On Thursday the Nationals and Athletics extended their division leads in the NL East and AL West behind some of their star players. Bryce Harper and Jon Lester delivered for their teams on their home field.
Washington Nationals manager Matt Williams needed a reason to silence the questions. Speculation was raised about sending young outfielder Bryce Harper to the minor leagues due to his poor performance this year, especially since returning from the disabled list in late June. The media rumors caused Williams to erupt on reporters on Wednesday.
"I would caution everybody in this room: The minute you think you can read my freaking mind, you're sorely mistaken," Williams said in this CBSSports article. "It (ticks) me off to even think about, that somebody would take a comment I made on the radio and infer I am thinking one way or another. I've had it. Don't do it anymore."
But Harper managed to silence the rumors, for now. In the bottom of the 13th inning in yesterday's afternoon game against the New York Mets, the Nationals needed someone to come through. Since returning from the disabled list, Harper has only been batting .214 with two home runs and five RBIs, but that would change. He took Mets reliever Carlos Torres deep to left field with an opposite field home run that drove in Ian Desmond. The Nationals won 5-3 and Williams likely celebrated the fact he would be relieved of bothersome questions at least for the weekend.
On the West Coast, the Athletics began a four-game series against the Minnesota Twins. Jon Lester took the mound in his second start for the A's since being acquired from the Boston Red Sox on July 31. Lester won his first start with the team, lasting 6 2/3 innings and giving up three runs in an 8-3 victory over the Kansas City Royals. The former Red Sox pitcher further impressed on Thursday with a complete game shutout of the Twins in which he only allowed three hits and two walks. He struck out eight batters in the 3-0 win.
"You could see from the onset that he was going to be tough to score on," said A's manager Bob Melvin, in this ESPN article. "Not only is he able to pitch that type of game but he's also a guy that gives the bullpen a rest. That's exactly what he did tonight."
Washington now maintains a 4.5 game lead in the NL East division while the Athletics extended their lead on the Los Angeles Angels and now hold a three game lead in the AL West. If Harper and Lester continue to perform, these teams should easily win the division crown.
