Nationals 3, Orioles 2
BALTIMORE -- Washington's Max Scherzer allowed two runs over 8 2/3 innings and the Nationals took the three-game series against their regional rival, the Baltimore Orioles, with a 3-2 victory Sunday.
After enduring three straight losses, Washington has won back-to-back games entering the All-Star break. The Orioles have lost 10 of 13 and fell to .500 for the first time since June 2.
Scherzer (10-7) allowed a two-out homer to Baltimore center fielder Adam Jones in the first inning. From there, the right-hander retired the next 14 batters. Scherzer, who entered the game with opponents batting just .188 against him, gave up four hits and struck out seven.
Jones, who has 14 homers on the season, went deep again with two outs in the ninth to cut the margin to 3-2. However, Washington right-hander Drew Storen entered and struck out Orioles right fielder Chris Davis to pick up his 27th save.
Nationals third baseman Yunel Escobar went 3-for-4 for his 26th multi-hit game of season. He is batting .321.
Baltimore left-hander Wei-Yin Chen (4-5) also had another effective outing. He allowed three runs (two earned) on eight hits with six strikeouts and no walks over eight innings. It was the fourth time in 17 starts he lasted eight innings.
Chen ran into trouble in the fourth when he allowed three runs on four hits. Designated hitter Dan Uggla tied the game with an RBI single and first baseman Tyler Moore followed with a two-RBI double that gave the Nationals a 3-1 lead. That was all of the runs that Scherzer would need as he has now allowed just two earned runs or fewer in 14 of his 18 starts.
Orioles second baseman Jonathan Schoop managed the second hit against Scherzer with a one-out single in the sixth that fell just in front of left fielder Clint Robinson, who went 2-for-4. Baltimore designated hitter Jimmy Paredes also singled that inning, but Scherzer got Jones to pop out on one pitch to end the threat.
NOTES: Orioles RF Chris Davis was back in the lineup batting fourth after sitting out the previous game with a stomach bug. ... Nationals 1B Ryan Zimmerman (foot) could begin a rehab assignment by the end of the week, according to manager Matt Williams. ... Baltimore RHP Kevin Gausman started Sunday for Triple-A Norfolk to stay on his regular schedule. He will likely return to the big-league club after the All-Star break.