|
 But the Washington right fielder also took note of Miami Marlins
first baseman Justin Bour, who continues to torment his hometown
Nationals as he homered for the second game in a row.
Bour hit a three-run homer during a four-run fifth inning as Miami
beat the Nationals 6-4 on Thursday. Bour now has five of his 19
career homers against the Nationals, with four coming at Nationals
Park.
"Bour, he is pretty incredible against us," said Harper, who is
hitting .340 after going 2-for-4 on Thursday.
Bour entered Thursday ranked fourth among major league rookies in
homers and he went deep for the 18th time this year, as he fell
behind 0-2 to Tanner Roark (4-6) then hit a 2-2 pitch out to right.
He also homered on Wednesday at New York against the Mets.
"Honestly, I just try to take the same approach, it doesn't matter
what ballpark I'm playing in. I've had a couple good games here,"
Bour said. "I hit a fastball there, but I gotta give credit to the
guys in front of me, got on base with two outs. I was able to come
up in that situation."
Bour has now homered in three games in a row in Washington.
"Wow, that was huge," said Dan Jennings, the Marlins manager. "He
just keeps swinging the bat. He is making the most of his
opportunities."
Third baseman Martin Prado also homered for the Marlins, and he had
two hits to help dampen the postseason hopes of the defending
division champs.
The Nationals (75-71), who had won four straight, are now eight
games behind the idle first-place New York Mets in the National
League East with 16 games left. The Marlins (64-83) have won three
in a row and are 9-7 against Washington this year.
"I just want to win," said Harper, when asked of his bid for a
batting title.
Washington shortstop Ian Desmond had two hits, including a two-out,
bases loaded single to drive in two runs in the eighth off reliever
Bryan Morris that trimmed the margin to 6-4.
"We played a good game. We had an opportunity to tie it up in the
eighth," Desmond said. "We want to win them all at this point."
But A.J. Ramos struck out center Michael A. Taylor for the last out
of the eighth with two runners on base. Ramos also pitched a perfect
ninth and recorded his 28th save.
Miami second baseman Dee Gordon added two hits, one run, one RBI and
his 52nd steal. Left fielder Derek Dietrich and center fielder
Christian Yelich also had two hits for the Marlins, who have won 12
of their last 16 games.
Marlins starter Jarred Cosart (2-4) allowed just two runs and three
hits in six innings and picked up his first win since April 22 at
Philadelphia.
[to top of second column] |
"The starting pitchers sets the tone," Jennings said. "He had some
tremendous use of his fastball tonight. He made some quality
pitches. Overall, other than the home run, I thought he threw the
ball outstanding. He has natural life to his fastball and utilizes
his change-up."
Prado hit a two-run homer in the first inning off Roark to give the
Marlins a 2-0 lead. It was the ninth homer of the year for Prado,
who also homered Wednesday against the Mets.
Desmond answered with his own two-run shot, a drive into the
Marlins' bullpen in left to tie the score at 2 in the second.
Desmond has gone deep 18 times this year after hitting at least 20
homers in the previous three years.
"It looks like he is back to form," Desmond said of Cosart. "He has
good stuff; he also works quick."
Miami took the lead again in the fifth at 3-2 on a sacrifice fly by
Gordon.
Bour hit a three-run homer off Roark later in the fifth with two
outs to make it 6-2.
Roark allowed eight hits and six runs in five innings before he was
lifted for a pinch hitter in the bottom of the fifth. Roark, making
his ninth start of the year, had not allowed a homer in his previous
four starts.
"It is a compliment to our players. They are playing baseball the
right way," Jennings said of the Marlins success against Washington
this year. "It is good to watch."
NOTES: The Friday probable starters should make for a great matchup
as Washington RHP Max Scherzer (12-11, 2.91 ERA) faces Marlins RHP
Jose Fernandez (5-0, 2.06). It will be the first time that Fernandez
has faced the Nationals in Washington. ... Nationals OF Bryce Harper
entered Thursday with four homers in his last three games. Of his 40
homers this year, 26 have been solo homers. ... Washington began a
four-team, 11-game homestand against the Marlins, Orioles, Phillies
and one game with the Reds on Sept. 28 in the regular-season home
finale. ... Washington RHP David Carpenter returned from his rehab
assignment. He was 0-0 with a 1.50 ERA in his first eight
appearances this year. ... The Marlins entered Thursday having won
five series in a row, the first time the franchise has done that
since Sept. 26-28, 2008, to April 17-19, 2009.
[© 2015 Thomson Reuters. All rights
reserved.]
Copyright 2015 Reuters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published,
broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. |
