WASHINGTON (AP) – Bryce Harper led an offensive outburst with a towering home run into the third deck in right field as the Washington Nationals beat the Los Angeles Dodgers 8-1 on Wednesday night.
Harper’s 20th home run of the season, a two-run blast, traveled an estimated 451 feet off Bud Norris in the first inning. The reigning National League MVP later walked and scored on Wilson Ramos’ RBI double.
Ben Revere, Jayson Werth and Anthony Rendon also hit home runs and Trea Turner had an RBI triple and stole home for Washington, which snapped a six-game losing streak to Los Angeles dating to last season. Left-hander Gio Gonzalez (6-8) had one of his best starts of the season, allowing one run on three hits and striking out six in six innings.
Norris (5-8) gave up six runs on seven hits in five-plus innings before giving way to the bullpen. He struck out eight as part of an inconsistent outing, and it didn’t help that he allowed three home runs, including back-to-back from Revere and Werth in the fifth.
Harper’s rocket was one of the longest hit at Nationals Park, as he took a 3-1 fastball from Norris and sent it over the Jackie Robinson sign on the facade in right. Harper reached 20 home runs for the fourth time in five seasons.