Scherzer weathers first, wilts in sixth (Nats lose 5-3)

MILWAUKEE - The Nationals desperately need a Max Scherzer-like outing from Max Scherzer to halt a five-game skid and in the early going at Miller Park, the right-hander was pretty much all or nothing.

A weird first inning saw Scherzer strike out the side, walk the bases loaded and surrender a two-run single to Aaron Hill on a 1-2 pitch. The result: a 2-0 Brewers lead.

The Nats haven't been able to get anything going offensively against Brewers righty Kyle Davies. Bryce Harper hustled a bloop into left field with two down in the first into a double, but was stranded. In the second, Wilson Ramos hit a leadoff grounder that caromed off second base and into short left-center for a single. After Ryan Zimmerman and Anthony Rendon were caught looking at third strikes, Danny Espinosa was hit by a pitch and Scherzer hit an inning-ending grounder to short.

Scherzer's first inning looked dubious statistically, but he was victimized by an inconsistent strike zone by home plate umpire Ed Hickox. He got out of the second inning, despite a two-out single past second baseman Daniel Murphy. Scherzer fanned Gennett on his 58th pitch of the night to end the second.

Update: The Nationals were a little more aggressive at the plate against Davies in the third, and sent seven men to the plate, scoring three times to take a 3-2 lead. With one out, Michael A. Taylor singled to center and went to second on an errant pickoff throw. Harper walked after barely missing on a fouled-off 3-1 pitch and Murphy gapped a double to right-center to score both runners, Harper steaming around from first. Ramos then delivered a single that scored Murphy, who briefly retreated to second before picking up the windmill arm of third base coach Bobby Henley.

Update II: Davies turned in a very Scherzer-like performance, fanning nine in five innings, including striking out the side in the fourth and fifth. He left for pinch-hitter Keon Broxton, who led off the fifth by cranking a solo homer into the home bullpen in left-center. It's a 3-3 game heading to the sixth. Scherzer is at 95 pitches and due to bat third in the next half-inning.

Update III: Scherzer hit for himself in the sixth, a clear sign that manager Dusty Baker was trying to squeeze another inning out of his righty. Perhaps that wasn't the best decision.

Chris Carter singled to open the Milwaukee sixth and Kirk Nieuwenhuis crushed a 2-1 offering from Scherzer deep into the Toyata deck in right-center at Miller Park for a 5-3 lead. The mammoth shot traveled an estimated 427 feet.

Scherzer still managed to strike out the side in the sixth and now has 10 punchouts for the night. It's his sixth 10-strikeout game of the season and his third in a row.

Matt Belisle is on to work the seventh for the Nats. Scherzer allowed five runs on five hits in six innings with three walks and 10 strikeouts. He threw 117 pitches, 74 for strikes.

Update IV: Washington wasted a golden opportunity in the eighth, when Murphy was hit by a pitch to lead it off and Ramos doubled to right, his fourth hit on the night. With two runners in scoring position, Zimmerman was called out on strikes for the third time tonight. After Rendon walked to load the bases with one out, Espinosa struck out swinging for the third time in the game and pinch-hitter Clint Robinson fouled out to third to end the threat.

Update V: The Nationals struck out 16 times tonight, losing to the Brewers 5-3. Thier losing streak is now at six games.

They didn't go quietly in the ninth, however. Ben Revere was hit by a pitch to lead things off and sped to third on Murphy's two-out single. Ramos struck out swinging to end it.