Records fall as Nats sweep Pirates

The Nationals limped into this weekend just a game above .500, with their star slugger wounded and a rookie on the mound facing the red-hot Pirates, winners of their past eight. Not only did the Nats bring a screeching halt to Pittsburgh's scorching streak, they did it in record fashion, sweeping the Pirates after this afternoon's 9-2 thumping. And just like that, the Nationals find themselves back atop the National League East.

Pirates right-hander Charlie Morton confidently brought a stellar 1.62 ERA into today's start. He faced just 12 batters. Eight ripped hits, two crushed homers and Morton left with his head hanging, failing to get out of the first inning as his ERA swelled to 3.97 after a nine-run thrashing.

Bryce Harper seemed doubtful to even make an appearance in the series after suffering a strained left hamstring during a scary sequence in Thursday's loss to Rays. But the 22-year-old gutted it out and suited up yesterday, belting his career-best 23rd homer. With one out in the first today, Harper pulverized Morton's first-pitch heater into the second deck at Nationals Park, well beyond the right field wall. The two-run shot was extra special as Harper crossed home plate, pointing into the stands to his dad Ron, who was in attendance for Father's Day.

"It was awesome," Harper said. "Being able to do that in the first at-bat. Him being able to come out and enjoy that. Very cool moment. It was a good opportunity to get us on the board."

It didn't just get the Nationals on the board, it opened the flood gates against Morton. Jose Lobaton and Michael A. Taylor had RBI singles. Even Gio Gonzalez joined the hit fest, driving in Taylor on a double down the right field line. And Yunel Escobar capped off the assault with a three-run bomb to deep left field. When the smoke cleared, the Nationals had tied a franchise record for most runs scored in any inning.

The Nationals inconsistent offense entered the weekend facing arguably the game's best starting rotation, and torched them for 19 runs on 34 hits.

"It's fun to be a part of," Clint Robinson said after smoking a double in the huge first. "Sometimes, you know, hitting is contagious, I've said all along. So when guys string together hits like that, it can create a snowball effect."

But as good as the bats were, this series sweep was built on high-level starting pitching, beginning with 22-year-old Joe Ross' gem on Friday night and followed by Max Scherzer's show-stopping no-hitter yesterday.

Loaded with a nine-run cushion, Gonzalez cruised through seven scoreless innings, scattering just four hits with two walks and four strikeouts to complete the trifecta of weekend pitching brilliance for the Nats. When lefty Felipe Rivero surrendered a meaningless two-run homer to Corey Hart, it snapped a 24-inning scoreless streak for the Nationals pitching staff, another new team record.

"I mean Joe was the guy who anchored for us and started us off," Gonzalez said. "Maxy, just an unbelievable game. He was fun to watch, every pitch. You didn't mind sweating your butt of because he was pitching his butt off and it was fun to watch because Maxy's incredible. It was just Mad Max doing whatever he does best, just going out there and dominating. It was kind of tough to follow up on his act."

Though manager Matt Williams was reluctant to name his starter for Tuesday, it's expected that Stephen Strasburg will make his return from the 15-day disabled list when the division rival Braves come to town.

Doubts had closed in on the Nats, but they emerged from the three-game performance atop the NL East once again.

"Everybody says we're struggling, but I don't think as a team that we're struggling," Harper said. "We're doing pretty dang good. We just played great ball and had some great pitching this weekend. If we can do that, we'd win 162 games. We'll go through times where we've had ups and downs in this game where the ball just didn't fall our way. But we had a great weekend, hopefully we can take this into next week and stay in first place."