Watch: Strasburg ties career high with 14 K's as Nationals top Phillies

Stephen Strasburg stepped up big-time for the Nationals.

Though Washington Nationals have seen their ship fall apart and sink in the season's final months, Stephen Strasburg delivered a much-needed bright spot in his Tuesday start against Philadelphia.

Bryce Harper homered twice to lead the offense, and that was all Washington needed as their ace baffled the Phillies for eight innings, allowing just one hit and one walk while tying his career high with 14 strikeouts in a 4–0 win. 

Strasburg (9–7) lowered his ERA to 3.98 and WHIP to 1.16 with the performance. As ESPN's Jayson Stark noted, he is just the fourth pitcher since 1900 to one-hit the Phillies with 14-plus strikeouts, joining Tom Seaver, Nolan Ryan and Warren Spahn.

The Nationals are 74-70 on the season, and after the Mets fell to Miami Tuesday night, trail New York by 8.5 games.

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- Jeremy Woo