WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Andres Chaparro had four hits, including a pair of home runs, and drove in eight as the Washington Nationals opened the second half of the season with a resounding 23-4 victory over the Athletics at Sutter Health Park.
Curtis Mead also had four hits as the Nationals had 21. Every member of the lineup had at least one hit and all nine starters drove in at least one run. Curtis Lile had four RBIs, Mead had three and rookie Harry Ford also had three, including his first major league home run in the fifth inning.
Leading 4-2 after four innings, the Nationals scored four in the fifth, six in the sixth and another four in the seventh to take an 18-2 lead. They added five more runs in the ninth to lead 23-2 before the Athletics scored twice in the bottom half.
Tyler Soderstrom hit his 15th homer in the fourth and Shea Langeliers hit his 22nd in the ninth off Nationals infielder Jorbit Vivas.
Athletics starter Gage Jump (3-5) allowed four runs (three earned) on four hits and two walks over 3 2/3 innings, while striking out eight. But the Nationals jumped all over the Athletics’ bullpen, with Justin Sterner allowing six runs while recording only one out and prospect Yunior Tur, who was called up earlier this week, allowing six runs on seven hits over two innings of work.
Rooker has surgery
Athletics designated hitter and outfielder Brent Rooker had season-ending left knee surgery Friday, a tough loss of a leader both on and off the field for the club.
The team expects him to return in time for the start of spring training next year.
Dr. Tim McAdams and Dr. Mike Freehill performed the debridement procedure of Rooker’s articular cartilage tear at Stanford Orthopedic Hospital in Redwood City and also removed loose bodies.
Rooker, who has had an injury-plagued year after he played in all 162 games last season, had received a cortisone shot last month for the knee and was rehabilitating from a bone bruise before seeking further evaluation at Stanford.
He also missed 15 games in April with a strained right oblique muscle.
A two-time All-Star, he batted .200 with 10 home runs and 29 RBIs over 48 games this season. Rooker received a five-year contract worth $60 million ahead of last season.
