Johnson, Willingham, Dunn hit 3 straight homers against Astros

Nationals hit 3 straight homers against Astros

HOUSTON — Nick Johnson, Josh Willingham and Adam Dunn of the Washington Nationals have homered in consecutive at-bats in the sixth inning off Houston’s Felipe Paulino.

The back-to-back-to-back shots Saturday night were the first by the Nationals since the franchise relocated from Montreal in 2005. The Expos hit three consecutive homers on Aug. 23, 1997, when Andy Stankiewicz, Mark Grudzielanek and Mike Lansing connected at the Chicago Cubs.

The Astros had not allowed homers in three consecutive at-bats since Sept. 29, 2001, against the Cubs. Fred McGriff, Rondell White and Todd Hundley hit the home runs in the game, also at Wrigley Field.

The New York Yankees were the last team to do it when Nick Swisher, Robinson Cano and Melky Cabrera homered consecutively at home against Baltimore on May 20.