Strasburg, Harper lead Nats over Red Sox

It was the phenoms that did in the Boston Red Sox tonight.

The first phenom, P Stephen Strasburg (7-1), allowed 2 runs on the second inning, but that was it.  After that, Strasburg fanned 7 of the next 8 Red Sox batter and finished the night with 13 strikeouts to earn his seventh win of the season.  On the night, Strasburg tallied 6 innings, scattered 45 hits and allowed 2 runs while fanning 13.  An impressive start to improve Strasburg to 7-1 with 2.41 ERA.  Tyler Clippard got the final two outs in the ninth inning to pick up his sixth save of the season.

Ian Desmond tallied 2 hits and 2 RBI, both coming in the third inning on a two run double that gave the Nationals a 3-2 lead.  Nineteen year-old Bryce Harper had a great night, going 3 for 5, scoring twice, homering, and driving in three runs.  Harper hit his 6th blast in the fourth inning, a two run shot that gave the Nationals a 6-2 lead.  Ryan Zimmerman, Danny Espinosa, and Tyler Moore each had two hits.  Espinosa and Zimmerman each added an RBI.  Moore scored two runs on the night.

The win improved the Nationals to 33-23 and kept the Nats with at least a 1 game lead.  As of this writing,t he second place Atlanta Braves were tied in the seventh inning at 3-3.

Streaks:

*  Bryce Harper has hits in 14 of his last 16 games.  In 8 of those 14 games, Harper has more than one hit.

*  Ryan Zimmerman extended his hitting streak to 4 straight games.  In 3 of those 34 games, Zimmerman has a multi-hit game.

*  Stephen Strasburg has won his fourth consecutive start.  In 3 of those 4 starts, Strasburg has recorded 8 or more strikeouts per game.

*  Tyler Clippard has earned his 6th save in his last 7 games.