Harper extends hit streak, takes over team RBI lead (Nats win 12-3)

MIAMI - Bryce Harper tried to bunt with two on and two out in the top of the third inning tonight at Marlins Park. As it turned out, the Nationals felt awfully fortunate their slugger failed to get the ball down in fair territory.

After fouling off that odd bunt attempt, Harper proceeded to line the next pitch he saw from Edinson Volquez to center field, driving home two runs to give the Nationals an early lead and extend his recent hot streak at the plate.

Harper has now hit in 13 consecutive games, a career-best streak. And with 55 RBIs, he has overtaken Ryan Zimmerman for the club lead in that department, as well.

This clutch hit came after the Nationals tried some small ball to get themselves into an advantageous position. Michael A. Taylor drew a leadoff walk, and then - after Gio Gonzalez struck out trying to bunt him over - stole second base to advance on his own merits. Trea Turner drew a walk as well, and then the duo pulled off a bold double steal to leave both runners in scoring position.

After Brian Goodwin struck out, Harper stepped to the plate with a chance to drive in the evening's first runs. Except he squared around to bunt, fouling that first pitch from Volquez off. Whatever the motivation was, the failed bunt did set up Harper to line the next pitch up the middle and give the Nationals a 2-0 lead.

That lead is now 2-1 after the Marlins got an RBI double from J.T. Realmuto in the bottom of the fourth. That's the only time they've broken through against Gonzalez so far tonight, though. The left-hander has put six men on base through four innings and thrown 60 pitches, but he has allowed only the one run thanks in part to six strikeouts.

Update: How do you like your two-out RBI hits? How about in bunches of three? The Nationals got three big-time hits in big spots in the top of the fifth, all of it producing four runs. Goodwin delivered first with a two-out single up the middle on a 3-2 pitch, scoring Taylor. Then after the Marlins intentionally walked Harper, Zimmerman (who hit the ball a total of 15 feet in his first two at-bats of the night) promptly smoked a two-run double into the left field corner. The Marlins issued another intentional walk, this time to Daniel Murphy, only to watch as Stephen Drew delivered an RBI single to right. After all that, the Nats have taken a 6-1 lead in the fifth.

Update II: Marcell Ozuna is having quite a season. He added to it with a two-run blast to left in the bottom of the fifth, his 19th homer of the year. That trimmed the lead to 6-3, but Gonzalez came through with a scoreless sixth after allowing a leadoff double. And so this game enters the seventh with the Nats trying to hold onto a three-run lead.

Update III: Make it 7-3 thanks to an insurance home run from Murphy in the top of the eighth, his 12th of the season. And with that, Dusty Baker will hand over this game to his bullpen. He got seven innings of three-run ball from Gonzalez. Now it's Blake Treinen in to pitch the eighth.

Update IV: Wow, the Nats piled on with a five-run top of the ninth, giving Matt Albers plenty of breathing room in the bottom of the ninth. Final score: 12-3. Gonzalez improves to 7-1 with a 2.96 ERA and 11 quality starts in 15 outings this season.