Two of Nats' biggest stars guide team to 11-2 win over Marlins

Two of the Nationals' biggest stars returned to the lineup Monday night and sent another signal to the rest of the division that they are still the team to beat in the National League East.

Max Scherzer pitched seven innings and allowed one run, while Jayson Werth crushed a two-run shot in his second at-bat in nearly three months as the Nats rolled past second-place Marlins 11-2.

Werth slammed the two-run homer in the fourth inning. On a 3-2 pitch, Werth launched the homer down the left field line off Marlins starter José Ureña, then flipped the bat, skipped twice and trotted around the bases as the crowd exploded.

"Yeah, he hit that bomb and old grandpa looked over at the dugout and gave a big scream," Scherzer said. "So you know he's back. It's fun to have him back doing what he can do."

After the game, manager Dusty Baker confirmed that shortstop Trea Turner would return to the lineup Tuesday. Werth and Turner back in a two-day span could help ignite the offense. The club demonstrated Monday what it was like when they all get into a nice rhythm with seven hits in a six-run sixth inning.

"It was great, great for him to get that first hit and then the first homer," Baker said of Werth. "He was pumped up, we were pumped up. The fans were pumped up. It was a great comeback, you couldn't have drawn it up any better than that. He was outstanding, we got some hits throughout the lineup."

Matt Wieters had three hits and two RBIs and Howie Kendrick drilled a three-run triple as the Nats rolled up 10 or more runs for a major league-best 20th time this season.

Miami arrived down by 12 games and hoped for a sweep to get to nine games, as well as improve their wild card hopes. But Scherzer held Giancarlo Stanton without a hit in three at-bats. Stanton struck out twice, and in his first at-bat, grounded into a 5-4-3 thanks to an outstanding defensive play by Anthony Rendon. Stanton is still holding steady at 50 homers on the season.

Scherzer struck out 10 batters for the 14th time this season and 63rd of his career. He fired 100 pitches, 69 for strikes, saying afterwards the neck was good.

"Yeah, as long as I got my pillow and get my neck exercises, I'll be fine," Scherzer said. "Who knew I needed a firm pillow?

"I thought I was making pitches. I didn't have quite the command that I would've like to, but the important thing was even when we scored all those runs there in the sixth, that was a lengthy delay, to be able to go back out there in the seventh and get to 100 pitches and still be throwing strikes at that time. That was a good sign to be able to go back out there and finish seven innings."

But the emotion of the night belonged to Werth, who missed 75 games before finally returning Monday. He said returning with a two-run shot meant a little extra after not playing big league ball since June 3.

"In some sense, I feel like I kind of got the game taken away from me a little bit," Werth said. "I had such big aspirations for this season, and not that those still can't be fulfilled, but it was almost three months that I didn't get to play. Kind of started out as, you know, be back in five weeks or so. Then it turned into 10 to 12, and here we are almost September.

"It's like, you go down and play in the minor leagues. You forget what it's like down there. It's challenging. It's tough. The conditions are tough. The lights aren't real bright. There's not too many people in the seats. But you kind of get a sense of, you remember why you play the game. You remember why you're doing this. You start the game a kid and you turn into an old man businessman, so to speak. You remember, you did this because you love to play. Originally, you started doing this because you love the game.

"From the first pitch to the last, like I was telling you the other day, the game is pure. It's awesome. That's why we do it. It was great to be back tonight, just to be a part of this club. These guys have been playing so good, and I want to be part of the machine, so to speak. It is exciting, I was excited obviously a little more emotional than usual."

And with Turner back Tuesday, the Nats need only Bryce Harper healthy to have the lineup where they wanted it back in May. Now, they can really take off -- even if they already enjoy a 13-game lead.