Scherzer and Arrieta allow early runs (Nats win 6-1)

Nationals starter Max Scherzer hit Anthony Rizzo with a pitch to begin the first inning. Following a called third strike to Tommy La Stella and a flyout by Ian Happ, Kris Bryant blasted a triple off the right-center field wall out-of-town scoreboard.

Michael A. Taylor jumped a bit too far away from the wall and came up short on the catch attempt. Rizzo scored to lift the Cubs to a 1-0 lead. They have never trailed in the series.

In the bottom of the first, Trea Turner notched an infield single against Jake Arrieta. With Brian Goodwin batting, Turner stole second and third. Goodwin laced a grounder to the right of first baseman Rizzo at the edge of the grass and beat out the throw for an RBI single. Turner scored to tie the game at 1-1.

Bryce Harper lined out to right field and Ryan Zimmerman struck out.

Daniel Murphy walked to put Goodwin in scoring position. But Anthony Rendon grounded to third base. Jeimer Candelario stepped on third to force out Goodwin to end the inning.

After one inning, the Cubs and the Nats are tied 1-1.

Update: The Nats scored an unearned run in the third to take their first lead in the series. Turner walked and again stole two bases. With two outs, Zimmerman also walked. Murphy then hit a grounder to La Stella, whose throw to first drew Rizzo off the bag. Turner scored and La Stella was called for a throwing error.

After three innings, the Nats lead the Cubs 2-1.

Update II: The Nats are running on Arrieta and catcher Miguel Montero at will. The Nats stole three more bases in the fourth, take advantage of a throwing error by the catcher, and got a timely run-scoring single up the middle off Arrieta's glove by Scherzer to build the lead to 4-1.

Meanwhile, Scherzer has recorded outs in 11 of the last 12 Cubs at-bats. The only blemish was a two-out double from La Stella in the third.

After four innings, the Nats lead the Cubs 4-1.

Update III: In game two, it's the Nats' turn to take it to the Cubs. Arrieta was chased to begin the fifth when he allowed a single to Murphy and a walk to Rendon. Felix Peña replaced Arrieta. Taylor dropped in a two-run double to extend the Nats' lead to 6-1.

Scherzer has six strikeouts through six innings.

After 5 1/2 innings, the Nats lead 6-1 over the Cubs.

Update IV: The game could not have played out better for Scherzer and the Nats, at least so far. After Scherzer was taxed to the point of a season-high 121 pitches in his last start against the Marlins on June 21 in the almost no-hitter, Baker got him out of this one after 93 pitches and six solid innings. Scherzer allowed only one run on two hits with no walks and six strikeouts. He threw 62 strikes. Enny Romero came in for the seventh and recorded three outs helped out by a 4-6-3 double play grounder off the bat of Jon Jay.

After 6 1/2 innings, the Nats lead the Cubs 6-1.

Update V: Oliver Pérez started the top of the ninth inning. He got Rizzo to ground out in front of the plate. Pinch-hitter Albert Almora Jr. faced Matt Albers. Almora Jr. grounded out to third base. Ian Happ then flew out to left field to end the game.

Final score: Nats 6, Cubs 1.