Nationals go streaking behind Scherzer and Harper

Many scratched their heads when the Nationals made the blockbuster offseason signing to bring right-hander Max Scherzer to D.C. Sure, he was a former American League Cy Young winner, but why did the Nats need him with the stacked rotation they already possessed? There's certainly a long, long way to go for Scherzer to prove he's worth the $210 million the Nats committed to him, but through his first three starts, he's well on his way to making sure the checks clear.

The 30-year-old was brutal on the Phillies lineup for most of Friday night, allowing just one run on four hits while striking out nine with no walks in eight innings en route to his first victory of the season in a 7-2 win. It's the third victory in a row for the Nationals.

"He understands how to pitch," said Nationals manager Matt Williams. "He's got a game plan going in and adjusts during the course of a game if it's not there for him in a certain inning, or if he just doesn't have what he wants that night, he can go to other pitches That's experience and understanding how to pitch."

The Phillies have to be tired of Scherzer already this season, having not fared much better against him five days ago at Citizens Bank Park. Scherzer went six innings in that game and was mindful to mix up his pitches tonight to continue to confuse the Phillies hitters.

"Remember, this is the ultimate game of paper, scissors, rock," said Scherzer. "You've got to know when to stick with your strengths and when to try to go at their weaknesses. I didn't walk anybody. That's always a plus. And I did a good job of just attacking."

Ah Max, it's rock, paper, scissors, but whatever. Either way, Scherzer was relentless finishing the eighth inning with 100 pitches on the night.

"I take a lot of pride in that," he said. "Especially now, when the bullpen gets a little taxed, especially in April because you don't quite have the extended pitch count to go different situations like you normally would later in the season. So to be able to get into the eighth inning and give the bullpen really a night off tonight, it really helps us moving forward."

In his three starts, Scherzer has a 0.83 ERA with 25 strikeouts and only four walks in 21 2/3 innings.

By now, the baseball world is aware of the infamous "Where's my ring?" line that right fielder Bryce Harper gushed early in spring training, recalling his offseason thoughts about Scherzer's signing. Tonight, after helping Scherzer with a first-inning three-run homer, Harper continued heaping the praise on his team's ace.

"I'm just glad he's on my team," said Harper. "He's one of the best in all of baseball. I've been saying that since spring training. Him going out there, being able to go seven or eight strong for us, it's very impressive. He's a bulldog out there, he's got that mentality that he wants to kick your teeth in and really go at it, and he's very, very good out there."

For Harper, it was his second bomb off Phillies starter Sean O'Sullivan this season and his team-leading third of the year.

"I was trying to look for a pitch over the plate and not miss," he said. "I've missed so many good pitches. I've only seen about half a pitch to one pitch an at bat. I was trying to not miss pitches and I finally connected with something and I put a good swing on it to dead center."

Harper has had his struggles at the plate early this season, as the strikeouts have piled up to 17 in his first 40 at-bats. Williams and Nats hitting coach Rick Schu have been focusing on Harper calming down at the plate and not getting too jumpy.

"For Bryce, it's not how far, it's how many," Williams said. "He can hit it a long way, but he doesn't have to fully swing every time to do so. As evidenced tonight. Slow curveball and he just put the head of the bat on it and it's enough."

Scherzer knows how important Harper's game-changing bat is in the thick of the Nats lineup.

"That's what he does," said Scherzer. "That's why he's really good. If we can continue to get more of that, that would be awesome."