MIAMI — Right fielder Bryce Harper hit a three-run, tiebreaking home run and added a second upper-deck blast, leading the Washington Nationals to a 7-2 win over the Miami Marlins on Wednesday at Marlins Park. Harper, who drove in four runs, has a career-high 29 homers this season. Nationals center fielder Michael Taylor hit a solo homer in the eighth. “He's got such a forceful, violent swing,” Marlins manager Dan Jennings said of Harper. “He's now learning to control that even more. “The hand-eye coordination that he has ... I remember when he first came up, a lot of people compared him to a young Mickey Mantle — that type of thunder. (Harper) is a special hitter. He's got great power.” Harper, 22, now has 84 career homers. Mantle, the former New York Yankees great, had exactly 84 homers at the end of the 1954 season, when he was also 22 years old. He finished with 536 homers for his career. Wednesday's game-winning homer, in the fifth inning, was Harper's fourth this season off Marlins right-hander Tom Koehler. Three of those four homers were hit to the upper deck in right field, including the one Wednesday. Cubs 3, Rockies 2 Jon Lester struck out a season-high 14 and pitched eight strong innings to lead the Chicago Cubs to a 3-2 victory over the Colorado Rockies. First baseman Anthony Rizzo and center fielder Dexter Fowler each had a home run to account for the offense. Lester (6-8) allowed two runs, five hits and one walk in his longest outing of the season. Giants 5, Brewers 0 Second baseman Ehire Adrianza delivered a two-run single in a five-run seventh inning to propel the San Francisco Giants to a 5-0 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers. Right-hander Jake Peavy and three relievers combined on a six-hitter with Hunter Strickland (1-1), who relieved Peavy in the seventh, recording his first win of the season. Other results: Padres 7, Mets 3; Reds 1, Cardinals 0. American League Tigers 2, Rays 1 Detroit took advantage in the seventh of two misplays by Rays shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera to score two unearned runs and record a 2-1 victory. Cabrera committed an error on what could have been an inning-ending double play, then a two-out line drive from third baseman Nick Castellanos went off his glove for an RBI single. Justin Verlander (1-3) struck out 10 batters without a walk in eight innings for his first win in eight starts this season. Tampa's Chris Archer struck out 11, but was doomed by a 32-pitch seventh inning. Indians 12, Royals 1 The Cleveland Indians hit three home runs in a six-run sixth inning in beating the Kansas City Royals. The Indians banged out a season-high 18 hits, including four home runs in snapping their six-game losing streak and Kansas City's four-game winning streak. Corey Kluber (6-11) pitched a five-hit complete game, with six strikeouts and one walk. White Sox 9, Red Sox 2 The Chicago White Sox continued their march back into post-season contention with a a 9-2 rout of the floundering Boston Red Sox for their seventh consecutive win on their current road trip. Adam Eaton had a home run in his three hits while shortstop Alexei Ramirez also homered as the Chicago (49-50) climbed to within 2-1/2 games of the second American League wild-card position. Astros 6, Angels 3 Preston Tucker and Jon Singleton socked solo home runs while Lance McCullers worked seven strong innings as the Houston Astros claimed a 6-3 win over the Los Angeles Angels. The Astros (57-45) reclaimed first place in the American League West for the first time since a six-game losing streak leading into the All-Star Game break cost them their perch atop the division. Rangers 5, Yankees 2 The Texas Rangers produced a 5-2 victory over the New York Yankees after reportedly landing Philadelphia ace Cole Hamels until 2018. Texas (48-52) snapped a three-game skid behind a solid outing from starter Colby Lewis and left fielder Josh Hamilton's two RBIs. Inter-League Pirates 10, Twins 4 A five-run sixth inning bust open a tie game as the Pittsburgh Pirates beat the Minnesota Twins. A two-run homer by Pirates center fielder Andrew McCutchen had turned the tide when his blast over the wall in left field in the fifth tied the score at 3-3. Diamondbacks 8, Mariners 2 Catcher Welington Castillo hit two home runs as the red-hot Arizona Diamondbacks pounded Seattle starter Felix Hernandez on the way to a 8-2 victory over the Mariners. Arizona, who have won five successive games and six of their last seven, scored four runs before Hernandez recorded the second out of the game. Other results: Blue Jays 8, Phillies 2; Orioles 2, Braves 0; Dodgers 10, Athletics 7. — Agencies
