The Washington Nationals got a strong outing from starting pitcher Edwin Jackson and steady production from the top of the order as they cruised past the St. Louis Cardinals, 8-1, on Thursday night.
Following a Jayson Werth leadoff walk in the bottom of the first inning, Bryce Harper belted a 2-run homer to right field to give Washington the early lead. Werth would score on a sacrifice fly hit by Adam LaRoche in the third and added to the Nats lead himself in the fifth, when he drilled a solo shot to center, his fourth home run of the season.
In the sixth, after Werth drove in a run on a fielder's choice, Harper again cleared the base paths, dumping a 2-run single to center field to push the lead to 6-0.
Harper and Werth combined for four hits, four runs, two homers and five RBIs in total for the night.
Jackson threw eight innings, and allowed just four hits and one earned run while striking out 10 on 123 pitches.
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