Scherzer off to hot start (Nats win 6-2 in 11)

Right-hander Max Scherzer is rolling against the Giants in the nightcap of the day/night doubleheader.

Scherzer dispatched nine straight hitters to get through three innings. He has struck out four, two of them looking. The Giants have managed only one ground ball out: Denard Span's grounder to second base that led off the game.

Daniel Murphy slammed a solo homer in the bottom of the third off of Giants starter Matt Moore. It was his 20th homer of the season and came on a 2-2 pitch.

The Nationals now have four players with at least 20 homers this season: Murphy, Bryce Harper, Anthony Rendon and Ryan Zimmerman.

But in the fourth inning, Span led off by beating out a grounder to third baseman Rendon for the first base hit of the game for San Francisco. Joe Panik followed with a double. Span went to third.

Hunter Pence singled to center to score Span. Michael A. Taylor's throw from center field was on target and Matt Wieters tagged out Panik on the head at the plate. Panik was a little shaken up but stayed in the game.

Mid-fourth, the Nats and Giants are even at 1-1.

Update: Zimmerman launched his 27th homer of the season, a solo shot on a 1-1 pitch with two outs in the sixth, and the Nats led 2-1. Pablo Sandoval countered with a solo homer of his own that hit off the facade of the upper deck in right field. Game tied 2-2 in the seventh.

Update II: Scherzer finished seven innings and will not factor in the decision. He allowed two runs on five hits with one walk and struck out 10. He threw 107 pitches, 66 strikes.

After seven the game is tied at 2-2.

Update III: Both teams failed to score a run in the ninth, therefore, based on the rules of baseball, we go to extra innings with the game tied at 2-2. That means that in the 24-hour period since first pitch last night, there has been baseball played in 10 of those hours. Brandon Kintzler, Sean Doolittle and Matt Albers have tossed scoreless innings. Mid-10th, the game is even at 2-2.

Update IV: Albert Suárez loaded the bases on singles by Murphy and Zimmerman and an intentional walk to Rendon in the 11th. Howie Kendrick then hit a grand slam to win it. It was his first-ever grand slam.

Final score: the Nats 6, the Giants 2, 11 innings.