Taylor, Harper provide early fireworks (Nats lead 4-0)

The recently slumping Nationals offense figured to be in for a long day with Giants ace Madison Bumgarner on the mound. But Michael A. Taylor woke up the bats and the crowd early, smacking Bumgarner's first offering of the game over the left field wall to give the Nationals a 1-0 lead.

It was the second time Taylor has led off a game with a homer this season and the fifth time for the Nationals. Denard Span has done it twice, and Yunel Escobar once.

Escobar immediately jumped all over Bumgarner's next pitch, drilling another fastball high off the wall in center field for a double.

Bryce Harper then stepped in with the barrel of his bat covered in stars and stripes. Bumgarner tried another heater against Harper and it ended up in the Nationals bullpen beyond the right field fence for a two-run homer.

It was Harper's 25th home run on the season and the fifth time this year that the Nationals have hit two homers in an inning.

Stephen Strasburg has tossed two scoreless innings, allowing just a walk to Brandon Belt. Belt was picked off shortly after on a bullet throw from Wilson Ramos to Clint Robinson.

Update: After recording the first two outs of the fourth inning, Strasburg appeared to experience some discomfort in his left side. Nationals manager Matt Williams, pitching coach Steve McCatty and head athletic traner Lee Kuntz immediately went to the mound. After a brief discussion, Strasburg left the game.

Williams called for right-hander Tanner Roark, who got Belt to ground out to end the inning.

Strasburg allowed one hit with two walks and three strikeouts over 3 2/3 innings. He threw 56 pitches.

Update II: Tyler Moore ripped a two-out double scoring Danny Espinosa to extend the Nats' lead in the fourth.

The Nationals lead the Giants 4-0 in the fifth.