The Associated Press
ATLANTA–Bryce Harper assumes everybody already knows the Washington Nationals again will be a team to watch in the National League.
Just in case, Harper and the Nationals made the point by putting on an offensive show at the Atlanta Braves’ new park.
Harper had two homers, including a grand slam, among four hits as the Nationals overwhelmed Julio Teheran and the Braves 14-4 last night.
Harper drove in five runs.
Ryan Zimmerman also hit a grand slam as the Nationals had 20 hits.
“I think everybody knows how good we are and what we can do,” Harper said, adding the expected return of shortstop Trea Turner from the disabled list “is huge, as well.”
Harper’s homers came in the first two innings as the Nationals led 6-2 early and then kept adding runs.
His third-inning grand slam just cleared the reach of leaping Braves’ centre-fielder Ender Inciarte.
Harper’s seven career homers off Teheran are his most against any pitcher.
“It was just a bad day,” Teheran said. “I didn’t have it at all.
“Obviously, it was one guy that hurt me the most,” he noted. “He’s hit me really good and he’s one of the best hitters.
“But it’s a long season. We’ll meet again.”
Zimmerman’s eighth-inning grand slam off Ian Krol had some Braves’ fans heading for the exits at new SunTrust Park.
The last time the Nationals hit two grand slams in one game was on July 27, 2009 at Milwaukee, when Josh Willingham hit both.
Even the potential bad news for Washington appeared to be only a scare.
Nationals’ outfielder Jayson Werth left the game during a third-inning at-bat with a groin spasm, suffering the injury on a check swing.
His status is day-to-day, according to manager Dusty Baker.
Washington’s Joe Ross (1-0) allowed three runs on six hits in seven innings in his 2017 debut.
Teheran (1-1) allowed seven runs on seven hits in four innings.
Baker said before the game he was removing Blake Treinen from the closer’s role.
Instead, right-handers Shawn Kelley and Koda Glover will share the job.
Treinen, who has a 7.11 ERA with three saves in four chances, will shift to a set-up role.
Stephen Strasburg (1-0) will try to give Washington a sweep of the three-game series tonight.
Elsewhere in the NL, St. Louis edged Pittsburgh 2-1, Chicago beat Milwaukee 7-4, New York topped Philadelphia 5-4, San Diego nipped Arizona 1-0, and L.A. doubled Colorado 4-2.
Seattle beat Miami 10-5, Baltimore downed Cincinnati 2-0, and Kansas City blanked San Francisco 2-0 in interleague play.
