Jackson taxed early (Brewers shut out Nats 8-0)

Edwin Jackson got into a heavy pitch count in the first inning thanks to a pair of two-out walks to the Brewers' Travis Shaw and Domingo Santana. A called third strike to Eric Thames prevented damage, but Jackson had to spend 29 pitches to end the frame.

In the second inning, Manny Piña and Brett Phillips started a rally with back-to-back singles. A Zach Davies sacrifice back to Jackson plated Piña from third because the throw from Jackson to catcher Matt Wieters was late. The Brewers took a 1-0 lead, with Jackson up to 54 pitches through two innings.

The Nationals got a walk by Stephen Drew off Davies in the first and double by Anthony Rendon in the second, but no runs.

After two innings, Milwaukee leads 1-0.

Update: The fourth inning was damaging for Jackson and the Nats.

A single by Orlando Arcia and a fielding error by Ryan Zimmerman got the Brewers in business. A Ryan Braun infield single to Daniel Murphy, in which he sprawled and tried to throw to second to get Davies, scored another run, and the Brewers led 2-0.

Then with two men on, Shaw, who had been waked in his first two at-bats, smashed a three-run shot over the left-center field wall, and the Brewers led 5-0.

It ended up being a four-run fourth inning for Milwaukee. Heading to the bottom of the fourth, the Brewers lead 5-0.

Update II: Thames and Piña slammed solo homers in the fifth. Jackson finished five innings and allowed seven runs (three earned) on seven hits with three walks and three strikeouts. He threw 112 pitches and 69 for strikes.

The Brewers have opened up a 7-0 lead as the game heads to the bottom of the fifth.

Update III: The Brewers added a run versus Joe Blanton in the eighth. Santana's RBI single made it 8-0. The Nats have not had a good night: three hits, no runs, one error and they have allowed eight runs.

Update IV: Bryce Harper doubled in the eighth. He now has a 17-game hit streak, the longest of his career. Murphy doubled in the ninth, but the Nats have now been shut out for the third time since July 8.

Final score: Brewers 8, Nats 0.