Baker respects Scherzer's inner drive (Braves win 5-2)

ATLANTA - Manager Dusty Baker knows he has a very special pitcher in his Cy Young award winner Max Scherzer. He said one reason why Scherzer is the pitcher he is today is his inner drive to get better every start.

"You can count on Max taking the ball. He trains for it," Baker said. "He trains as hard as anyone I've ever seen. We hope that rubs off, which it has on some of the younger players, the value of training and working out. It adds to longevity and it adds to being dependable.

"The best pitchers are like that. The mold didn't start with Max and it's not broken with Max. What he's done is to continue that (legacy). A lot of that comes from within. It's hard to give somebody that determination. Max has it. That's why he's one of the best. That's what the best have. They have that inner drive and determination that nobody has to prompt it or give it to him and he's probably had that most of his life. He wasn't the No. 1 draft pick for nothing."

The Braves were able to use the longball to get on the board first. Rio Ruiz hit a two-run shot in the bottom of the second. The hit was the eighth homer Scherzer has allowed in the last six games.

The Nationals have base hits from Trea Turner and Anthony Rendon, but nothing else against veteran Bartolo Colón.

Mid-third, the Braves lead the Nationals 2-0.

Update: Matt Kemp led off the fourth with a solo homer off of Scherzer. Kemp has homered in each of the first two games of the series. The Braves managed a walk and a single in the inning after the Kemp homer, but Scherzer struck out Ruiz and got Colón to ground out.

The bigger concern now is that Scherzer has already thrown 92 pitches.

Colón has gotten the better of the Nats so far, scattering three hits over four scoreless innings.

After four innings, the Braves lead the Nationals 3-0.

Update II: The Nationals offense kicked into gear in the fifth.

Matt Wieters singled to leadoff the frame. With one out, Scherzer's fielder's choice got Wieters all the way to third thanks to a Colón throwing error. Turner and Jayson Werth followed with RBI singles to cut the Braves lead to 3-2. That finished Colón's day.

Ian Krol came in and induced an infield pop up by Bryce Harper. He then struck out Ryan Zimmerman looking to end the inning.

Mid-fifth with storm clouds looming, the Braves lead is 3-2.

Update III: Rain delay arrived at 6:20 p.m. The game is official through five innings with the Braves leading the Nationals 3-2. The Nats hope they will get back to baseball so they can attempt come back.

Update IV: Braves officials announced planned restart set for 7:45 p.m.

Update V: The new stadium announcement now says "We are in a continued rain delay."

Update VI: Back underway at 8:10 p.m. Jason Motte pitching to Daniel Murphy.

Update VII: Blake Treinen faced off against the Braves in the bottom of the sixth. With one out, Tyler Flowers singled. Jace Peterson followed with another single. Then, Dansby Swanson shot a grounder to Turner at short, who threw the runner out at second to start a potential double play. However, Murphy bobbled the ball in his exchange, and his throw to first was not in time. Swanson gets credit for an RBI fielder's choice.

The Braves lead 4-2 after six innings.

Update VIII: Matt Albers gave up a solo homer to Tyler Flowers in the eighth. The Nats have allowed at least one run in the eighth inning of each game in this series.

After eight frames, the Braves lead the Nationals 5-2.

Update IX: The Nationals go quietly in the ninth against Jim Johnson. They have now lost a season-high four games in a row.

Final score: Braves 5, Nationals 2