PHILADELPHIA — Max Scherzer’s bat was even more impressive than his arm.
Scherzer threw seven sharp innings and hit a two-run double, Bryce Harper launched another home run and the Washington Nationals beat the Philadelphia Phillies, 8-1, on Saturday night.
The Nationals are off to a 9-1 start, their best in franchise history.
Scherzer (2-0) allowed one run and five hits, striking out seven.
“I didn’t attack well, but I pitched well,” Scherzer said. “I found ways to get some outs.”
Scherzer, a decent hitter for an ace, made the Phillies pay for intentionally walking Danny Espinosa with two outs in the fourth inning. The pitcher lined a double the opposite way to right to knock in a pair of runs.
Excited about his fourth career extra-base hit, Scherzer smacked his hand after rounding the bag.
“I take pride in my hitting,” he said. “I swing a lot in the cage. I swing every day. It’s nice to help the team.”
Harper connected in the fifth inning, sending a long drive out to right for his fifth home run of the season. The reigning National League MVP has gone deep in his last five games in Philadelphia, dating to last year.
“I see the ball really well here,” Harper said. “It’s a great place to play.”
Aaron Nola (0-2) was the second Phillies starter roughed up by the Nationals in two games. He gave up seven runs and seven hits in five innings.
“I didn’t have my fastball right out of the gate,” Nola said. “I kept missing and they kept putting good swings on the ball.”
A night after scoring five runs off Jeremy Hellickson in the first inning of a 9-1 win, the Nationals jumped ahead, 3-0, before Scherzer threw his first pitch.
Harper started it with a sacrifice fly. Ryan Zimmerman followed with an RBI single and Daniel Murphy hit a triple to drive in the third run.
Harper’s two-run shot in the fifth put the Nationals up, 7-0. Pinch-hitter Chris Heisey had a solo home run in the ninth.
“We’ve got guys starting to heat up,” manager Dusty Baker said.
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