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Jackson stellar as Nationals down Blue Jays

Jun 12, 2012 - 6:23 AM Toronto, ON (Sports Network) - Edwin Jackson allowed just two runs over eight- plus innings to guide the Washington Nationals past the Toronto Blue Jays, 6-3, in the first of a three-game interleague set at Rogers Centre.

Jackson (3-3) gave up three hits and struck out three to pick up his second win in as many starts.

"He pitched one heck of a ballgame," Nationals manager Davey Johnson said of his starter. "He was dominant. ... What a great effort."

Adam LaRoche and Rick Ankiel each homered and Bryce Harper went 3-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored for the Nationals, who have won four straight and six of their last seven.

Brandon Morrow (7-4) was pegged with the loss after giving up a leadoff double to Steve Lombardozzi, who later scored. Morrow left the game with a left oblique strain after just nine pitches.

"I felt like a stabbing thing on my side," recalled Morrow. "I wasn't able to deliver the ball very well."

Chad Beck replaced Morrow and gave up three runs -- two earned -- on three hits in 3 2/3 innings.

Colby Rasmus hit a solo homer and Yan Gomes had a pinch-hit two-run homer for Toronto, which has dropped four of its last five.

Washington wasted no time and jumped out to an early 2-0 lead in the first. Lombardozzi doubled to right then scored when Harper followed with a single. Harper moved to third when David Cooper was unable to field a Ryan Zimmerman grounder then scored on Michael Morse's sacrifice fly.

Rasmus launched a solo shot in the home half to make it 2-1.

The Nationals made it 4-1 in the third when LaRoche crushed a two-run homer into the second deck. Harper walked before LaRoche launched his 11th four- bagger of the year.

Washington added a run in both the seventh and eighth to make it 6-1.

In the seventh, Lombardozzi reached on a bunt single, moved to second on Harper's base hit, then scored when Ian Desmond followed with a single.

Ankiel belted a solo homer in the eighth. It was his fourth of the year.

Edwin Encarnacion doubled before Gomes ripped a two-run pinch-hit homer with two outs in the ninth.

Game Notes

The Nationals returned to Canada for the 4th time since leaving Montreal at the end of the 2004 campaign...Washington is 5-2 against the American League East this season...Toronto fell to 16-13 at home this season...Blue Jays are 4.5 games back of the Tampa Bay Rays in the AL East who did not play Monday.