Harper doubles in return, Roark pitches Nats past Braves

The third baseman, who also drove in a run with a first-inning sacrifice fly, now has reached base in 20 straight games, hitting.329 with a.629 on-base percentage, four homers and 18 RBIs along the way.

Rendon, meanwhile, continued his recent surge at the plate, launching a three-run homer in the fifth inning that put the game out of reach. He was 1-for-3 on the day.

“Roark (13-6) won his fourth consecutive start and did what he”™s done plenty before, handling the Braves without difficulty. In each game he had a three-run and a four-run inning, and in each case the four-run inning included a three-run homer and multiple walks, both times including a walk issued to the opposing pitcher. The right-hander is 2-0 with a 0.64 ERA against the Braves in two starts this season, and is 5-1 with a 1.73 ERA in 14 career appearances against the division rival. Trea Turner opened the game with a leadoff double and scored on a bunt single by Ben Revere when Anthony Recker airmailed a throw to first into the outfield.

Bryce Harper returned to the lineup this afternoon and helped the Nationals take a quick lead on the Braves. After Wilson Ramos’ groundout, Harper scored on Rendon’s sacrifice fly to center.

The Braves lone run came in the third on an RBI hit by Erick Aybar that scored Ender Inciarte. But Roark erased Aybar on a double-play grounder to prevent Atlanta from mustering a more sustained rally.

“On Sunday he allowed six hits, seven runs and three walks in 4 2/3 innings and left after Anthony Rendon”™s three-run homer in the fifth pushed the lead to 7-1. Rendon then connected for his 15th home run of the season to expand the advantage.

Ramos’ RBI single in the seventh and Chris Heisey’s solo homer in the eighth put a final stamp on the blowout victory and a 5-3 homestand for the Nationals, who are now a season-best 22 games over.500. RHP Max Scherzer (12-7, 2.80 ERA) starts the opener of the three-game series at Coors Field.