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. Willie McGee Jersey . Isner, ranked No. 14, won his eighth career singles title and took the title in New Zealand for the second time after his victory in 2010. The match was similar to Isners quarterfinal victory over fifth-seeded Philipp Kohlschreiber which went to three sets, all tiebreaks and contained no breaks of serve. Marcell Ozuna Jersey . Manuel was offered a position the day he was fired. He accepted earlier this week and the team made the announcement Friday. http://www.cardinalsrookiestore.com/Cardinals-Yadier-Molina-Kids-Jersey/ . Peter Gammons, an analyst for Major League Baseballs network and website, drew the ire of hockey fans on Sunday when he criticized the two NHL teams on Twitter for their physical game the night before. Roger Maris Jersey . Tests earlier this week revealed a Grade 2 left hamstring strain for Sabathia, who was hurt in last Fridays start against San Francisco. Its an injury that will require about eight weeks to heal. He finished a disappointing campaign just 14-13 with a career-worst 4. Ozzie Smith Jersey . Following a lopsided 5-2 loss against the New Jersey Devils on Wednesday night, Paul MacLean told reporters that "theres a lack of focus, theres a lack of leadership and theres a lack of preparation" with his struggling team. That came on the heels of Bryan Murray taking the unusual step of going into the locker room at the Prudential Center and addressing the players himself.MONTREAL -- The all-Canadian showdown in the ring between Lucian Bute and Jean Pascal has been rescheduled for Dec. 7. A spokesman for Butes promoter InterBox confirmed that the Bell Centre has been reserved for bout between the two former world champions from Montreal. Bute (31-1, 24 knockouts) and Pascal (27-2-1, 16 KOs) were scheduled to fight on May 25, but the bout was postponed when the southpaw Bute suffered an injury that required surgery to remove bone fragments from his left hand. He is to have a cast put on the hand Thursday in Florida and will be unable to spar for at least four months. "We dont think well have to postpone the fight again," spokesman David Messier said. "Were convinnced Lucian will be ready.dddddddddddd "He always keeps himself in good shape and its only the boxing side that he wont be able to work on until September, which gives him plenty of time to be ready for a fight in December." Tickets purchased for May 25 will be honoured on Dec. 7, or refunds can be given. Bute held the IBF super-middleweight title until a crushing loss to Carl Froch in May, 2012. Pascal lost his WBC light-heavyweight belt to Bernard Hopkins nearly two years ago. Pascals promoter Yvon Michel has no plan yet for another bout before Bute. Pascal had hoped to get onto a June 8 card in Montreal on which Adonis Stevenson will challenge Chad Dawson for his old WBC title. 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