WASHINGTON — Kyle Schwarber led off the first inning with his 12th home run in 10 games, and the Washington Nationals beat the Tampa Bay Rays 4-3 Tuesday night to move above .500 for the first time since the opening week.
Schwarber tied Albert Belle in 1995 for the most home runs over a 10-game span since at least 1901. He has 16 homers in 18 games since being moved into the leadoff spot June 8.
Schwarber drove Rich Hill’s first pitch, an 83 mph fastball, 434 feet off the upper-deck facade in right for his major-league-leading seventh leadoff home run — all in June.