Nationals ride another Scherzer gem to 3-2 victory in Philly

PHILADELPHIA - Stop us if you've heard this one before: Max Scherzer carried a no-hitter into the sixth inning tonight at Citizens Bank Park, only to have it broken up on a double down the right field line by Freddy Galvis.

It happened last summer. And it happened again tonight, with the pesky Phillies shortstop spoiling another one of Scherzer's attempts to make history with the same kind of hit in the same inning.

Of more importance to Scherzer, the Nationals won both times, including tonight's 3-2 victory before a crowd of 16,378 that thought it might witness something special.

Then again, it feels like there's a chance to witness something special every time Scherzer takes the mound. This was, incredibly, the ninth time the right-hander has carried a no-hitter into the sixth inning in his 61 starts with the Nationals over the last two years.

Scherzer, of course, finished the job twice last season. And there was reason to believe he might do it tonight, given the combination of power and efficiency he displayed through those first five frames, when he retired 15 of the 16 batters he faced - only Cameron Rupp reached via a fifth-inning walk - on a scant 53 pitches despite seven strikeouts.

Galvis, though, has spoiled things for Scherzer before. On June 26, 2015, he doubled down the right field line for the Phillies' first hit off Scherzer ... not to mention the first hit by anyone off Scherzer in 16 1/3 innings.

So when Galvis came up to bat in the bottom of the sixth tonight, it was only fitting that he drove a high 0-2 pitch down the right field line, coasting into second base with an oddly familiar-looking double.

The Nationals led 3-0 to that point, thanks to two first-inning runs produced on RBI hits by Bryce Harper and Wilson Ramos and then Scherzer's well-placed safety squeeze in the fourth.

That extra run proved important when Ryan Howard drove a 1-1 pitch from Scherzer over the left field wall in the bottom of the seventh, trimming the lead to 3-2.

But Scherzer finished strong, retiring the last five batters he faced, striking out three of them. With 11 strikeouts on the night, he notched his 12th double-digit strikeout game of the season, breaking the club record he set last year.

Mark Melancon then pitched the ninth, getting around a leadoff walk to notch his 37th save overall and his seventh in as many tries since joining the Nationals.