Strasburg stays on a roll for Nationals, strikes out 10

Washington outfielder Bryce Harper has done it all this year – well nearly everything.

The 27-year-old righty only allowed one run in two starts last week while striking out 24 batters, including a 14-strikeout performance on Tuesday that tied a career high set in his major-league debut in 2010.

Elsewhere, the Houston Astros and the San Francisco Giants strolled to 5-1 victories against the Oakland Athletics and the Arizona Diamondbacks respectively, while the Pittsburgh Pirates won 4-3 against NL West table-toppers the Los Angeles Dodgers and took the three-game series win as Gerrit Cole struck out nine over seven innings.

AL East leaders the Toronto Blue Jays joined their western counterparts in suffering defeat as they were downed 4-3 by the Boston Red Sox, who scooped the three-game series 2-1 in the process.

Nationals: 2B Anthony Rendon was out of the lineup due to illness, manager Matt Williams said on his team’s radio pregame show….

“Obviously, it’s there”, Escobar said through an interpreter about the team’s big deficit.

Miami had trimmed the margin to 3-2 on a solo homer in the sixth by center fielder Marcell Ozuna, his ninth of the year and first since September 2. He gave up a sacrifice fly to Wilson Ramos and then Tyler Moore slammed a three-run homer to left to make it 7-2.

Washington scored seven runs in the sixth to put the game out of reach after they scored three in the first.

Escobar and Harper singled to lead off the inning and Ian Desmond walked to load the bases. The next batter Tyler Moore hit a three run homerun to end Nicolino’s outing.

Ozuna added his second hit, an RBI double in the eighth off reliever Matt Grace, to make the score 10-3. Or at least that’s how his manager sees it.

“I don’t think it’s mentality, I think it’s health”, Williams said.

NOTES: After a day off Monday the Marlins will begin a series on Tuesday at home with the Phillies as Miami RHP Tom Koehler (10-13, 3.90) faces RHP Aaron Harang (5-15, 5.04) of Philadelphia … The 23-year-old native of Orlando, Fla. recorded a quality start without factoring in the decision versus the Mets last time out but has served up five home runs in his last five outings.

Washington Nationals starting pitcher Stephen Strasburg (37) delivers a pitch against the Miami Marlins during the fourth inning of a baseball game, Sunday, September 20, 2015, in Washington.