Harper hits upper deck twice to take NL homer lead

MIAMI -- Nationals right fielder Bryce Harper offered his Babe Ruth impression on Wednesday night, hitting two Ruthian clouts in a 7-2 victory over the Marlins. Harper went 3-for-4 with the two homers, which were his National League-leading 28th and 29th of the season.

After striking out in the first inning on a fastball against Marlins right-hander Tom Koehler, Harper made adjustments in the later innings and became a monster at the plate.

After he blooped a single to left field in the third inning, Harper broke a 2-2 tie in the fifth with a blast that hit the façade of the right-field upper deck. It was Harper's fifth career homer off Koehler.

Video: WSH@MIA: Harper on two-homer performance in Nats' win

In his final at-bat in the eighth inning against right-hander Sam Dyson, Harper's second home run, also into the upper deck, went even farther.

"Hank Aaron said it: It's not how far, it's how many," manager Matt Williams said.

Harper was pleased to hit the two big blasts, but he is more thrilled that the team is getting healthier with the return of Jayson Werth, Ryan Zimmerman and Anthony Rendon.

"The home runs were definitely exciting. I'm definitely happy about that," Harper said. "But all in all, we have our team back and this lineup back. ... We are going to keep getting better and better. It's going to be a fun stretch the next two months."