Hilfestellungen » This should be celebrated because it will not al

WASHINGTON -- The Washington Nationals comfortably lead the NL East, but after losing four straight games, they needed a win. Good thing it was Max Scherzers turn in the rotation.Scherzer allowed two hits over eight innings and Bryce Harpers two-run double helped the Nationals avoid a four-game home-and-home sweep with a 4-0 victory over the Baltimore Orioles on Thursday night.Scherzer (14-7) struck out 10 and did not walk a batter. He retired 12 straight after Adam Joness fourth-inning double and 21 of 22 before Mark Trumbos leadoff single in the eighth.He stopped the skid, Harper said of Scherzer. Unbelievable start by him tonight. You kind of imagine him going out there and doing that. When he does it, its that much better.Jayson Werths solo home run off Ubaldo Jimenez (5-11) in the fourth inning staked Washington to a 1-0 lead. Daniel Murphys RBI double in the eighth came before Harpers second hit helped the Nationals pull away.The Nationals had dropped three straight to the Orioles, who won twice in Baltimore before the teams shifted to Washington.Trumbo stole second base with two outs in the eighth, but J.J. Hardy flied out to deep center field on Scherzers 95th and final pitch. Mark Melancon allowed one hit in the ninth.We needed that so badly, Nationals manager Dusty Baker said. Masterful. Masterful job by Max.Scherzer won his second straight start, but was far more dominant than in each of his two previous outings when he allowed eight runs and struck out nine.The right-hander retired the first nine batters and struck out two in each of the first three innings. Scherzer recorded his 47th game -- 11th this season -- with at least 10 strikeouts.Jimenez allowed one run and five hits over six innings. He made his first start since July 28, but has lost three straight. The right-hander made three relief appearances before re-entering Baltimores rotation because of Chris Tillmans injury.It felt really good to be able to be there for the team, especially right now (since) Tilly went down, Jimenez said. Felt good that I was able to compete and give us a chance to be close.Scherzer helped his own cause defensively in the fifth without seeing the ball. With his back facing home plate, he fielded a comebacker hit by Jonathan Schoop between his legs and threw him out at first base.I think were going to be hearing a lot about that in the next couple of days so I dont want to give him too much credit, Harper joked.Manny Machados home run helped fuel Baltimores offense in Wednesdays 10-8 triumph. On Thursday, he went hitless in four at-bats and 0 for 3 against Scherzer, falling to 1 of 18 all-time in the head-to-head matchup. Machado struck out with Jones on third and one out in the fourth.You cant just float anything in there. Everything has to be full throttle, Scherzer said of facing Baltimore. With that lineup, if you make one mistake their going to hit it 450 feet.After Jones was left stranded, Werth hammered the first pitch in the fourth over the wall in center field.Harper singled in the fourth and stole his 18th base, matching his career-high.HELP ARRIVESWashington acquired LHP Marc Rzepczynski (1-0, 3.00 ERA) and cash from Oakland on Thursday for minor league INF Max Schrock.STRONG GRIP2016 Olympic gold medalist wrestler Helen Maroulis, who hails from the Maryland suburbs, threw out the first pitch.TRAINERS ROOMOrioles: Jones left in the ninth with hamstring cramps, but said he expects to play Friday. ... Manager Buck Showalter said Tillman (right shoulder bursitis) would throw on flat ground Monday or Tuesday.Nationals: Stephen Strasburg, on the 15-day DL with right elbow soreness, played catch the last two days, Baker said, adding that the soreness is not in the same spot where Strasburg had Tommy John surgery in 2010. ... RHP Joe Ross, out since July3 with right shoulder inflammation, threw Thursday and may not be too far of from going on a rehab assignment, Baker said.UP NEXTOrioles: Yovani Gallardo (4-5, 5.08) and Yankees RHP Luis Cessa (3-0, 4.01 ERA) open the three-game series in New York.Nationals: LHP Gio Gonzalez (8-9, 4.30) faces Rockies RHP Jeff Hoffman (0-1, 13.50) in the first of three games against Colorado. Vans Old Skool Sale . The injury bothered Bledsoe in the Suns victory over the Clippers on Monday and he sat out the teams home loss to Memphis on Thursday night. Vans Old Skool Clearance Sale . A forerunning sled crashed into the worker Thursday at the Sanki Sliding Center. The unidentified worker broke both legs and was airlifted to a nearby hospital. http://www.vanssalestore.com/ . If ever they start actually putting pictures beside words in the dictionary, the Blue Jays left-handers mug will appear beside “Consistency. Vans Toy Story Sale . This should be celebrated because it will not always be this way. With the amount of money given to players by their clubs these days, it is a wonder that so many of those teams allow the sport to continue to take away many of their assets so they can play for a different team in the middle of their season. Vans Shoes Sale . Capitals head coach Adam Oates said Ovechkin was injured in the first period against the Vancouver Canucks on Monday and clarified it was not a head injury. GAINESVILLE, Fla. -- No. 22 Florida will be without safety Marcus Maye for the rest of the season because of a broken left arm.Maye injured his arm in the first quarter against South Carolina on Saturday and left the field on a cart. Coach Jim McElwain said after the 20-7 victory that Maye will be done obviously.Hes the third Florida player in the last two weeks lost for the year. Linebacker Alex Anzalone (arm) and center Cam Dillard (knee) sustained season-ending injuries in a loss at Arkansas last week.Maye, widdely considered a first-round NFL draft pick, turned down a chance to leave early after last season and returned for his senior year.dddddddddddd.McElwain says I just feel horrible. But hes done so much. I mean his draft stock looking down the road has risen drastically because of how hes played. So this wont have any bearing on it.---More AP college football: www.collegefootball.ap.org ' ' '