Daniel Murphy finished a triple shy of the cycle, slumping slugger Bryce Harper also went deep and the Washington Nationals routed the floundering Kansas City Royals 13-2 Wednesday.
Murphy and Clint Robinson drove in three runs apiece, and just about everyone else in a gray jersey did something at the plate to help the Nationals post one of their best offensive performances in years.
Stephen Strasburg merely had to show up to push his career-best start to 5-0. The big righty wound up allowing two runs on five hits and a walk while striking out seven in six tidy innings.
Kris Medlen (1-3) allowed nine runs, six of them earned, and six hits in two-plus innings for Kansas City. His home ERA rose to 20.65 in two starts at Kauffman Stadium this season.
