Washington Nationals’ bullpen blow-up in 9-run 7th results in 10-5 loss to LA Dodgers...

Max Scherzer handed a 3-1 lead to the bullpen, after six strong on 100 pitches even, but the Washington Nationals’ relief corps blew up in a nine-run top of the 7th for LA which blew things wide open and gave the Los Angeles Dodgers two straight in Nationals Park. 10-5 final.

Scherzer vs the Dodgers: In four June starts, Max Scherzer went (3-0) with the Nationals 3-1 in his outings, over which the 36-year-old right-hander put up a 1.42 ERA, six walks, and 24 Ks, with a .179/.267/.299 line against in 19 IP over that stretch. Last time out before tonight, the three-time Cy Young award winner held the Miami Marlins to a run on five hits over six innings in a 102-pitch effort on the road in South Florida.

Back in the nation’s capital tonight, Scherzer, who had a 1.96 ERA and a .162/.207/.345 line against in 41 ¹⁄₃ IP at home before tonight (vs. a 2.30 ERA and a .192/.265/.311 line against over 47 IP on the road) tossed three scoreless on 47 pitches total, striking out four as the Nationals jumped out to a 3-0 lead, but he gave one back in the top of the fourth, when Justin Turner hit an 0-1 fastball out to right-center for a solo home run that got the Dodgers on the board, 3-1.

Scherzer held the Dodgers to one run through six, working around a walk in the top of the sixth inning, in an 18-pitch frame that left him at 100 pitches even.

That was it for the right-hander, who struck out eight of the 22 batters he faced overall, retiring 9 of 10 batters after the Turner homer.

Max Scherzer’s Line: 6.0 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 8 Ks, 1 HR, 100 P, 67 S, 0/5 GO/FO.

Urías vs the Nationals: Julio Urías, 24, took the mound tonight with a 3.95 ERA, a 3.49 FIP, 18 walks, 107 Ks, and a .234/.277/.403 line against in 16 starts and 93 ¹⁄₃ IP on the season.

Urías faced the Nationals earlier this season, in LA, giving up nine hits and three runs over 5 ¹⁄₃ IP, in which he threw 95 pitched before the Dodgers went to the pen.

Coming off another 5 ¹⁄₃ inning start last time out, in which he walked one and struck out 12 in an 84-pitch effort, Urías took the mound in Nationals Park and tossed a scoreless 16-pitch first, but ran into trouble from the jump in the second inning. Starlin Castro singled to start things off, and Yan Gomes followed with a double that put runners on second and third for Victor Robles, who hit a grounder to third on which Justin Turner made a throwing error which let both runners score while Robles hustled around to third, 2-0, and 3-0 on a sac fly to center by Humberto Arteaga.

Urías retired nine straight after a two-out single by Kyle Schwarber in the second, with a two-out walk to Josh Harrison in the fifth ending that streak, but he stranded Harrison at first base, and he worked around a walk to Starlin Castro in the sixth before the Dodgers piled on runs in the top of the seventh...

Julio Urías’s Line: 6.0 IP, 3 H, 3 R, 1 ER, 3 BB, 3 Ks, 87 P, 56 S, 9/5 GO/FO.

Robles’s Arm: Mookie Betts doubled off Max Scherzer to start the Dodgers’ first, but then he tried to take third base on a Max Muncy fly to center in the next at bat, and Victor Robles caught the fly ball and uncorked a perfect throw that beat the runner to the bag, was a little wide, but close enough for a sweep tag by Starlin Castro that completed the 8-3 outfield assist and double play.

Schwarber Out: Kyle Schwarber singled with two down in his second trip to the plate, but he stumbled as he approached the first base bag, and pulled up short around first base, and immediately grabbed the back of his right leg and kind of hopped back.

After a quick visit from the trainer, Schwarber left the game. He has been dealing with knee issues since he landed hard on a diving play in Atlanta, but this didn’t look like that.

More info as soon as it’s available...

Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports

Bullpen Action: Sam Clay was first out of the bullpen for the Nationals, taking over for Max Scherzer with a 3-1 lead in the sixth, and he gave up a leadoff double to right-center in the first at bat, with Chris Taylor lining a 3-2 sinker to the base of the out-of-town scoreboard.

Taylor took third on an AJ Pollock fly to right field, and scored on an infield single by Albert Pujols, in a pinch hit appearance, 3-2 Nationals. Clay hit the next batter, Austin Barnes, and that was it for the lefty, then Austin Voth came on and issued a base-loading, one-out walk, with pinch hitter Zack McKinstry taking the free pass, setting Mookie Betts up with a big at bat that ended with a two-run single to left, 4-3 Dodgers. Max Muncy followed with a two-run single to left field, 6-3, and a Justin Turner single knocked Voth out.

Kyle Lobstein took over with runners on the corners and one out, and got a grounder to first from Cody Bellinger, on which Ryan Zimmerman threw home and cut down the lead runner, but with runners on second and third and two out, Chris Taylor hit another two-run single to center, 8-3 LA. And 10-3 on a home run by AJ Pollock.

Jimmy Nelson retired the Nationals in order in the bottom of the seventh.

Jefry Rodríguez retired the side in order in the top of the eighth.

Garrett Cleavinger gave up back-to-back, one-out singles by Josh Harrison and Juan Soto in the bottom of the eight, then Max Muncy booted a grounder by Ryan Zimmerman, and one run scored as the ball rolled out into right field, 10-4. A catcher’s interference call on Starlin Castro’s swing loaded the bases with one out, after Brusdar Graterol took over on the hill for LA, but a Yan Gomes grounder up the middle started an inning-and-rally-killing double play.

Rodríguez issued back-to-back walks around a wild pitch to start the top of the ninth, but stranded both runners.

Graterol came back out for the ninth and gave up back-to-back two-out doubles by Josh Bell and Gerardo Parra, 10-5.

Final Score: 10-5 Dodgers

Nationals now 40-40