Bryce Harper

Stephen Strasburg struck out a season-high 13 over six innings and the Washington Nationals snapped a three-game losing streak with a 4-2 win over Pittsburgh on Thursday night. Roger Bernadina and Adam LaRoche both homered in the sixth off Pittsburgh's Kevin Correia (1-3) to erase a two-run deficit. Henry Rodriguez pitched the ninth for his seventh save. Strasburg (3-0) lowered his ERA to 1.64 by overpowering the punchless Pirates. The 23-year-old right-hander gave up two runs, one earned, on five hits in six innings.

Andrew McCutchen's power will come and go. His speed is what makes the Pittsburgh Pirates center fielder one of the most dynamic players in baseball. The All-Star used both to give the Pirates their first winning streak in three weeks. McCutchen went 4 for 4, including his second home run in as many nights, as Pittsburgh dropped the Washington Nationals 4-2 on Wednesday. Brad Lincoln (2-0) earned the win in relief of starter Erik Bedard, who was lifted three pitches into the second inning due to back spasms.

Molds, like records, are made to be broken. They are nothing more than pre-formed standards. A mold is a model for shaping. A record is a standard that shapes all performances. Bryce Harper is starting his quest to change both concepts. Harper joined the Washington lineup just 10 days ago and has added a whirlwind of interest not only to the Nationals, but to baseball. The 19-year-old former Hagerstown Sun has already made eye-popping defensive plays and timely hits, a couple already leading to wins.

Cole Hamels gave up five hits over eight innings and Hunter Pence hit a pair of two-run home runs to lead the Philadelphia Phillies to a 9-3 win against the Washington Nationals on Sunday night. Hamels was in line for his 11th career complete game as he batted to lead off the ninth. The Phillies' offense then batted around, scoring six runs, and Hamels was lifted for pinch-hitter John Mayberry when his spot came up the second time in the inning. The Phillies snapped a seven-game losing streak against Washington dating back to last year and avoided the sweep in the three-game series.

During a nerve-racking season in which half their games were decided by one run, the Washington Nationals enjoyed a rare blowout that manager Davey Johnson begrudgingly acknowledged was “a laugher.” Gio Gonzalez allowed one run over seven innings and the Nationals hit a season-high three home runs in a 7-1 victory over the Philadelphia Phillies on Saturday. “We haven't won one of those in a while,” Johnson said. “It's not quite what I call a laugher. That's a smiler.

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 showed why his manager put him in the No. 3 spot for his fifth career game. The 19-year-old phenom hit a tiebreaking RBI double in the sixth inning, lifting the Washington Nationals to a 2-1 victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks on Thursday night. Ross Detwiler (3-1) did his part as well. The left-hander allowed one run and three hits over 6 1/3 innings in his longest outing this season. He retired the first eight batters he faced and didn't allow a hit until the fifth inning.

Bryce Harper had a hand in everything for the Washington Nationals. Harper made a tumbling barehanded catch in centerfield and then led off the ninth inning with a double to set the stage for Ian Desmond's two-out game-ending home run that gave the Nationals a 5-4 victory over the visiting Arizona Diamondbacks on Wednesday night. "He was born for these situations," Washington manager Davey Johnson said of Harper. In the sixth inning, Harper fell down in the right-center gap while attempting to catch a fly ball off Jason Kubel's bat. As he landed in the grass, Harper secured the ball in his ungloved right hand.

Bryce Harper's first day in the major leagues came with all the hype one would expect for the player dubbed “Baseball's Chosen One” when he was only 16 years old. Talking to a large crowd of reporters in the visitor's dugout at Dodger Stadium before the Washington Nationals played the Los Angeles Dodgers on Saturday night, Harper expressed how excited he was for his big league debut. “I think once the lights are turned on and the fans get here, I think that's when my energy level's going to go through the roof.

Brian Daubach played a game of give and take on Tuesday. Daubach returned to Municipal Stadium to begin his second stint as manager of the Hagerstown Suns. Many things changed, but many more stayed the same. For one, all the fanfare surrounding the Single-A affiliate of the Washington Nationals died down some. The Suns didn't have the highly touted Bryce Harper trotting out on the field this year, so Tuesday's media day was a little quieter. But that didn't mean the enthusiasm about the 2012 team had changed.