WASHINGTON (AP) — Anthony Rendon homered twice and drove in five runs, Joe Ross returned from the minors to allow one run over a career high-tying eight innings, and the Washington Nationals routed the Seattle Mariners 10-1 on Tuesday night.
Bryce Harper added his 14th homer and Jayson Werth hit his seventh off Chris Bergman (1-2), who allowed all of the Nationals’ runs and 14 of their 15 hits.
Rendon doubled before his second homer — and seventh of the season — completed an eight-run fourth inning. Ryan Zimmerman also had three hits.
Mike Zunino homered off Ross (2-0) in his return from his own minor league stint. Robinson Cano was hitless in his first game back from the disabled list following a thigh injury as Seattle dropped its fourth straight.
Ross showed no signs of the late April struggles that ended with a demotion to Triple-A Syracuse. He yielded five hits and a walk while striking out six, and retired 12 straight batters after a leadoff single to begin the game.
By the time Seattle finally put multiple runners aboard, Washington had already opened a 10-0 lead.
Rendon’s second-inning shot around the left field foul pole made it 2-0.
Then Werth, Harper and Rendon all connected in the fourth, helping the Nationals score seven of their eight runs in the inning with two outs.
TRAINERS ROOM
Mariners: OF Mitch Haniger (oblique) is expected to join the club Wednesday and work out in Washington before being sent on a rehab assignment, manager Scott Servais said.
Nationals: INF Stephen Drew (hamstring) has been sent to Florida to play in rehab games at extended spring training, manager Dusty Baker said.
RECORD BOOKS
Mariners: Bergman came within one of club records for most hits (15), runs (11) and home runs (five) allowed. Jamie Moyer owns a share of latter two.
Nationals: Washington’s 62 runs scored over Ross’s first four starts is the most support a starter has received over that span in major league history, according to the Nationals PR Twitter account via Elias Sports Bureau.
UP NEXT
Mariners: Rookie RHP Sam Gaviglio (0-0, 1.29) looks to build upon his first big league start, when he threw five shutout innings against the Chicago White Sox last Thursday.
Nationals: RHP Tanner Roark hasn’t seen much of Seattle, but hopes for a better outcome than when he allowed them a season-high 11 hits (and four earned runs) on Aug. 31, 2014.
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