Nats do major damage early (it's a party for the home team)

Chris Rusin wasn't fooling anyone. The Cubs' rookie left-handed starter faced 11 Nationals hitters tonight. He retired just two of them before being pulled from the game. Rusin leaves after surrendering five runs in just an inning plus four batters. He gave up eight hits (including two home runs and four extra-base hits) and walked a batter. Things could have been even worse if Michael Morse hadn't run into an out at third base in the first inning. Replacing Rusin is right-hander Jaye Chapman, a guy making his major league debut. We could be here a while. Everything the Nats hit off Rusin was struck well. Ian Desmond crushed a two-run homer to right-center in the first inning, then ripped a two-run double in the second. Jesus Flores reached the red seats in center with a solo shot, and Nats starter Edwin Jackson even got in on the action, ripping a single to left. As a fellow reporter pointed out, how upset is Bryce Harper he missed out on a chance to tee off tonight? "Pad your stats night" will not allow Harper to give his numbers a boost. Update: It's now an 8-1 Nats lead. The Nationals have 13 hits, four of which have been home runs, seven of which have been for extra-bases. We've played four innings. Adam LaRoche took one out in the fourth, a solo shot. It's his 26th of the season and third in as many starts. Two batters later, after a Danny Espinosa double, Tyler Moore went yard, sending a shot high into the night for his eighth home run of the season. Jackson is now 2-for-2 and picked Starlin Castro off first base. Everything's going the Nationals' way tonight.