Bryce Harper delivered his first career game-ending home run, a two-run shot in the bottom of the ninth Thursday that lifted the Nationals to a 9-7 win against the Pirates. Harper drove a hanging slider over the wall just to the left of straightaway center with two outs off Bryan Morris, who earlier allowed a single to Kurt Suzuki.
Harper came through with his 14th homer of the season, a day after sitting out because of a bothersome left knee that landed him on the disabled list recently. He went 3 for 5 with three runs and one double Thursday. Harper is batting .304 (17 for 56) with one triple, one home run, four doubles and six RBI in his last 15 games.