WASHINGTON (AP) — erzer early run support http://www.redsfanproshop.com/authentic-cliff-pennington-jersey , and that made his job a lot easier Friday night.Scherzer struck out 10 in seven innings, Anthony Rendon and Howie Kendrick homered and the Nationals defeated the Arizona Diamondbacks 7-3.Scherzer (5-5) leads the National League with 136 strikeouts. He gave up two runs and three hits, including home runs by Carson Kelly and Nick Ahmed.Article continues below ...“Every five days, you know what you’re going to get from Max,” Washington manager Dave Martinez said. “He’s really good. That’s why he’s an ace.”The 10 strikeouts in this game gave him 2,585 for his career and moved Scherzer past Hall of Famers Bob Feller and Warren Spahn into 27th place on the all-time list.This was Scherzer’s third straight win overall and he improved to 7-0 in nine starts against Arizona — he started his big league career with the Diamondbacks in 2008.The Nationals have scored three runs or less in 10 of the 15 games Scherzer has started. Scherzer was delighted to get the offensive help.“We got some big home runs. When our offense can go like this, it just makes it easier to pitch,” Scherzer said. “You can go out there Joe Morgan Jersey , be aggressive towards their guys and try to throw up strikes and just try to throw up goose eggs.”The Nationals scored three times in the third off Robbie Ray (5-4) on an RBI double by Trea Turner, a sacrifice fly from Victor Robles and a run-scoring single by Juan Soto.Ahmed homered in the fifth to pull Arizona within 3-2 but that was all they could do against Scherzer.“He throws a lot of strikes and attacks,” Ahmed said. “You can’t go up there and try to take and work the count. He’s one of the best.”Rendon and Kendrick hit solo home runs in the sixth, and Washington added two more in the seventh on Robles’ RBI single and Rendon’s sacrifice fly.DOUBLE YOUR PLEASUREWashington OF Michael A. Taylor had stolen just two bases this season coming into the game, but swiped two in the seventh and later scored an insurance run.COSTLY ERRORRay made a throwing error on Scherzer’s sacrifice bunt trying for a force at second base that helped the Nationals in their three-run third. Three of the next four Washington hitters drove in runs for a 3-1 lead.“I just made a bad throw,” Ray said.TRAINER’S ROOMDiamondbacks: C Alex Avila (strained left calf) was put on the injured list after being hurt in Thursday’s win. Manager Torey Lovullo said Avila will have an MRI and said the catcher is optimistic he will not be out for long. C Caleb Joseph was recalled from Triple-A Reno to take Avila’s spot. … Lovullo said RHP Jon Duplantier (right shoulder inflammation) had an MRI that was “very positive” and will go on anti-inflammatories and is not going to throw for six or seven days. He will be examined after that.Nationals: 1B Ryan Zimmerman (plantar fasciitis right foot) ran on the treadmill Thursday and continued with baseball activities Friday. Zimmerman was placed on the 10-day injured list April 28. . RHP Justin Miller (right shoulder inflammation) received an unspecified injection Friday, according to Martinez. Miller was “shut down” this week after throwing. He has been on the 10-day injured list since May 18.UP NEXTDiamondbacks: Taylor Clarke (1-2, 5.26) will make his sixth major league start in Saturday’s game. It will be the first time he has pitched against Washington.Nationals: RHP Stephen Strasburg (7-3 Dave Concepcion Jersey , 3.36) now has won four in a row. His last loss came on May 12, and the right-hander has given up only two homers in his last eight starts.__ Start your morning with some of the best Astros links around"WhiteFanposts Fanshots Sections Houston Astros NewsGame ThreadsHouston Astros Minor LeaguesAstros Game DayPodcastsAstros Crawfish BoilAstros Crawfish Boil: February 1st, 2019New,21commentsStart your morning with some of the best Astros links aroundCSTShareTweetShareShareAstros Crawfish Boil: February 1st, 2019Guess what the news is all about todayBenny Sieu-USA TODAY SportsAstros NewsIn case you hadn’t heard, Wade Miley will be joining the pitching staff for 2019 (MLB Trade Rumors)Who is a player the Astros hope will be another diamond in the rough for them (Texas Sports Nation)He’ll also help to round out the rotation as a Keuchel-lite sort of pitcher (The Runner Sports)The MLB Tonight crew covered his 2018 performance and what the move means for the Astros (MLB Video)One thing the move does do is open up the rotation for prospects (Astros County)McTaggart also covered the rotation, among other things, in his latest mailbag (Astros.com)Around the LeagueArenado and the Rox will avoid arbitration as he agrees to a record $26 million for 2019 (Forbes)The Padres are stepping up their pursuit of a big name http://www.redsfanproshop.com/authentic-cliff-pennington-jersey , meeting with Bryce Harper to pitch him on playing in Petco (MLB Trade Rumors)And either Harper or Machado to the Padres isn’t as crazy a move as you would think (ESPN)Kimbrel is also still waiting for his big payday, which could come from one of these five teams (NESN)It looks like Ohtani won’t be ready at the beginning of the season after offseason surgery, but is expected to factor in at some point (Yahoo Sports)Even as we celebrate Jackie Robinson’s rich legacy, baseball is struggling to attract black athletes (The Sporting News)When it comes to Minor League baseball logos and mascots, go weird or go home (Mashable)All this vortexing going on has some remembering that one sub-zero (Celsius) baseball game (NBC Sports)