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Harper, Zimmerman leads Nats to sweep of ChiSox

Apr 12, 2013 - 4:50 AM Washington, DC (Sports Network) - Bryce Harper went 2-for-3 with two RBI and scored twice, and Ryan Zimmerman added a double and a pair of RBI as the Washington Nationals completed a three-game sweep of the Chicago White Sox with a 7-4 win on Thursday.

Adam LaRoche and Ian Desmond added one RBI apiece, while Denard Span and Jayson Werth both finished with two hits and scored twice for the Nationals, who improved to 7-2 this season.

Dan Haren (1-1) allowed three runs on 10 hits over five innings to earn the win. He struck out five and did not walk a batter.

"I think I threw the ball better than the line score would (indicate), but the conditions weren't great out there. The most important thing is we won the game," Haren said.

Rafael Soriano stranded a runner in the ninth to earn his fifth save of the season.

Alejandro De Aza had two hits, an RBI and scored once for the White Sox, who will open a three-game set in Cleveland on Friday. Adam Dunn added an RBI double.

Dylan Axelrod (0-1) allowed six runs on seven hits over 3 2/3 innings to absorb the loss.

"You don't get many breaks (in the Nationals' lineup)," Axelrod said.

Washington jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the first. Werth singled, stole second and moved to third on a throwing error by Chicago catcher Tyler Flowers. After Zimmerman drew a walk, LaRoche roped a single to left field to score Werth.

Chicago countered with a run of its own in the second to knot the game at 1-1. Paul Konerko opened the frame with a base hit to left and Conor Gillaspie doubled to put runners at second and third with one out. Flowers followed with a ground out to shortstop, but it was enough to get Konerko across.

The Nats pushed a pair of runs across in the third to take a 3-1 edge. Span reached on a leadoff single and promptly stole second base before coming around on Harper's base hit to center. Back-to-back walks then loaded the bases for Desmond, who plated Harper with a sacrifice fly to center field.

The White Sox, though, added two more runs in the fourth to pull even once again. With runners on second and third, De Aza singled to right field to plate Gillaspie. Jeff Keppinger followed with a base hit to left that brought Axelrod around.

Washington responded with three runs in the home half to take a 6-3 edge. With Haren on third, Axelrod delivered a wild pitch that allowed the pitcher to score easily. Axelrod then walked Harper to put two runners on, and Zimmerman followed with a bases-clearing double to right field.

Dunn's double in the sixth scored De Aza to make it 6-4, and Harper's RBI single in the eighth accounted for the final margin.

Game Notes

Washington Wizards guard John Wall threw out the game's first pitch ... Desmond has recorded a hit in six straight games ... Chicago went just 3- for-13 with runners in scoring position ... Rios extended his hitting streak to nine games, tied with Baltimore's Adam Jones for the longest in the majors.