Scherzer allows homer, Nats go quietly in 1-0 loss to Brewers

Right-hander Max Scherzer's trend of of pitching well but allowing at least one homer continued again Monday in his start against the Brewers.

Martin Maldonado hit a solo homer to lead off the fifth inning to give the Brewers a 1-0 lead.

That was all the Brewers needed in a 1-0 win over the Nationals that snapped their four-game skid. Scherzer (9-6) ended up with the hard luck loss by allowing only one run over six innings on four hits with three walks and seven strikeouts. Scherzer threw 114 pitches with 73 for strikes.

Scherzer has now allowed 21 homers in 18 starts this season.

The Nationals tried to rally in the sixth. With two outs, Jayson Werth singled to left-center. The ball was misplayed by left fielder Ryan Braun, allowing Werth to end up at second base. Bryce Harper was intentionally walked. Both runners moved up on a wild pitch by right-hander Junior Guerra. But Wilson Ramos struck out to end the threat.

Guerra (6-1) was outstanding. He hurled 7 1/3 shutout innings, allowing two hits, with two walks (one intentional) and seven strikeouts. He tossed 109 pitches, 60 for strikes. Guerra has now allowed no runs on four hits in his last 15 1/3 innings.

Two days ago, the Nationals had three hits. Yesterday, they accumulated 15 hits. Today, they mustered just two hits. The Nationals have now lost three of four games this season against Milwaukee.

Right-hander Jonathan Papelbon returned from the disabled list to pitch a scoreless ninth inning.

With the rain falling, right-hander Jeremy Jeffress recorded the final three outs for his 22nd save. With two outs in the ninth, Ramos walked, but Ryan Zimmerman grounded out to Jeffress on a close play at first.

The Brewers batted out of order in the top of the first inning. Following a two-out single by Braun, Nationals manager Dusty Baker alerted the umpiring crew that Jonathan Lucroy was listed third on the lineup card handed to each club prior to first pitch, and should have hit in the place where Braun hit. The umpires erased the Braun single. The play was scored as an unassisted putout by Ramos, with Lucroy called out.