|
 Desmond, the Washington National's shortstop, was perched just 50
feet away as he watched the right-handed starter strike out a
season-high 13 batters in seven shutout innings while the Nationals
went on to beat the Chicago Cubs 3-0 in the finale of a three-game
series.
"He was awesome," said Desmond, who helped with a 3-for-5 effort at
the plate. "His intensity level is very high and his work ethic is
second to none. The guy's an animal. It's been a real fun experience
playing behind him so far."
Scherzer (6-3) scattered five hits and walked just one for his fifth
straight win while the Nationals took two of three from the Cubs.
Right-hander Drew Storen worked the ninth inning for his 16th save.
"(Scherzer's) got a real good plan for everybody that he faces,"
said Nationals manager Matt Williams. "He's diligent about it, he
takes time to work on it. He's got extra gears that a lot of people
don't have. He threw one fastball at 98. When he needs to reach back
he can do it."
Scherzer struck out 56 batters in his last six starts and has 85 for
the season.
"You worry about how you're executing your pitches," Scherzer said.
"I really feel like I'm locating the fastball well and I'm starting
to get better now in executing righty-righty change ups. That's been
one of my strengths through my whole career. ... Once I get that
pitch going, it gives me another weapon to attack these hitters."
Chicago left-handed starter Jon Lester (4-3) suffered his first loss
in six starts in a matchup between two of the big league's top
pitchers, both subjects of off season free agent bidding before
signing with their current teams.
"It was good, obviously Max threw the ball just a little bit better
than I did," said Lester. "If you're a pitcher or just a purist of
the game and like watching pitching match-ups, that was fun tonight.
That was what it kind of lived up to be and I made one mistake."
Nationals right fielder Bryce Harper slammed a leadoff home run in
the sixth off Lester as the Nationals opened a 2-0 lead. He is tied
with Seattle's Nelson Cruz for the major league lead with 18 apiece.
Lester threw 106 pitches and worked through seven innings, allowing
two runs (one earned) on seven hits while matching a season high
with 10 strikeouts while walking two.
He was replaced by left-handed reliever James Russell, who faced one
batter before right-hander Jason Motte came on to finish the inning.
Nationals pinch hitter Danny Espinosa made it 3-0 with his sixth
homer of the season with one out in the ninth. It was the ninth solo
home run of the series between the teams.
The Cubs' biggest threat came in the eighth when pinch hitter Jorge
Soler greeted left-handed reliever Matt Grace with a lead-off
double. First baseman Anthony Rizzo then reached after being hit by
a pitch.
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Grace was promptly replaced by right-hander Casey Janssen and the
runners advanced to second and third on center fielder Dexter Fowler
's infield sacrifice. Shortstop Starlin Castro grounded out to end
the threat.
"We did not play our best game but still had a chance to win that
game," Cubs manager Joe Maddon. "I felt pretty good (about the
eighth) but it just didn't play."
The Nationals scratched out a run to break the shutout in the fourth
inning.
Third baseman Yunel Escobar singled, Harper walked and first baseman
Ryan Zimmerman hit into a fielder's choice to second to force Harper
while Escobar moved to third.
But a throw to first by second baseman Addison Russell to complete a
double play went wide and Escobar successfully dashed for home.
Lester then walked catcher Wilson Ramos to put runners at first and
second with one out. But he struck out second baseman Dan Uggla
looking and left fielder Tyler Moore swinging on a 3-2 count to
escape further damage.
NOTES: After back-to-back steamy nights with winds blowing out of
Wrigley Field, Wednesday night's series finale between the Nationals
and Cubs was cooler with gentle breezes coming in from Lake
Michigan. ... Nationals RF Bryce Harper topped the National League
All-Star Game balloting with 1,116,582 votes in first-round totals
announced Wednesday. ... Washington had clubbed four leadoff home
runs through Tuesday, the most in the major leagues. ... Both teams
are off Thursday. Nationals RHP Stephen Strasburg (3-5, 6.50 ERA)
faces Reds RHP Anthony DeSclanfani (2-4, 3.46 ERA) on Friday in
Cincinnati. Chicago hosts Kansas City as Cubs RHP Jake Arrieta (4-4,
2.95 ERA) pitches against RHP Edinson Volquez (4-3, 2.77 ERA). ...
Cubs pitchers entered Wednesday with a 2.59 ERA in the last 16
games, including 10 quality starts. ... Chicago 's nine wins in
their last at-bat leads the major leagues, including Tuesday 's 3-2
walk-off win over Washington. ... SS Starlin Castro was 2-for-4 on
Wednesday and needs just three hits to reach 900 for his career.
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