Scherzer takes the loss as Nats fall 6-1

In a game featuring top-flight starting pitching, a couple of solo homers are the only runs on the scoreboard.

Nationals starter Max Scherzer flinched first. Leading off the third inning, Yankees second baseman Stephen Drew belted a fastball over the right field fence. Scherzer missed on the heater, leaving it on the inner half of the plate and Drew made him pay with his eighth longball of the season.

Bryce Harper answered for the Nats in the fourth. Facing a 1-0 count with two outs, Harper unloaded on a 93 mph fastball from Yankees starter Masahiro Tanaka. The towering fly ball traveled deep to center field, carrying over the fence for Harper's major league-leading 20th homer of the season.

Update: Scherzer battled his way through six innings, but couldn't manage his way out of the seventh. He surrendered back-to-back singles to left fielder Ramon Flores and center fielder Brett Gardner. But after he got third baseman Chase Headley to line out to Harper, it seemed like Scherzer might escape the jam.

However, designated hitter Alex Rodruguez hit a grounder into the hole. Ian Desmond dove to his left on a nice stop, but then made the mistake of trying to force Flores at third. Desmond's throw deflected off of Flores as he reached the bag. The ball ended up out of play, allowing Flores to head safely to the plate to break the tie. Desmond was charged with his 14th error of the season on the throw.

Nationals manager Matt Williams ended Scherzer's night after the unfortunate play. Left-hander Matt Thornton entered the game and, after intentionally walking first baseman Mark Teixeira, gave up a two-run single to Yankees catcher Brian McCann. Right fielder Carlos Beltran followed with an RBI hit to round out a four-run seventh inning for the Yankees.

Scherzer was charged with four runs on eight hits with one walk and seven strikeouts over 6 2/3 innings.

The Yankees tacked on another run when Drew ripped his second homer of the night to lead off the eighth inning.

Update II: The Yankees beat the Nationals 6-1.

Scherzer's record falls to 6-5 with the loss.