Harper hits 1st big league HR, leads Nats to win

WASHINGTON — Bryce Harper hit his first big league home run and Chad Tracy and Xavier Nady each connected in the eighth inning, leading the Washington Nationals to an 8-5 victory over the San Diego Padres on Monday night.

Harper became the youngest major leaguer to homer since 1998, going deep on a solo shot to straightaway center field in the third inning off right-hander Tim Stauffer. The home run came in the outfielder’s 15th game and 54th at-bat with the Nationals.

Washington also lost another player to injury in a season that has been filled with them. Catcher Sandy Leon — making his major league debut — left the game in the fourth inning after spraining his right ankle in a collision at home plate.