Max Scherzer was dynamite in the Nats win over the Cubs. (Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports)
CHICAGO — Bryce Harper hit his 18th home run while starter Max Scherzer struck out a season-high 13 in seven scoreless innings as the Washington Nationals beat the Chicago Cubs 3-0 on Wednesday.
Scherzer (6-3) scattered five hits walked just one as he won his fifth straight start while the Nationals took two of three from the Cubs.
He has now struck out 56 batters in his last six starts and has 85 for the season.
Right-hander Drew Storen worked the ninth inning for his 16th save.
Chicago left-handed starter Jon Lester (4-3) suffered his first loss in six starts.
Harper slammed a leadoff home run in the sixth inning off Lester as the Nationals opened a 2-0 lead. He is tied with Seattle ‘s Nelson Cruz for the major-league lead.
Pinch hitter Danny Espinosa made it 3-0 with his sixth homer of the season with one out in the ninth.
It was the ninth solo home run of the series between the teams.
Nationals shortstop Ian Desmond was 3-for-5 while center fielder Denard Span had two hits.
Lester threw 106 pitches and worked through seven innings, allowing two runs (one earned) on seven hits while matching a season high with 10 strikeouts while walking two.
He was replaced by left-handed reliever James Russell, who faced one batter before right-hander Jason Motte came on to finish the inning.
The Cubs’ biggest threat came in the eighth when pinch hitter Jorge Soler greeted left-handed reliever Matt Grace with a lead-off double. First baseman Anthony Rizzo then reached after being hit by a pitch.
Grace was promptly replaced by right-hander Casey Janssen and the runners advanced to second and third on center fielder Dexter Fowler ‘s infield sacrifice. Shortstop Starlin Castro grounded out to end the threat.
The Nationals scratched out a run to break the shutout in the fourth inning.
Third baseman Yunel Escobar singled, right fielder Bryce Harper walked and first baseman Ryan Zimmerman hit into a fielder ‘s choice to second to force Harper while Escobar moved to third.
But a throw to first by second baseman Addison Russell to complete a double play went wide and Escobar successfully dashed for home.
Lester then walked catcher Wilson Ramos to put runners at first and second with one out. But he struck out second baseman Dan Uggla looking and left fielder Tyler Moore swinging on a 3-2 count to escape further damage.
NOTES: After back-to-back steamy nights with winds blowing out of Wrigley Field, Wednesday night ‘s series finale between the Nationals and Cubs was cooler with gentle breezes coming in from Lake Michigan. … Nationals RF Bryce Harper topped the National League All-Star Game balloting with 1,116,582 votes in first-round totals announced Wednesday. … Washington had clubbed four leadoff home runs through Tuesday, the most in the major leagues. … Both teams are off Thursday. Nationals RHP Stephen Strasburg (3-5, 6.50 ERA) faces Reds RHP Anthony DeSclanfani (2-4, 3.46 ERA) on Friday in Cincinnati. Chicago hosts Kansas City as Cubs RHP Jake Arrieta (4-4, 2.95 ERA) pitches against RHP Edinson Volquez (4-3, 2.77 ERA). … Cubs pitchers entered Wednesday with a 2.59 ERA in the last 16 games, including 10 quality starts. … Chicago ‘s nine wins in their last at-bat leads the major leagues, including Tuesday ‘s 3-2 walk-off win over Washington. … SS Starlin Castro is closing in on 900 career hits, needing just five coming into Wednesday. … Cubs manager Joe Maddon moved left fielder Chris Coghlan up to the leadoff spot for only the second time this season and Dexter Fowler, normally at the top of the order, batted fourth against Nationals RHP Max Scherzer.
