Harper hits one of four Nats homers in 8-1 win over Dodgers

Bryce Harper has been hoping for that big hit to ignite a good run. He slammed one of four Nationals homers tonight in an 8-1 victory over the Los Angeles, snapping a six-game losing skid to the Dodgers.

Facing the Dodgers right-hander Bud Norris in his first at-bat, Harper crushed a 451-foot two-run shot high into the third deck in right field to give the Nationals a 2-0 lead.

It was his 20th homer of the season and first since July 7 at New York against the Mets.

According to Baseball-Reference.com, Harper is the 12th player in Major League Baseball history to record four seasons of 20 or more home runs prior to his 24th birthday.

Ben Revere added a solo homer in the fifth, only his second homer of the season. Jayson Werth followed with his 11th homer of the season on an 0-2 pitch as the Nats extended their lead to 4-1.

It was the 12th time this season the Nationals have hit back-to-back homers in a game. Werth has also reached base in 24 straight games, the longest active streak in the majors.

In the sixth, Harper walked. Wilson Ramos hit a towering shot off the wall near the right field foul pole and back onto the field. Harper raced all the way around and scored for a 5-1 lead. Trea Turner later dropped in an electrifying run-scoring triple and it was 6-1 Nats.

After Danny Espinosa was hit by pitch, the pair engineered a double steal. Espinosa was caught off first but kept the play alive long enough that Dodgers second baseman Chris Taylor decided to throw home. Turner slid in safely under the tag of catcher Yasmani Grandal. It was the third steal of home by the Nationals in club history. The Nationals led 7-1.

Anthony Rendon capped off the scoring with his 11th homer, a solo shot in the eighth off of Dodgers reliever J.P. Howell, and the Nationals led 8-1.

Gio Gonzalez (6-8) went six innings for the Nationals, allowing one run on three hits, with two walks and six strikeouts. He threw 97 pitches, 56 for strikes. It was his second straight win and he is now 3-1 in five career starts against the Dodgers.

Koda Glover made his major league debut in the ninth, pitching a 1-2-3 frame on four pitches.