OF Bradley Zimmer doubled in the fifth inning to extend his hitting streak to five games. During the seven-game homestand, Zimmer batted .385 with four doubles, two home runs and 10 RBIs.

RHP Danny Salazar, who was spectacular in his first start since coming off the disabled list, will make his second start Friday in Chicago against the White Sox. After spending six weeks on the disabled list with right shoulder soreness, Salazar was activated and started Saturday's game against Toronto, pitching seven scoreless innings on one hit, with eight strikeouts and no walks.

RHP Tanner Roark hopes to continue his turnaround from a rough stretch of the season when he was 0-4 with an 8.78 ERA over six games (five starts). He's 2-0 with a 1.38 ERA in his last two outings, and in 62 career games after the All-Star break is 24-13 with a 2.65 ERA prior to facing Colorado on Friday.

RHP Max Scherzer was his usual dominant self, tossing six strong innings, allowing three hits and one run. His nine strikeouts give him 201 on the year, the sixth straight campaign he has reached that plateau. Scherzer is the only active pitcher with a streak that long. "It's about consistency and executing with all my stuff," he said.

RHP Stephen Strasburg was placed on the 10-day disabled list with right elbow nerve impingement retroactive to Monday. Strasburg will continue to throw during his time on the DL, and Nationals manager Dusty Baker hoped the pitcher would miss only one start. But Baker added Strasburg would be evaluated again after throwing a "serious bullpen" session.

OF Bryce Harper blasted a first-inning home run to extend his hitting streak to 19 games, tied with Kansas City's Whit Merrifield for the longest hit streak in MLB this season. Harper has also reached base a career-high 27 straight games. Harper homered again and doubled in the game.

LHP Sammy Solis was recalled from Triple-A Syracuse on Thursday. Solis has a 14.73 ERA in 10 appearances this season with the Nationals.

1B Ryan Zimmerman crushed two home runs in the Nationals romp Thursday, and his 237 career homers are tied with former Senators slugger Frank Howard for the most four-baggers in D.C. baseball history.

RHP Michael Blazek had a rough outing Thursday, giving up eight runs and six home runs in 2 1/3 innings. Blazek became the ninth pitcher since 1900 to allow six home runs in a game, and the first since James Shields in 2010.

RHP Wily Peralta did not fare well in relief Thursday, allowing seven runs on eight hits in 1 1/3 innings. His ERA continues to soar, and is 7.85 on the season. He has allowed 23 runs in 17 1/3 relief innings. "It was a struggle," Brewers manager Craig Counsell said. "We have to have better than that."

C Manny Pina is one of only four catchers batting .300 or better this season. At .304 on the campaign, Pina joins Buster Posey (.328), J.T. Realmuto (.307) and Tyler Flowers (.301) on the list.

3B Travis Shaw continues to be the one Brewer hitter immune to the team's second-half struggles. Shaw launched a titanic blast to the third deck of Nationals Park off ace Max Scherzer for his 24th homer of the season and continues to build on his career-high RBI total, which is now 74.

RHP Anthony Swarzak was activated Thursday. Swarzak (4-3, 2.23 ERA in 41 relief appearances) was acquired from the Chicao White Sox on Wednesday.

WASHINGTON -- The Washington Nationals tied a franchise record Thursday with eight home runs in one game -- including four in a row in the third inning -- as they hammered the Milwaukee Brewers 15-2.Brian Goodwin, Wilmer Difo, Bryce Harper and Ryan Zimmerman hit consecutive homers in the third inning off Milwaukee's Michael Blazek (0-1), making Washington the first team to accomplish the feat since Arizona in 2010.Anthony Rendon later homered in the same inning as the Nationals became the sixth team in major league history to rack up five in one frame -- the first since Milwaukee in 2006. Harper and Zimmerman each finished with two home runs and Jose Lobaton also went deep as Washington equaled Montreal's eight-homer output of July 30, 1978, against Atlanta.Blazek, making a spot start in place of the injured Matt Garza, was roughed up, barely recording more outs (seven) than home runs allowed (six) in his 2 1/3 innings. The beleaguered Brewers bullpen was forced to turn to left fielder... [More]

WASHINGTON -- The Washington Nationals tied a franchise record Thursday with eight home runs in one game -- including four in a row in the third inning -- as they hammered the Milwaukee Brewers 15-2.Brian Goodwin, Wilmer Difo, Bryce Harper and Ryan Zimmerman hit consecutive homers in the third inning off Milwaukee's Michael Blazek (0-1), making Washington the first team to accomplish the feat since Arizona in 2010.Anthony Rendon later homered in the same inning as the Nationals became the sixth team in major league history to rack up five in one frame -- the first since Milwaukee in 2006. Harper and Zimmerman each finished with two home runs as Washington equaled Montreal's eight-homer output of July 30, 1978, against Atlanta.Blazek, making a spot start in place of the injured Matt Garza, was roughed up, barely recording more outs (seven) than home runs allowed (six) in his 2 1/3 innings. The beleaguered Brewers bullpen was forced to turn to left fielder Hernan Perez to record the final... [More]

C Ryan Lavarnway was selected from Triple-A Nashville by the A's. Lavarnway has appeared in one game with Oakland this year, going 0-for-2 on July 7 while C Josh Phegley was on paternity leave.Lavarnway was selected on July 5 and designated for assignment three days later before being assigned outright to Nashville on July 14. He is hitting .262 with six home runs and 25 RBIs in 67 games with the Sounds.

RHP John Axford was designated for assignment by the Athletics. Axford was on the Opening Day roster but did not appear in a game before he was placed on the 10-day DL retroactive to April 2

C Josh Phegley on the disabled list by the Athletics because of a strained left oblique. Phegley has appeared in 47 games with the A's this year, including 37 starts at catcher. He is hitting .169 over his past 28 contests after batting .250 over his first 19 games. He was scratched from the lineup before the game Wednesday with tightness in the oblique.

LHP Sammy Solis was recalled from Triple-A Syracuse to fill the roster spot of Stephen Strasburg, who will venture to the disabled list for the ninth time in his career. Solis, 28, appeared in 10 games this season with the Nationals and owns a 1-2 mark with a 4.50 ERA in six appearances with Syracuse.

RHP Stephen Strasburg was placed on the 10-day disabled list with nerve impingement in his right elbow, the Washington Nationals announced Thursday. Left-hander Sammy Solis was recalled from Triple-A Syracuse to fill the roster spot of Strasburg, who will venture to the disabled list for the ninth time in his career. The two-time All-Star owns a 10-3 mark with a 3.25 ERA in 20 starts this season.