Wire Taps: Washington Nationals’ 17-run win; Jon Lester bounces back; Tres Barrera hits 1st MLB HR + more Nats links...

Jon Lester hit a 419-foot home run to center last night. Did he know it was gone off the bat?

“Well, either it was going out or I was getting throw out at second,” Lester said, “one of the two. I definitely wasn’t hustling out of the box. It was hot.”

The homer made the 37-year-old southpaw, “the oldest pitcher (37 years old) to homer in a game since Bartolo Colon did it on May 7th, 2016 against the Padres at 42 years old,” as the ESPN Stats & Info Twitter account noted last night.

That’s not a stat Lester loves.

“I don’t know if that’s really a good stat,” he said.

“It’s pretty special,” he reluctantly acknowledged.

“I try not to go up there and screw up is really all I’m trying to do. To be, I guess, second behind Bartolo is pretty cool.

“Hopefully somebody comes along and takes that title from him or from me, that would be nice to move my name down on that list.”

Go read your links...

NATS BEAT:

Nats hammer Marlins behind Lester's arm and bat - (MASN)
"Teeing off on Ross Detwiler, the Nationals bashed their long-ago first-round pick for eight runs before making four outs."

Nationals’ Tres Barrera ‘blacked out’ rounding bases on first career HR - (NBC Sports Washington)
"After beginning the season buried on the Nationals’ organizational depth chart, Tres Barrera reached the major leagues and made his presence felt..."

Nats pound Marlins as Jon Lester homers, throws seven scoreless - (WaPost)
"The veteran left-hander throws seven scoreless innings and adds a two-run homer in an 18-1 rout over injury-depleted Miami."

Jon Lester tosses seven scoreless and homers in big win - (MLB.com)
"Jon Lester had been looking for answers. His past two starts had lasted a combined six innings, and something had to change in the second half of his 16th season."

Nationals give Tres Barrera silent treatment after first career home run - (NBC Sports Washington)
"So when Nationals catcher Tres Barrera launched his first long ball as a big leaguer Monday night, his teammates made sure to celebrate the moment — by not celebrating the moment."

Juan Soto says Home Run Derby 'helped me out big time' - (Washington Times)
"Even Juan Soto can’t fully explain the surge of home runs he’s hit in his first few at-bats since the All-Star break — but the Washington Nationals slugger said competing in the Home Run Derby helped."

Strasburg throwing off mound again with no issues - (MASN)
"Strasburg made some progress over the weekend, though, while throwing pain-free on flat ground, so the Nationals decided to get him back on a mound now and not wait longer."

Nationals slugger Juan Soto credits Home Run Derby for recent power surge - (NBC Sports Washington)
"In the first half of the season, Soto launched just 11 home runs, the lowest of any contestant in the derby."

Two Orthodox Jewish MLB pitchers juggle baseball, religion - (Washington Times)
"It’s a decision that hasn’t come up a lot, if at all, over the last almost century and a half of Major League Baseball. Two young pitchers, just drafted by the MLB and ready to start their careers, face a choice when it comes to playing on the seventh day of the week: the Sabbath or sliders?"

Soto carrying Home Run Derby success into second half - (MASN)
"And now, following a blistering weekend at the plate for Soto, who went 7-for-13 with a double and three homers off Padres pitching, he’s flat-out giving all the credit to the derby."

How Dave Martinez emerged as the heart of the Washington Nationals - (WaPost)
"On Saturday night, with one of the scariest moments in Nationals history unfolding around him, it was Martinez’s compassion that echoed in the aftermath."

NATIONAL(S) BEAT:

Jon Lester dominates on mound, hits homer and Nationals score 18 runs in rout of Marlins - (CBSSports.com)
"The Washington Nationals just won an 18-1 baseball game over the Miami Marlins. Yeah, it was bad."

Prospect Team of the Week July 19th - (MLB.com)
"Coming off his worst start of the year (eight runs in 4 1/3 innings) on July 7, [Evan] Lee bounced back with his best, striking out nine in six scoreless innings..."

Oregon State's Cole Hamilton signs free agent deal with Washington Nationals - (NBC Sports Washington)
"Oregon State catcher Cole Hamilton took a big step in his baseball career on Monday, signing a free-agent deal with the Washington Nationals."

Former Auburn pitcher Peyton Glavine has signed with the Washington Nationals - (Auburn Wire)
"Auburn left-handed pitcher Peyton Glavine signed a free-agent contract with the Washington Nationals Monday."

Jarrett Gonzales Signs With Washington Nationals - (GoLobos.com)
"Jarrett Gonzales of The University of New Mexico baseball team has signed with the Washington Nationals, the senior announced Monday. Gonzales saw action in 20 games this past season and started in 18, posting a .246 average."

NL EAST UPDATES:

Phillies trade targets: Top four players to help - (The Morning Call)
"Maybe the Phillies will be buyers by the July 30 MLB trade deadline, after all."

Mets manager Luis Rojas suspended for going ballistic - (NY Post)
"As the Mets prepared to open their series against the Reds on Monday, manager Luis Rojas was trying to figure out from where he would watch the game."

Jazz Chisholm Jr., Garrett Cooper on injured list - (MLB.com)
"MRIs on Monday confirmed the initial diagnoses for Jazz Chisholm Jr. (left shoulder bone bruise/contusion) and Garrett Cooper (left elbow sprain), both of whom were placed on the 10-day injured list prior to the Marlins' series opener against the Nationals on Monday at Nationals Park."

Stephen Vogt: ‘I couldn’t be any happier’ joining Braves - (AJC.com)
"New Braves catcher Stephen Vogt admits he’s the classic case of a veteran re-energized in a new environment. Vogt, 36, spent the season on the disastrous Diamondbacks (27-68) before the Braves acquired him late last week."