Zack Greinke dominates Nationals in Dodgers' 5-0 win

Nationals ace Max Scherzer found himself in an early jam in the first inning. After blowing three straight fastballs by Joc Pederson to start the game, Scherzer was tagged for back-to-back singles to right by Howie Kendrick and Adrian Gonzalez. Two batters later, Scherzer walked Yasmani Grandal on four pitches to load the bases with two outs. But, the right-hander battled back to strike out Yasiel Puig swinging on a heater to end the threat.

Scherzer's free pass to Grandal ended a 39 2/3 inning streak without issuing a walk, dating back to his one-hitter at Milwaukee on June 14.

After throwing 23 pitches in the first inning, Scherzer needed just 10 to retire the Dodgers in order in the second. Scherzer registered two more strikeouts in the third to total five through the first three frames.

Zack Greinke has fanned four of the six batters he's faced through two perfect innings. Bryce Harper flipped his bat and helmet in disgust after Greinke ran a 94 mph fastball past him to end the first.

Update: Scherzer gave up a leadoff double to Andre Ethier in the fourth. Ethier then moved to third on sacrifice fly from Grandal. It looked like Scherzer might get out of the jam after he struck out Puig for the second out, but while Albert Callaspo was batting, Scherzer uncorked a wild pitch that bounced away from Wilson Ramos, allowing Ethier to cross the plate for the game's first run.

Scherzer has surrendered one run on five hits with one walk and six strikeouts through five innings.

Michael A. Taylor has the only hit against Greinke, who has struck out six through four frames.

Update II: Scherzer's afternoon ended after six innings. He allowed one run on seven hits with one walk, eight strikeouts and a costly wild pitch.

Lefty Felipe Rivero will start the seventh for the Nats.

Update III: Rivero and right-handers Aaron Barrett and Casey Janssen held the Dodgers scoreless in the seventh and eighth innings.

Greinke threw a season-high 119 pitches over eight scoreless innings, yielding three hits with one walk and a season-high 11 strikeouts.

It fell apart for the Nationals in the ninth when right-hander Blake Treinen took the mound. The Dodgers poured in four runs on five hits; Treinen was able to record just one out before being replaced by lefty Sammy Solis.

Update IV: The Nationals fall 5-0 to the Dodgers to lose the opening series of the second half.

The Nats have scored seven runs combined in Scherzer's eight losses.