Max Scherzer tagged for three homers, Nats lose 8-5

After battling his way out of a jam in the first, Max Scherzer wasn't so lucky in the second. Michael Conforto drilled a first-pitch fastball over the wall in left-center to start the inning. Two batters later, Kelly Johnson smacked a changeup into the stands in right-center.

Scherzer has now surrendered 10 homers in his last seven starts.

Update: Yoenis Cespedis launched a 1-1 heater just over the left field wall to lead off the fourth.

Scherzer has allowed three home runs three times in his last eight outings.

Update II: The Nationals offense came alive in the fourth. Back-to-back singles from Ryan Zimmerman and Yunel Escobar followed by a walk to Ian Desmond, loaded the bases for Wilson Ramos with no outs.

Ramos crushed Jonathan Niese's 1-2 slider into the seats in left for his second career grand slam.

Michael A. Taylor then singled to center. After Scherzer's sacrifice bunt advanced Taylor to second, Jayson Werth smoked an RBI double to center.

Update III: The Mets cut into the Nats' lead with consecutive doubles from Reuben Tejada and Curtis Granderson.

Update IV: Scherzer gave up a leadoff double to Cespedes in the sixth. Then the right-hander balked, advancing Cespedes to third, where he scored from on Travis d'Arnaud's sacrifice fly to left.

Update V: Right-hander Blake Treinen replaced Scherzer to start the seventh. Scherzer allowed five runs on seven hits with no walks and six strikeouts over six innings.

Update VI: Wilmer Flores singled to start the seventh. After Treinen got Tejada to ground out on a bunt attempt, Nationals manager Matt Williams turned to left-hander Felipe Rivero, who walked Curtis Granderson.

Williams then called on right-hander Casey Janssen, who surrendered a single to center to David Wright. It appeared that Taylor's throw to the plate had a chance to get Tejada, but Escobar cut it off.

Left-hander Matt Thornton followed Janssen to the mound, allowing an RBI sacrifice fly to Daniel Murphy and a run-scoring double from Cespedes.

Update VII: The Nats went quietly in the eighth and ninth.

The Mets beat the Nationals 8-5 to stretch their National League East lead to five games.