Bryce Harper drove in three runs, Anthony Rendon homered and the Washington Nationals handed the White Sox their 19th loss in 25 games, beating Chicago 10-5 on Tuesday night.
While the NL East-leading Nationals won for the sixth time in eight games, the White Sox continued their stunning decline. A team that got off to a 23-10 start and spent 47 days in first place in the AL Central is now in fourth place, with Detroit beating Toronto.
Harper finally got a chance to hit in Chicago and took advantage of his opportunity. The 2015 NL MVP came through with a go-ahead two-run double in the fifth and a sacrifice fly in a four-run sixth after the Cubs walked him 13 times while sweeping four games at Wrigley Field last month.
Rendon hit a two-run homer off Mat Latos (6-2). Michael Taylor added a two-run double and reliever Blake Treinen (4-1) pitched two-hit ball over three scoreless innings after a shaky start by Joe Ross.
James Shields makes his White Sox debut after being acquired from San Diego, while RHP Max Scherzer (6-4, 3.87 ERA) starts for Washington. Shields was 2-7 with a 4.28 ERA in 11 starts for the Padres.