Nats break pitchers' duel with four-homer seventh

MIAMI - What for six innings was shaping up to be a classic pitchers' duel between Stephen Strasburg and Adam Conley instead turned into the most dramatic barrage of home runs the Nationals have ever hit during a stunning top of the seventh that propelled them to a 7-0 thumping of the Marlins.

Jayson Werth, Wilson Ramos, Bryce Harper and Ryan Zimmerman all homered during a stretch of eight batters in the decisive top of the seventh, Harper's coming with the bases loaded. It's the first time in club history the Nationals have hit four home runs in an inning, matched only once before in franchise history (the Expos did it in 1986).

Werth and Ramos drilled back-to-back pitches from the previously dominant Conley to nearly the exact same spot beyond the left-center field wall at Marlins Park to open the historic frame and break a scoreless tie.

After rookie reliever Nick Wittgren, making his major league debut, walked Anthony Rendon to load the bases with two outs, Miami manager Don Mattingly summoned left-hander Chris Narveson to face Harper. Big mistake. Harper launched the veteran's 2-0 pitch deep to right-center, pumping his fist as his second career grand slam cleared the fence.

Harper's first slam, of course, came on Thursday in Washington, the beginning of a torrid streak for the reigning National League MVP. Harper has now homered in five of his last six games, giving him seven overall (not to mention a league-leading 20 RBIs).

Not to be outdone, Zimmerman followed up Harper's blast with a solo shot to the same vicinity in right-center, his first homer of the season.

All of that proved more than enough run support for Strasburg, who cruised through eight scoreless innings of three-hit ball, striking out 10 along the way. Of the three hits Strasburg allowed, two were infield singles.