Braves get to Scherzer early after costly Difo error (Nats fall 7-1)

ATLANTA - Game 3 of the series has been filled with a couple surprises in the first inning.

Nothing surprising, but the Nationals got something going in the first. Surprisingly, they couldn't finish off the frame with runs scored.

Facing Braves starter Mike Foltynewicz, Anthony Rendon singled and Bryce Harper walked with one away. Matt Adams struck out. After a wild pitch, Trea Turner was called out on strikes to end the threat.

Nationals right-hander Max Scherzer allowed a double by Freddie Freeman with two outs. Second baseman Wilmer Difo booted a routine grounder off the bat of Nick Markakis. Preston Tucker, down 1-2, crushed a Scherzer offering over the right-center field wall for his second three-run homer in as many games. Difo's two-out error proved to be the most costly play of the inning.

After one, the Braves led 3-0.

Scherzer got one back thanks to his bat in the second. With two outs, Pedro Severino was hit by pitch and moved to second on Foltynewicz's wild pitch. Scherzer's clean single to left scored Severino. Moments later, Scherzer wiped out at first base on a quick-strike pickoff throw by Braves catcher Carlos Pérez.

Mid-second in Atlanta, the Braves lead the Nats 3-1.

Update: Foltynewicz dropped in a two-run double in the fourth. Atlanta leads the Nats 5-1 after four innings. Scherzer is up to 88 pitches.

Update II: The Nats had the bases loaded in the sixth and called on Brian Goodwin to pinch-hit with two outs. When the Braves countered with left-hander Sam Freeman, manager Davey Martinez subbed in Ryan Zimmerman to pinch-hit. Zimmerman struck out looking to end the frame.

#Nats ended the 1st, 3rd, 4th and 6th with strikeouts. The 2nd was ended on a pick off at 1st. 3 of the 4 strikeouts were caught looking.

-- Byron Kerr (@masnKerr) April 4, 2018

Scherzer pitched five innings, allowing five runs (two earned) on six hits with seven strikeouts and two walks. He threw one wild pitch. Scherzer threw 110 pitches, 71 for strikes.

Mid-sixth, the Braves lead the Nationals 5-1.

Update: Trevor Gott did not have a good eighth inning. A walk to Tucker and then an RBI double by Ryan Flaherty made it 8-1 Braves. Flaherty scored on a passed ball by Miguel Montero.

After eight innings, the Braves lead 7-1.

Update: In the ninth, the Nats loaded the bases against Braves closer Arodys Vizcaíno. Vizcaíno walked pinch-hitter Howie Kendrick and Rendon, sandwiched around an Adam Eaton single.

With one out, Harper popped out to shortstop for the second out.

Matt Adams struck out to end the game.

Final score: Braves 7, Nats 1.

Both teams are 4-2. The Nats lose their first series of the season, two games to one.