Sep 15, 2015; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Washington Nationals right fielder Bryce Harper (34) hits his second home run of the game during the eighth inning against the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park. The Nationals won 4-0. Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports
PHILADELPHIA — Bryce Harper homered twice and drove in all four runs, and Stephen Strasburg struck out 14 as the Washington Nationals silenced the Philadelphia Phillies 4-0 Tuesday night.
Harper went 3-for-3 with a solo homer, two-run shot and an RBI single. The 22-year-old right fielder raised his home run total to 39, which put him ahead of Colorado’s Nolan Arenado for the National League lead.
Cody Asche’s leadoff single in the fifth inning was the only hit Strasburg allowed in his eight-inning outing. The Phillies did not have a runner reach second base the entire game, and the only other batter to reach base was shortstop Freddy Galvis, who drew a first-inning walk.
Blake Treinen pitched a perfect ninth inning to close out the win.
Braves 3, Blue Jays 2
ATLANTA — Andrelton Simmons singled home the winning run with one out in the bottom of the ninth as Atlanta beat Toronto and snapped a 12-game home losing streak.
Adonis Garcia led off the ninth with an infield single against Aaron Sanchez (7-6). A.J. Pierzynski followed with his third hit of the game, moving pinch runner Todd Cunningham to third.
One out later, Simmons slapped a single into right field and was mobbed by his teammates as they enjoyed a home victory for the first time in more than three weeks.
Marlins 9, Mets 3
NEW YORK — Dee Gordon had four hits, including a two-run homer in the ninth inning, and Tom Koehler wriggled out of numerous jams as Miami snapped New York’s eight-game winning streak.
Christian Yelich went 3-for-5 with a fifth-inning RBI double and a run-scoring groundout in the seventh. Justin Bour finished 3-for-5 with two RBIs.
Koehler (10-13) allowed one run on five hits and four walks while striking out four.
Rays 6, Yankees 3
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Nick Franklin hit a two-run home run in the sixth inning, helping Tampa Bay beat New York.
Franklin went deep off Nick Rumbelow for his second home run of the season. The homer turned a 3-2 deficit into a 4-3 Rays lead.
Tampa Bay got a quality start from right-hander Jake Odorizzi, who gave up three hits and three runs in six innings. The Rays bullpen backed Odorizzi (8-8) with three innings of shutout relief.
Royals 2, Indians 0
CLEVELAND — Kris Medlen pitched six strong innings, and Alex Rios homered to lead Kansas City past Cleveland.
In 6 1/3 scoreless innings, Medlen gave up five hits with one walk and no strikeouts. Right-hander Greg Holland pitched the ninth inning to pick up his 31st save.
Cleveland threatened in the bottom of the ninth, putting runners at first and second and no outs, but Holland retired the next three batters to preserve the win.
Pirates 5, Cubs 4; Cubs 2, Pirates 1
PITTSBURGH — Jon Lester pitched a five-hitter, leading Chicago to a victory over Pittsburgh and a split of a day-night doubleheader.
Lester (10-10) pitched his first complete game for the Cubs. He scattered five hits, struck out nine and walked one.
Starling Marte’s sacrifice fly in the eighth inning gave the Pirates a victory in the first game.
