Robles plates a run, Scherzer strong through three (Nats lose 4-3)

JUPITER, Fla. - Through three innings at Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium, rookie Victor Robles continues to handle major league pitching and right-hander Max Scherzer is dealing in midseason form.

Robles, who will likely start the season at Triple-A unless an injury opens an opportunity in the Nationals outfield, doubled off the base of the wall in left-center off Adam Wainwright in his first at-bat to score Trea Turner for a 1-0 lead.

Turner slashed a leadoff single that third baseman Greg Garcia blocked, probably preventing a triple.

Scherzer, meanwhile, retired the first five Cardinals hitters - three of them on strikeouts - before challenging Garcia with 96 mph heat on a full count. Garcia crushed the fastball over the wall in right-center, tying the game.

The right-hander has allowed only Garcia's homer, walked one and fanned three through three innings.

Update: Moisés Sierra continues to hit. His ground-rule double with one out in the sixth scored Chris Dominguez, who led off with a double, for a 2-1 lead.

Update II: In the seventh, Breyvic Valera hit a two-run single off Brandon Kintzler with the bases loaded to put the Cardinals up 3-2.

Update III: We're tied again, this time at 3-3 after Reid Brignac drew a bases-loaded walk off Conner Greene in the eighth. Matt Bowman relieved Greene and uncorked what looked to be a run-scoring wild pitch, but catcher Francisco Peña pounced on the ball and threw a strike to Bowman, who tagged Spencer Kieboom out at the plate.

Update IV: Peña did more damage in the bottom of the inning, slapping an RBI single that gave the Cardinals a 4-3 lead entering the ninth.

Update V: Ballgame. Final: Cardinals 4, Nationals 3.