avg | .750 |
Team | Hits | HR | TB | Avg | LOB | K | RBI | BB | SB | Errors |
Washington | 14 | 3 | 26 | .368 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
Miami | 8 | 0 | 11 | .250 | 13 | 6 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 |