San Francisco Giants starting pitcher Chris Stratton delivers during the second inning of the first baseball game of a split doubleheader against the Washington Nationals, Sunday, Aug. 13, 2017, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass

By Jeremy Kahn

After seeing their top player, Bryce Harper fall to the ground in the first inning of their win on Saturday night, the Washington Nationals could not solve the San Francisco Giants starter.

Chris Stratton struck out a career-high 10 batters in 6.2 innings of work, as the Giants evened up the three-game series with a 4-2 victory over the Nationals in Game One of a day-night doubleheader at Nationals Park.

A sigh of relief was felt throughout the Beltway, as it was discovered that Harper, who tripped over first base in the first inning of Saturday night’s win suffered a bone bruise after a MRI revealed no ligament or tendon damage. Harper, who won the 2015 National League Most Valuable Player was placed on the 10-day disabled list.

Joe Panik went three-for-four for the Giants, while Gorkys Hernandez added a RBI single and Kelby Tomlinson hit a sacrifice fly in the top of the eighth inning, as the Giants jumped out to a 4-0 lead over the leaders in the National League Eastern Division.

The Nationals finally got on the board in the bottom of the eighth inning, as Anthony Rendon hit a two-run home run off of Hunter Strickland, who drew boos from the Nationals crowd.

This was the first appearance by Strickland in Washington since he hit Harper that caused a bench-clearing brawl back on May 29 at AT&T Park.

Sam Dyson came on in the bottom of the ninth inning to notch his ninth save in 14 chances this season.

NOTES: Matt Moore will take the ball in the nightcap of the doubleheader, while the Nationals will send Max Scherzer to the mound.

Orlando Calixte was added to the Giants roster as their 26th player, as he was recalled from Triple-A Sacramento.