Scherzer allows grand slam, Cardinals down Nats 6-2

Last Sunday in Miami, Nationals right-hander Max Scherzer pitched well in an 8-2 victory over the Marlins.

After that game, Scherzer said he felt like he might be rounding into "midseason form."

Friday night against the Cardinals was a different story.

Scherzer's season-long issue of allowing home runs continued. But this time, it was a major home run that changed the complexion of the game.

With the bases loaded and a 1-0 lead in the top of the third, Stephen Piscotty launched a grand slam over the left-field wall and the Cardinals led 5-0. It was Piscotty's first major league grand slam.

The Cardinals went on to win and even the series with a 6-2 decision. It was the Cardinals' first win over the Nationals this season.

It was only the second grand slam Scherzer had allowed in his career, dating back to a grand slam by Tampa Bay's Matt Joyce in 2010.

It was the 10th homer allowed in his past five starts.

The grand slam was bad, of course. But the two walks in the inning and the four walks for the game also hurt Scherzer's chance of getting out unscathed.

Scherzer (5-4) still finished seven innings and allowed just three hits. But he also gave up five runs, walked four and struck out six, his lowest strikeout total since April 21 (three at Miami, his first loss of the season).

The Nationals got a solo homer from Danny Espinosa, his second homer in as many nights, but could never mount an extended rally against the Cardinals left-hander Jaime Garcia (4-4).

Their best shot to rally was in the sixth when the Nationals had two men on for Ryan Zimmerman. Zimmerman grounded into a double play that ended the opportunity for a big inning. Anthony Rendon doubled, but Wilson Ramos grounded out to end the frame.