Harper three hits including home run help Phillies to defeat Nationals

Bryce Harper had three hits, including a home run, in his return to Washington and the Philadelphia Phillies defeated the Nationals 8-2 on Tuesday night. After striking out in his first two at-bats, Harper doubled, singled in a run and blasted a two-run homer into the upper deck in right centre at the stadium he called home for seven seasons.

Mikail Franco homered and reached base five times for the Phillies and Jean Segura (three hits) drove in three runs with a bases-loaded double. Zach Eflin (1-0) pitched five scoreless innings, allowing three hits and a walk while striking out nine.

The game was delayed 41 minutes by rain and when the lineups were announced, Harper's name was greeted with boos as a brief video tribute was played. Harper was booed loudly when he came to bat against Max Scherzer in the first inning with two on. The booing changed to cheers when Harper struck out on a 2-2 change-up.

"It's baseball. It's part of the game, it's part of sports," Harper said about booing before the game. "So. I hope I get a great (reception). Unfortunately, I think there'll be some boos and things like that, but that's part of the game. "I think there'll be some cheers as well. Like I said, I'll always remember the memories we had here and the excitement and things like that. All the screams and cheers, I'll always remember that."

In his second at-bat, Harper missed on a 3-2 cutter. In the fifth, he made solid contact off Scherzer, doubling to right. After Segura doubled to clear the bases in the sixth, Harper followed with an RBI single off Matt Grace.

In the eighth, Harper connected with a Jeremy Hellickson fastball for his third homer of the season and emphatically flipped his bat. Scherzer (0-2) allowed two runs -- one earned -- on seven hits and a walk in five innings. He struck out nine.

Anthony Rendon hit a two-run homer for Washington. Washington lost shortstop Trea Turner when he injured his right hand attempting to bunt in the first inning. The Phillies took a 1-0 lead in the second on Franco's solo homer and Odubel Herrera scored on a passed ball to make it 2-0 in the fourth.

(With inputs from agencies.)