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Washington Nationals manager Dave Martinez met with star Bryce Harper on Saturday a day after the outfielder failed to run out a ground ball in the fifth inning of Washington’s 4-2 loss to the New York Mets.

”I’ve spoken to Bryce and that’s a conversation that will stay between Bryce and I [url=http://www.saintscheapstore.com/sam-mills-jersey-cheap]Sam Mills Jersey[/url] ,” Martinez said.

Harper came up to the plate in the fifth against hard-throwing Noah Syndergaard with one out and two runners on after singles by Adam Eaton and Anthony Rendon. Syndergaard threw the 25-year old slugger a 96 mph slider and Harper hit the ball sharply, but right at Mets shortstop Amed Rosario for an inning-ending double play.

Martinez dismissed the notion that there would be any lingering issues from having a talk with his star player.

”I forgot about it, I really have,” the first-year manager said. ”We have a ballgame to win today and he’s been a big part of that.”

Although Harper is tied for second in the National League with 23 home runs, he’s hitting a career-low .214 and ranks among the NL leaders with 100 strikeouts. The six-time All-Star is 8 for 45 in July and has just three hits in his past 22 at-bats entering Saturday. Harper is set to be a free agent at the end of the season.

”He wants to win, that’s all he cares about,” Martinez said. ”Regardless of his average, he has 23 home runs and 53 RBI. I believe that he’s going to hit 40 and drive in 100. I’m a big fan of Bryce. I love the kid because of what he brings every day. He’s a good kid [url=http://www.dolphinscheapstore.com/jason-sanders-jersey-cheap]Jason Sanders Jersey[/url] , that’s all I can say.”

Harper will participate in Monday’s Home Run Derby and was elected to start in Tuesday’s All-Star Game, set to be played at Nationals Park in Washington.

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Everything was going Clay Buchholz’s way. Then, a swing-and-miss led to an injury that turned what could have been a gem into a routine solid outing.

Buchholz lasted five innings before experiencing tightness in his left side, but the Arizona Diamondbacks completed a four-game sweep of the Pittsburgh Pirates with a 3-0 win Sunday.

The right-hander retired the first 11 batters he faced before Pirates centerfielder Starling Marte doubled down the right-field line with two out in the fourth inning. Despite throwing just 53 pitches (42 strikes), he was pulled to start the sixth inning after informing manager Torey Lovullo of some pain stemming from swinging at the first pitch of his at bat in the top of the fifth.

”I’ve had oblique, whatever it is, before. It was a lot worse than this one,” Buchholz said. ”I went out (in the bottom of the fifth) and the last two outs [url=http://www.buccaneerscheapstore.com/justin-evans-jersey-cheap]Justin Evans Jersey[/url] , that’s whenever I felt it a little bit more. I was just trying to get through that inning. It’s more precautionary. I’ve gone through things before where I’ve tried to get through it, pitch through it and go another inning, but that’s always led me in the wrong direction.”

Lovullo said Buchholz (2-1), who allowed two hits with five strikeouts in five innings for his first win since June 1, would continue to be evaluated throughout Sunday. More information is expected Monday.

”He was attacking the zone with the fastball and driving his fastball on both sides of the plate, and then throwing some quality secondary stuff,” Lovullo said. ”We want to give him a night to let everything calm down and evaluate him.”

David Peralta’s 15th home run, which carried over the wall in right-center field before bouncing into the Allegheny River [url=http://www.saintscheapstore.com/sheldon-rankins-jersey-cheap]Sheldon Rankins Jersey[/url] , and John Ryan Murphy’s ninth powered Arizona to its 12th win in 16 games.

”It’s nice to get a couple runs in the first, always,” Murphy said. ”I was leading off the second and was looking for a fastball. Got one in a pretty good spot.”

Brad Boxberger let up a single to Austin Meadows with one out in the ninth before forcing Marte into a double play for his 17th save.

Pirates right-handed starter Trevor Williams (6-5) took the loss after allowing the two-run home run to Peralta with two out in the first inning and a lead-off solo homer to Murphy, which made it 3-0 in the second. Those three runs came on five hits in six innings pitched with six strikeouts.

”Unfortunately, that was the game today,” Williams said. ”From there on, I thought I was making all my pitches and being successful the second time through the lineup.”

Pittsburgh has scored eight combined runs during its current five-game losing streak after winning four of its previous five games.

”We’re going to keep playing,” Pirates manager Clint Hurdle said. ”The season’s not going to stop. Nobody’s going to feel sorry for us. These guys are working hard in here to get better. We haven’t gotten better.”

ROSTER MOVE

Diamondbacks: RHP Braden Shipley was recalled from Triple-A Reno on Sunday morning. RHP Jake Barrett was optioned to Reno following the game Saturday.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Diamondbacks: 1B Paul Goldschmidt was given the day off after homering and scoring three runs Saturday. INF Daniel Descalso took over at first base and hit fifth.

Pirates: RHP Michael Feliz was placed on the 15-day disabled list with right shoulder inflammation on Sunday and recalled RHP Clay Holmes from Triple-A Indianapolis. Holmes allowed one walk in two innings of relief.

UP NEXT

Diamondbacks: RHP Shelby Miller (0-0 [url=http://www.vikingscheapstore.com/jarius-wright-jersey-cheap]Jarius Wright Jersey[/url] , 0.00) is expected to come off the 60-day disabled list to make his season debut against the Marlins on Monday. After undergoing Tommy John surgery for a torn UCL sustained last season against the Los Angeles Dodgers, Miller allowed 10 runs on 20 hits with 28 strikeouts and six walks in a combined 19 1/3 innings during his four rehab starts, two with Double-A Jackson and two with Single-A Visalia.

Pirates: RHP Jameson Taillon (4-6, 4.03) will look to find some consistency when he starts against the New York Mets on Monday. He is 2-6 since winning his first two starts of the season against the Minnesota Twins on April 2 and the Cincinnati Reds on April 8.

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