MIAMI -- Max Scherzer strengthened his case for the NL Cy Young Award.Scherzer pitched 6 2/3 innings to tie for the National League victory lead with 18, helping the Washington Nationals beat the Miami Marlins 8-3 on Wednesday night.When we needed shut-down innings I was able to go out there and put up zeroes when we really needed it and it helped get the offense going, Scherzer said.Scherzer (18-7) allowed three runs and struck out eight to push his major league-leading total to 267. Hes tied for with Chicagos Jon Lester for the most wins in the NL.He should be in strong consideration for a Cy Young, Nationals manager Dusty Baker said. I talked to him earlier and I gave him a number and said lets win six or seven of them and he said, `I want to win all of them. Thats the attitude you want and thats the attitude that he carries and the guys love playing behind him.Ryan Zimmerman hit a three-run homer and Trea Turner also homered for the Nationals.We got some good offensive days out of some guys especially after our offense was a little sleepy the last couple of days, Baker said.Washington ended a four-game losing streak and lowered their magic number to two to win the NL East over the New York Mets with a chance to clinch on Friday at Pittsburgh.Ive never been a part of anything like this, but its exciting, Turner said. Every game means something even down the stretch playing for home-field advantage or whatever it may be. Its exciting and I enjoy it.Tom Koehler (9-12) allowed four runs -- three earned -- in four innings for the Marlins. They had won three in a row to stay in contention for the second wild card spot.It kind of leaves us in the same spot, Marlins manager Don Mattingly said. It wouldve been nice if we could have won and cut a game off. Hopefully the Dodgers win tonight.Christian Yelich hit a solo home run and Derek Dietrich hit a two-run homer to chase Scherzer in the seventh and cut it to 6-3.Prior to the home runs allowed by Yelich and Dietrich, Scherzer had only allowed two hits.Obviously there in the seventh-of course Im frustrated about that, Scherzer said. You cant walk away from an outing like that feeling great when you give up two home runs especially when your last pitch is a home run. But youll beat yourself up and drive yourself crazy if you try to sit here every single start worrying about the negatives. This start had way more positives and thats what Im going to focus on.Wilson Ramos had an RBI double and scored on a sacrifice fly in the eighth to extend the Nationals lead to 8-3.Washington scored its first run when Koehlers pick-off throw to second went into centerfield and Yelich was unable to field it cleanly allowing Danny Espinosa to score.Zimmermans three-run homer, his 15th, to left field gave the Nationals a 4-0 lead in the fourth.You cant really afford to spot Max a 4-0 lead, Koehler said. More times than not he gets four runs, hes not going to give it back.Jayson Werth had an RBI single and Turner hit his 12th home run for a 6-0 advantage.TRAINERS ROOMMarlins: RF Giancarlo Stanton was held out of the lineup after starting and homering in the last two games. Medical says he felt he needed a day so we gave a day, Mattingly said. ... LHP Adam Conley (finger) pitched a three-inning simulation game Wednesday with hopes of returning to the team before the season ends.UP NEXTNationals: LHP Gio Gonzalez (11-10, 4.48) will take the mound on Friday in Pittsburgh against RHP Jameson Tailon (4-4, 3.39) to begin a three-game series against the Pirates in the final road trip of the season. Gonzalez has allowed six runs in two of his last three starts.Marlins: RHP Jose Urena (4-7, 5.59) will start Thursdays game against Atlanta RHP Josh Collmenter (2-0, 4.61). Urena allowed seven runs in two innings in his last start at Philadelphia. Yeezy Boost 350 Halvalla . -- Bobby Ryan helped the U. Yeezy Boost 700 Suomi . Louis Rams wide receiver Stedman Bailey last Sunday. The fine is the fourth this season for Goldson. He was fined $30,000 for a hit on the New York Jets Jeff Cumberland in Week 1. http://www.yeezysuomi.com/superstar-kengat-suomi.html . John Tavares, Thomas Vanek and Kyle Okposo were also being counted on to slow down sizzling Rangers forward Rick Nash. That plan didnt go so well early. Yeezy Boost 350 v2 Suomi . Each of Houstons starters scored in double figures as the Rockets improved to 2-0 against the Spurs this season, with both victories coming on the road. They also moved within 3 1/2 games of San Antonio (22-7) for the lead the Southwest Division. Stan Smith Kengät Ale . Rousey will put her perfect 8-0 record and hardware on the line against another undefeated fighter, 7-0 Sara McMann in the main event of UFC 170, which will be held at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas Nevada on February 22nd.BOLOGNA, Italy -- Using mostly reserves, Italy comfortably beat tiny San Marino 4-0 in a friendly on Friday. Midfielder Andrea Poli put the Azzurri ahead in the 28th minute at the DallAra stadium, Alberto Gilardino doubled the lead in the 33rd, Andrea Pirlo made it 3-0 with one of his expert free kicks in the 50th and Alberto Aquilani added another in the 79th. Among usual Italy starters, only goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon and Pirlo began the match, and Buffon was replaced by Salvatore Sirigu for the final 20 minutes. "I wanted to see some things, and I did. These guys want to show their worth," Italy coach Cesare Prandelli said. "Were doing well from a physical standpoint." Mario Balotelli came on for Italy in the 49th and hit the woodwork twice. San Marino, which has won just one match since gaining UEFA membership in 1988, never really threatened. The oldest republic in the world, which is nestled atop a hill in central Italy, is ranked last in the FIFA rankings, tied for No. 207 with Bhutan and the Turks and Caicos Islands. Next Friday, Italy visits the Czech Republic for a key World Cup qualifier. The Azzurri then travel to Brazil for the June 15-30 Confederations Cup. In a nod to the local fans, Prandelli started with Bologna forwards Alessandro Diamanti and Gilardino in attack. Atalantas Giacomo Bonaventura rounded out the forward line in a 4-3-3. San Marino goalkeeper Aldo Simoncini did well to keep the sheet clean at the start and Italy had two goals ruled out for offside before Poli finally bbroke the deadlock by scoring his first goal for the national team with an angled shot through Simoncinis legs.dddddddddddd Gilardino then scored his 18th goal for Italy in the 33rd by redirecting a rebound of a shot from Aquilani. Italy fullback Luca Antonelli exited toward the end of the half with a physical problem and Prandelli began a series of substitutions shortly after the second half started. However, it was Pirlo who got the next goal by curling a free kick over the San Marino wall for his 12th goal with the Azzurri. Aquilani, who is vying to make Italys 23-man squad for the Confederations Cup, had a good match and scored by knocking in a rebound off a free kick from Pirlo. Balotelli hit the post with a free kick in the 64th, was denied with a diving effort from San Marinos reserve goalkeeper Federico Valentini in the 81st, and hit the crossbar with a header in the 90th. "I liked his approach," Prandelli said. "He came on attempting to score. Thats what he always needs to do." With Italys Serie A afflicted by several cases of racist chanting from fans this season, there were anti-racism initiatives surround the match. Before kickoff, Italy captain Buffon and San Marino captain Andy Selva each read an appeal to fans over the stadiums public address system. Integration Minister Cecile Kyenge, Italys first black Cabinet minister, attended the game and sat next to Italian football federation president Giancarlo Abete. Before kickoff, she met with Prandelli, Buffon, and Balotelli. ' ' '