WASHINGTON (AP) – Bryce Harper hit his first grand slam to reach 100 career home runs and the Washington Nationals beat Atlanta 6-2 Thursday, dropping the Braves to 0-9.
The Braves and Minnesota, which fell to 0-9 hours earlier, are the first major league teams to lose nine in a row to start a season since Detroit in 2003, STATS said. Atlanta moved closer to the team-worst 0-10 beginning in 1988.
Harper connected for his slam in the third inning and became the eighth-youngest player to hit 100 homers. The reigning NL MVP is 23 years and 181 days old – Hall of Famer Mel Ott was more than a full year younger when he became the youngest to do it.
Stephen Strasburg (2-0) allowed two runs over 7 2/3 innings, a day after he was scratched due to illness.
Washington improved to 7-1, tying the 1974 Montreal Expos for the best eight-game start in franchise history.