Harper hits 6th homer in last three games

Bryce Harper hit a two-run homer in the ninth to give the host Washington Nationals an 8-6 victory yesterday over the Atlanta Braves. The Nats had squandered a five-run lead.

It was Harper's sixth home run in his last three games, one off the major-league record set by Shawn Green in 2002.

"Right when I hit it, I knew it was gone," he said.

Brewers 12, Cubs 4: Jason Rogers hit his first career home run, Gerardo Parra also homered and drove in four runs in Milwaukee.

Pirates 7, Cardinals 5: Jordy Mercer broke out of a deep slump with a go-ahead two-run double and host Pittsburgh rallied. Yadier Molina hit into the Cardinals' first triple play in nearly 12 years.

Blue Jays 7, Red Sox 1: Edwin Encarnacion hit a three-run homer and Josh Donaldson had three hits for host Toronto. The Red Sox have lost 14 of 20.

Rays 7, Rangers 2: Tampa Bay reliever Andrew Bellatti, who served jail time as a teen after a fatal car crash, won in his big-league debut in St. Pete.

Royals 6, Tigers 2: Alcides Escobar homered on the first pitch of the game and made a sparkling catch of Miguel Cabrera's line drive two innings later for visiting Kansas City.

Twins 7, Indians 4: Torii Hunter continued his torrid stretch with three hits, including a home run for visiting Minnesota.

Reds, White Sox split. Avisail Garcia and Gordon Beckham homered in the sixth inning as host Chicago won the second game of a doubleheader, 8-2. In the first game, Marlon Byrd's three-run homer capped a seven-run ninth in the Reds' 10-4 win.

Padres 6, Diamondbacks 4: Justin Upton hit a go-ahead homer in the 12th in Phoenix.

Marlins 6, Giants 2: Marcell Ozuna's homer triggered a three-run fourth in San Francisco.

Mariners 7, A's 2: Nelson Cruz hit an RBI double in the first and a two-run single in the fifth in Seattle.

Astros 6, Angels 5: Chris Carter and Colby Rasmus hit two-run homers and Dallas Keuchel pitched into the seventh inning for visiting Houston.-- AP