LaRoche provides early spark (Nats win 4-1)

The Nationals didn't waste any time in giving Stephen Strasburg room to work. After the newest National Asdrubal Cabrera drew a walk with one out in the first inning, Adam LaRoche blasted his 17th home of the season, a two-run shot that put the visiting team ahead 2-0. It's LaRoche's third first-inning home run of the season, tying him for the most in any single inning this year. In fact, the opening frame has been kind to LaRoche. In 53 at-bats, the righty has collected 14 RBIs and is hitting .302. Strasburg, meanwhile, has been sharp through three innings of work. He's allowed only one hit and registered three strikeouts on 36 pitches. More importantly, he has been in control throughout and has kept the Mets off the scoreboard. The Nationals look to complete the three-game sweep and gain another half-game on the second-place Braves in the National League East. Update: Anything you can do, I can do better. Or at least just as well. After watching his teammate smack a two-run home run in the first inning, Bryce Harper got in on the action, hitting a two-run homer of his own in the top of the fourth to push the Nationals' lead to 4-0 over the Mets. Harper's home run was absolutely crushed. I mean, earmuff the kids, because it sounded nasty. It's Harper's sixth home run of the season and puts even more pressure on Mets starter Dillon Gee to keep this game from getting away. Update II: One of the points Nationals skipper Matt Williams mentioned before tonight's game was the overrated emphasis on Strasburg's woes away from Nationals Park. His pitcher is presenting a strong case tonight against the Mets. Strasburg has allowed just one run through six innings and is in position to pick up his ninth win of the season. The run scored was unearned, too, as Daniel Murphy reached on a throwing error by Ian Desmond and later scored on a sacrifice fly by Lucas Duda in the bottom of the fourth inning. As for the Nats' offense, things have cooled off a bit. A pair of two-run homers has accounted for all four of the road team's runs and the team's 3-6 hitters have all of the hits. Will it be enough to hold off the Mets? Update: That's a final. Strasburg turned in a stellar start, allowing one run (unearned) and striking out eight batters over seven innings. Not that he needed much offensive support, but the Nats gave him plenty with two-run homers by LaRoche and Harper. With the win, the Nationals move to 66-53 and hold a six-game lead over the Braves in the division. The Nats return home to begin a 10-game homestand against the Pirates, Diamondbacks and Giants.