The Sports Xchange
Jun 7, 2017
LOS ANGELES -- Max Scherzer struck out a season-high 14, and the Washington Nationals defeated the Los Angeles Dodgers 2-1 on Tuesday night at Dodger Stadium.
Scherzer (7-3), the 2016 National League Cy Young winner, gave up an unearned run in the first inning and allowed three hits with two walks in seven innings. Strikeouts accounted for nine of the initial 10 outs he recorded, and he retired the final 10 batters he faced. Yasmani Grandal and Cody Bellinger each whiffed three times against Scherzer.
It marked the 55th time Scherzer has fanned at least 10 batters in a game, the most among active pitchers. He has six such outings this season.
Reliever Oliver Perez worked a 1-2-3 eighth before rookie closer Koda Glover sealed the deal with a scoreless ninth for his eighth save. After Glover fanned Yasiel Puig for the final out, the two players exchanged words, causing both benches to clear without much of an incident.
A sacrifice fly by Daniel Murphy in the fourth inning was the difference for the Nationals (37-20), who have captured three consecutive wins and are 7-1 during their current nine-game road trip.
The Nationals go for a sweep of the Dodgers on Wednesday when right-hander Stephen Strasburg (7-1, 2.91 ERA) opposes Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw (7-2, 2.28).
Dodgers starter Brandon McCarthy delivered a solid effort Tuesday but came up short. McCarthy (5-3) allowed two runs on three hits with four strikeouts and two walks in seven innings.
The Dodgers (35-25) lost their third in a row.
Trea Turner led off with an infield single and stole second and third. Turner scored on a sacrifice fly by Bryce Harper to give the Nationals a 1-0 lead with two outs in the first inning.
In the bottom of the inning, Adrian Gonzalez singled home Chase Utley, who reached on a base hit and advanced to second on a Daniel Murphy error, to tie the score at 1.
A sacrifice fly by Murphy scored Harper in the fourth for a 2-1 Nationals edge.
NOTES: Dodgers 3B Justin Turner (strained right hamstring) will participate in a simulated game on Wednesday. Turner, who hit in the cage and performed fielding drills before Tuesday's contest, will be re-evaluated following the session and considered for reinstatement from the disabled list on Friday. ... A crowd of 44,250 attended.