Scherzer strong early in Game 3 (Cubs win 2-1)

Four innings into Game 3 of the National League Division Series at Wrigley Field and the Nationals are still searching for their first run.

They've had a couple of chances, but have been unable to get to Cubs lefty José Quintana when they've had runners in scoring position.

In the second, Michael A. Taylor led off with a single and went to second when Quintana's pickoff attempt sailed wide of first base. But Max Scherzer couldn't get a bunt down, striking out out swinging. After Trea Turner popped out foul, Bryce Harper reached on an error by second baseman Ben Zobrist with Taylor taking third. Anthony Rendon lofted a fly ball that Jason Heyward tracked down in right for the third out.

While the Nats have been held scoreless, so have the Cubs - good news for those wondering how Scherzer's troublesome hamstring would hold up to pitching of a mound in a real game. Through three innings, Scherzer has yet to allow a hit, struck out four and thrown 39 pitches, 27 for strikes.

We're scoreless heading to the bottom of the fourth.

Update: Scherzer had to work out of a jam in the Cubs fourth, when hit hit Jon Jay and Anthony Rizzo reached second when Turner's relay on a potential inning-ending double play eluded first baseman Ryan Zimmerman, with Rizzo winding up at second. After Willson Contreras walked, Scherzer got Zobrist on a grounder to short.

Update II: The Cubs gifted the Nats a run in the sixth. With two down, Daniel Murphy lofted a fly ball down the left field line that glanced off the glove of Kyle Schwarber. As Murphy hit second base, Schwarber kicked the ball away while trying to field it, and Murphy winding up at third base. Schwarber was assessed two errors on the play, the third and fourth of the game for the Cubs.

Pedro Strop replaced Quintana and Zimmerman greeted him with an RBI double to right-center, giving the Nats a 1-0 lead.

Quintana went 5 2/3 innings, allowing an unearned run on two hits, with a walk and seven strikeouts.

Update III: Scherzer got out of the sixth by inducing Rizzo to bounce into a 6-3 double play, erasing a one-out walk to Kris Bryant. The right-hander is through six hitless innings, but his pitch count has climbed to 90 pitches.

During his media availability yesterday, Scherzer said he would be able to throw 100 pitches. Sammy Solís is waming for the Nationals.

Update IV: Scherzer fanned Contreras swinging for the first out of the seventh, before Zobrist doubled to the gap in left-center for the first Cubs hit of the game. That brought Dusty Baker to the mound, and after a prolonged conference, he called for Solís ot face Schwarber in a lefty-lefty matchup.

Albert Almora Jr. pinch-hit for Schwarber and shot a game-tying single to left on a 3-2 pitch. After Heyward singled to left, Brandon Kintzler was summoned and for Addison Russell to fly into an inning-ending double play. Taylor ranged into right-center to make a grab on Russell's fly ball, and doubled Heyward off first after both runners took off on the crack of the bat. Score it 8-4-3.

Scherzer yielded a run on one hit over 6 1/3 innings, walking three and striking out seven.

Update V: The Cubs take a 2-1 lead to the ninth after Rizzo's RBI single off Oliver Pérez. Tommy La Stella walked to lead off the inning and was replaced by pinch-runner Leonis Martin. Jon Jay bunted Martin to second and Kintzler fanned Bryant for the second out.

Baker called for Pérez to face Rizzo, who popped up his first pitch to short left-center, between three players racing to try and make a play. Martin scored from second and Rizzo was tagged out in a rundown.

Wade Davis is on to work the ninth.

Update VI: The Cubs win 2-1, taking a two games to one lead in the best-of-five series. Game 4 is tomorrow in Chicago.