Jimenez offers another quality start in D.C. duel (O's lose 4-0)

WASHINGTON - Ubaldo Jimenez hadn't started a game in nearly a month and he was matched up tonight against Max Scherzer. Most pitchers would like having two quick strikes. Only not against them.

Jimenez more than held his own, proving again that he's a solid choice against the Nationals and in D.C. But Scherzer is special, rationing the Orioles to an Adam Jones double through the first seven innings.

Jayson Werth led off the fourth inning with a long home run and Scherzer may have all the cushion he needs as the Nationals continue to lead 1-0.

In his first start since July 28 in Minnesota, Jimenez allowed one run and five hits over six innings. He walked none - I repeat, none - and struck out four.

The Twitter hate was silenced for at least one night.

Scherzer just happens to be better. He's retired 21 of 22 Orioles.

Scherzer struck out six of the first nine batters, none of them able to reach base. He was perfect and everyone in the room held the same thought.

Jones erased it with a leadoff double in the fourth, a line drive into the left field corner after Trea Turner ran down his long drive to center in the first. Jones reached third base with one out and stayed there.

You can't waste an opportunity against Scherzer. It's like finding a piece of steak in a yeast bowl. Grab it because there won't be any more.

Werth jumped on Jimenez's first pitch in the bottom of the inning and easily cleared the center field fence, with Jones giving it a chase despite knowing the approximate landing spot.

Jimenez stranded Bryce Harper on second base after a single and stolen base. He left two runners in scoring position in the fifth after Jose Lobaton's double and Trea Turner's two-out infield hit and stolen base. He struck out the side in the fifth and retired the side in order in the sixth.

In five career starts at Nationals Park, Jimenez has surrendered only four earned runs over 35 1/3 innings. He's allowed 15 earned runs in 60 1/3 innings lifetime against Washington, with seven quality starts in nine outings.

Logan Ondrusek, recalled today from Double-A Bowie, began to warm in the top of the seventh and entered in the bottom half. No standing ovation for Jimenez as he walked off the mound, but the pats on the back in the dugout must have been intense. Probably left those circular marks like cupping.

Jimenez threw 90 pitches tonight, including 13 to Anthony Rendon in the second inning. Rendon fouled off seven pitches and reached on a single. Jimenez may have just grown tired of looking at him.

Sort of like how the Orioles feel about Scherzer.

Update: Ondrusek was charged with three runs in the eighth, two scoring on Bryce Harper's double off Mike Wright, and the Nats lead 4-0.

No sign of Donnie Hart against Daniel Murphy and Harper. Brad Brach warmed earlier, but he wasn't used in the eighth.

Mark Trumbo singled of Scherzer in the top of the eighth for the Orioles' second baserunner of the night.

Update II: The Orioles lose to the Nationals 4-0 and fail to sweep the home-and-home series.

Pedro Alvarez pinch-hit for Jones in the ninth after Hyun Soo Kim's leadoff double against Mark Melancon. No explanation given for Jones' removal, but he remained in the dugout and leaned on the railing as Alvarez bounced out.