Rendon gets 500th hit as Nats come back and win 4-2

Right-hander Max Scherzer allowed a few hard-hit balls in his first three innings against the Diamondbacks on Tuesday.

Jean Segura hit a mammoth solo shot on the game's first pitch. Jake Lamb and Welington Castillo delivered doubles deep to center field in the third. The D-backs led early by two.

But then, as he does many times, Scherzer started to connect. At one point he struck out seven of eight batters. He ended up with 10 strikeouts in six innings, allowing just two runs on six hits.

The Nationals found their way back to reward Scherzer, downing Arizona 4-2.

The win was the 19th of the season for Scherzer, who is now one step away from an important milestone when under consideration for a Cy Young.

Scherzer went 21-3 with the Tigers in his American League Cy Young winning season of 2013, the one time he has reached the 20-win plateau in a season.

Scherzer has now recorded 277 strikeouts this season which is a new personal best, and also sets a Nats record.

The Nationals offense had trouble solving Arizona starter Matt Koch, who took a no-hitter into the sixth inning.

That's when the offense came alive.

Jose Lobaton, subbing for the injured Wilson Ramos, delivered the Nats' first hit, a clean single, to lead off the inning.

Wilmer Difo walked. Koch was replaced by Randall Delgado.

Jayson Werth struck out, but Stephen Drew was able to hit a sacrifice fly to left field that scored pinch-runner Pedro Severino.

Anthony Rendon then blasted a three-run homer, the 500th hit of his career, and the Nationals had the lead for the first time, 4-2.

Mark Melancon recorded a scoreless ninth for his 44th save of the season.

The Nats' magic number to clinch home field advantage in the National League Divisional Series with the Dodgers is five.