Friday, August 17, 2018

Max Scherzer did a little bit of everything Friday night for the Nationals and all of it was good.

The right-handed ace threw six scoreless innings, hit a double to left field and scored two runs as Washington beat the last-place Miami Marlins 8-2 before 37,106 fans at Nationals Park.

It was a much-needed win as the Nationals finished a recent road trip 2-5 with less than a quarter of the season left for the two-time defending division champs, who are trying to make up ground in the National League East.

Scherzer (16-5), who leads the National League in wins, has won six games in a row over his last eight starts and has six games this year when he has not allowed a run.

In the batter’s box he collected his 16th hit of the year, which leads the majors, and he has a hit in seven of his last eight starts.

“I just go up there and have a competitive at-bat,” Scherzer said. “I know I am not a great hitter.”

Maybe so but Scherzer said he takes pride in running the bases and not being an automatic out at the plate. He is now hitting .296 this season.

“I just think it’s a necessity to be a great pitcher in this league,” he said of being a hitter. “I look for every situation. Running the bases is part of that. I love hitting in the National League.”

He scored two runs after fellow pitcher Tanner Roark scored twice Thursday against the Cardinals. That is the first time in team history a pitcher has scored two runs in two games in a row.

On the mound Scherzer allowed just five hits and had seven strikeouts as he lowered his ERA to 2.11 this year.

“He attacked the strike zone like he always does,” manager Dave Martinez said. “He was getting quick outs.”

Scherzer was taken out after throwing 96 pitches and the Nationals up 5-0.

“He had (96) pitches. I told him that was good. It was hot; he got tired. He gets a little rest,” said Martinez, with an eye on Scherzer facing the second-place Phillies at home next week.

Bryce Harper had three hits and drove in two runs and now has 500 RBI in his career. His average is up to .248 and he has 79 RBI this year, to go along with 30 homers.

“Right now Harper is playing baseball all the way around,” Martinez said. “It is fun to watch him play.”

“He was focused,” catcher Matt Wieters said of Harper.

Wieters hit his fifth homer of the year – all have come at Nationals Park – and first baseman Ryan Zimmerman also went deep.

Second baseman Daniel Murphy extended his hitting streak to 10 games in a row. Nationals outfielder Adam Eaton also had three hits and six different players drove in a run.

But the night belonged to Scherzer, in all facets of the game.

“We just executed,” he said of teammate Wieters. “I was able to go off speed when I needed to. Just kept throwing up zeroes when we needed it. Wieters did a great job behind the plate.”

Does running the bases make Scherzer tired?

“No. That is why I put in the work between starts so I can run the bases and pitch. For me that is part of the game,” he said.

The third-place Nationals (62-61) did not gain ground on the Phillies (68-54), who also won, but the first-place Braves were losing 10-2 in the last of the eighth at home to the Rockies late Friday night.

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