Bryce Harper's September surge continues (with lineups)
By Josh Land
PHILADELPHIA - Bryce Harper continues his conquest for National League Most Valuable Player honors in tonight's series finale against the Phillies. The Nationals slugger is coming off a 3-for-3 two-homer performance on Tuesday in which he drove in all four runs in the 4-0 victory.
Harper's 39 homers ties him for most in the NL and places him second all-time for longballs in a Nationals single season, trailing Alfonso Soriano's 46 taters in 2006.
Harper's .338 batting average, .467 on-base percentage and .667 slugging percentage lead the majors. The last player to finish with a slash line better than that was Barry Bonds in 2004 (.362/.609/.812).
Harper already has eight homers through 14 games in September, his second-highest total for any month this season.
The Nationals are just 2-7 in Gio Gonzalez's last nine starts with the left-hander compiling a 3.99 ERA over the tough stretch.
For the Nationals:
2B Anthony Rendon
3B Yunel Escobar
RF Bryce Harper
LF Jayson Werth
1B Clint Robinson
SS Ian Desmond
C Jose Lobaton
CF Michael A. Taylor
LHP Gio Gonzalez
For the Phillies:
SS Freddy Galvis
2B Andres Blanco
CF Aaron Altherr
RF Jeff Francoeur
1B Darin Ruf
LF Darnell Sweeney
3B Chase d'Arnaud
C Cameron Rupp
RHP Alec Asher
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