Bryce Harper

Bryce Harper broke a scoreless tie in the seventh inning with a solo home run, and the Hagerstown Suns held on for a 1-0 victory over the Lakewood BlueClaws on Saturday to remain in first place in the South Atlantic League’s Northern Division. After striking out in his first two at-bats against Lakewood starter Garett Claypool (0-2), Harper got his revenge against him in the top of the seventh. He led off with a blast to left field for his ninth home run and 31st RBI of the season — both team highs — while extending his hitting streak to 18 games.

Isaac Galloway hit a three-run home run to highlight Greensboro’s seven-run eighth inning on Saturday to lift the Grasshoppers to a 9-6 victory over the Hagerstown Suns. The Suns (27-15), who have lost three straight, scored two runs each in the fifth, sixth and seventh innings to build a 6-2 lead. The loss reduces Hagerstown’s lead to two games in the South Atlantic League’s Northern Division. Greensboro (25-17) notched seven consecutive hits after two outs in the eighth to come from behind for the victory.

The Hagerstown Suns return home to begin a homestand against Delmarva tonight, hoping to regain their form to get back atop the South Atlantic League Northern Division. The Suns dropped a costly pair of games to Lakewood on Wednesday to fall one-half game behind Hickory and Greensboro. Hickory (37-27) and Greensboro (38-28) are in a virtual tie for first place. The first half concludes Sunday. Hagerstown (37-28) first dropped a 3-2 decision in 12 innings in a game that was suspended in the 11th inning on Tuesday and continued Wednesday.

The Hagerstown Suns showed the Rome Braves that walks — and good base running — can be lethal. The Suns used a pair of leadoff walks and some heads-up navigating of the bases on Friday to collect a 2-0 victory. Hagerstown (2-0) managed only four hits against a trio of Braves pitchers, but took advantage of six walks to get the job done. Bryce Harper, the Washington Nationals’ and baseball’s top selection in the 2010 draft, went 0-for-3, but drew a leadoff walk in the eighth inning, leading to the Suns’ insurance run. Rome pitchers Caleb Brewer and Blaine Sims held the Suns hitless for 6 2/3 innings.

Hagerstown Suns fans will get a preview of the Washington Nationals’ future lineup on Sunday. They won’t have to dream about Bryce Harper and Ryan Zimmerman in the same lineup. They will see it first hand. The Suns announced that Zimmerman will be making a rehab appearance in Sunday’s game against Greensboro at 4:05 p.m. at Municipal Stadium. It will be Zimmerman’s first stop en route to returning to Nationals’ active roster. Washington’s third baseman has been on the disabled list since mid-April with a torn abdominal muscle.

Edwin Jackson pitched seven effective innings, Adam LaRoche hit a three-run homer and the Washington Nationals beat the New York Mets 5-3 on Wednesday night. Jackson (2-3) allowed three runs, two earned, and three hits to earn his first win since April 14 against Cincinnati. The right-hander was 0-3 with a 3.33 ERA in his previous eight starts. Sean Burnett pitched a perfect eighth and Tyler Clippard worked the ninth for his fifth save in six chances, completing a three-hitter.

Don't expect Bryce Harper to return to the minors anytime soon. When it comes to the 19-year-old outfielder, Washington Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo explained Friday, “We're not dumb.” During Rizzo's speaking appearance at the National Press Club, the first three questions directed his way were about Harper, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2010 amateur draft who already is making a mark, less than a week after being brought to the major...

Bryce Harper is already one of the most talented people known to man. Baseball people can’t talk about him without using a napkin to wipe away the excess drool. As the second consecutive first overall draft pick selected by the Washington Nationals, Harper is the next big piece in the puzzle that will make the Nationals winners. He is projected to join forces with pitcher Stephen Strasburg to do more in the nation’s capital than Batman and Robin accomplished in Gotham City.

Bryan Harper has a good idea what Robin, Dr. Watson and Pokey have to deal with every day. It seems like the Hagerstown Suns relief pitcher can't go anywhere without someone asking about someone else in his life. Robin has Batman, Watson plays second fiddle to Sherlock Holmes and Pokey, he deals with Gumby. For Harper, the first thing he usually hears after someone says “Hi” is “How's your brother Bryce?” That's Bryce as in Bryce Harper, 20-year-old phenom, reigning National League Rookie of the Year and starting left fielder of the Washington Nationals.

The Washington Nationals optioned top prospect Bryce Harper to Class A Hagerstown, saying the top overall pick in last year’s draft needs to get more playing time to prepare for the season. The 18-year-old Harper, who hit .389 in 13 spring games, was disappointed but determined to make it back to the big leagues as soon as possible. “He needs to go down to the minor leagues (camp) and get four or five at-bats per game to prepare himself for the season,” Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo said.