Turner, Heisey guide Scherzer past Braves 6-4

Manager Dusty Baker rested five starters on Monday and the Nationals went out and scored more runs than they have in their past eight games.

The Nationals dropped the Braves 6-4, thanks to the offense of Trea Turner and Chris Heisey and the pitching of Max Scherzer.

Turner went 3-for-4 with a double, two-run homer and three RBIs, and Heisey blasted a three-run shot, as the Nats snapped a two-game skid, winning the first of 10 games in a row at Nats Park.

The bench that stepped up: Heisey, Jose Lobaton, Ben Revere, Clint Robinson and Brian Goodwin combined for five hits, three runs and three RBIs.

Lobaton went 2-for-3 with a walk and a run scored, calling the game for Scherzer.

"It was great for us. Every time we see a guy that was sitting on the bench for a couple days play like that, we know we can do good," Lobaton said. "We are a bunch of guys that try to do the best all the time and we're excited to play. I think that's the key for us, every time we go out we're so excited and try to do the best."

But who could really appreciate the bench coming through? Starting right fielder Bryce Harper, who had a seat next to manager Dusty Baker on the bench, enjoying a rare full day of rest after a late night in New York.

"That was a big day today, to win that game," Baker said. "The guys feel good about themselves, the regulars got a day off, get a good night sleep. Harp said it best, sitting next to me in the dugout. He said, 'I love this team because we are a team.' That's the kind of attitude you want to have on a team."

"It's always awesome," Turner said of bench production. "That's the special thing about baseball is anybody can contribute any time, any day. Today, thankfully, we got the job done as a whole. It's fun seeing everybody have success. I enjoy watching teammates have success. It's special."

Turner's home run in the third was the beginning of a five-run outburst that provided all the support Scherzer needed.

On a 2-1 count, Turner launched a two-run shot over the left field wall on a line drive off of Braves starter Ryan Weber. Turner said he had a good idea of what Weber was going to offer after hitting a double in his first at-bat.

"I think there's a couple of pitches each pitcher's going to throw to you. That's their game plan, whether it's an inside fastball or changeup or slider," Turner said. "So far, the last few games, people have stayed away from the slider and have gone mostly fastball, changeup and occasional curveball.

"I pay attention and I know what the pitcher's got and each count determines."

Scherzer gave up a run in the first, but just one other run in the next six innings for his 16th win. He finished seven innings, scattering seven hits with two walks and five strikeouts.

But there was that moment where Baker asked him about going out for the seventh inning, as his pitch count mounted. Scherzer assured his skipper he was OK. He finished with 107 pitches, 77 for strikes.

"Basically two words: I'm good," Scherzer said. "You just know where you're at physically. You know how the ball is coming out of your hand. I just knew that, even at 98 pitches, I was still strong. I knew I had 115 in the tank. I knew I was good to go out there for the seventh.

"The only thing that might have changed my mind was if it was going to be a long inning. You have a long inning, that's a time where you have to loosen back up. You've gotta be honest with yourself and say that's an opportunity to come out of the game. But it was a quick sixth inning for us, so I wanted the ball."