MIAMI — Max Scherzer hit his first career homer to help build a six-run lead, but pitched only one inning before departing with a neck spasm Tuesday night, and the Miami Marlins rallied to beat the Washington Nationals, 7-6.
Scherzer slept funny and left the game as a precaution, the Nationals said.
The Marlins took the lead with a four-run fifth. Marcell Ozuna hit a three-run homer off Matt Albers (5-2), and Derek Dietrich’s RBI triple put Miami ahead 7-6.
Six pitchers combined to shut out Washington over the final 72/3 innings. Dustin McGowan (7-1) pitched two scoreless innings during Miami’s comeback.
Brad Ziegler, promoted to closer after A.J. Ramos was traded last week, pitched the ninth and worked around a pair of two-out singles for his 86th career save and first this year. Ryan Zimmerman grounded out to end the game.
REDS 9, PIRATES 1: Billy Hamilton hit a three-run homer and tripled, Eugenio Suarez and rookie Jesse Winker also went deep, and Cincinnati won at Pittsburgh.
Hamilton tripled and scored in the first inning. Then he sent a pitch from Jameson Taillon (6-5) into the right-field seats in the second for his third home run of the season.
Taillon gave up eight runs on 11 hits in 32/3 innings and is 1-3 with a 12.18 ERA since the All-Star break.
Cincinnati pounded out 14 hits against Taillon and three relievers. Hamilton led off the game with a triple to right-center and then scored on Joey Votto’s fielder’s choice.
DODGERS 3, BRAVES 2: Kenta Maeda allowed two hits in seven scoreless innings, Cody Bellinger homered and Los Angeles won at Atlanta for its ninth straight win.
The Braves were shut down by Maeda (10-4) but cut their deficit to one with Johan Camargo’s two-run homer off Josh Ravin in the eighth. Atlanta ended the inning with Brandon Phillips, who had a pinch-hit single, on third base.
Bellinger led off the fourth with his 29th homer into the Braves’ bullpen in right-center off Lucas Sims (0-1).
BREWERS 3, CARDINALS 2: Jimmy Nelson finally beat St. Louis with six strong innings, and Milwaukee held on at home.
Nelson (9-5) entered 0-8 with a 7.01 ERA in 11 appearances (10 starts) against the Cardinals. This time he overcame his division rival by allowing two runs on six hits with seven strikeouts.
The Brewers’ bullpen kept the Cardinals off the scoreboard for three innings, including Anthony Swarzak striking out the side in the eighth after Josh Hader issued a leadoff walk. Corey Knebel then earned his 19th save.
AMERICAN LEAGUE
TIGERS 4, YANKEES 3: John Hicks hit a three-run homer in his first big league game in more than a month, Justin Upton added a solo drive off CC Sabathia and Detroit held on at New York.
A 27-year-old rookie recalled Monday for his fifth major league stint this season, Hicks drove a slider over the right-center field wall in the second inning, capping a 10-pitch at-bat.
Upton made it 4-0 in the third when he hit a full-count slider to left-center for his 18th homer.
ORIOLES 7, ROYALS 2: Dylan Bundy allowed three hits over a career-high eight innings, newcomer Tim Beckham had two hits and scored twice, and Baltimore won at home for its fourth straight victory.
Seth Smith drove in three runs to help the Orioles move within two games of .500 (52-54) for the first time since July 3.
Kansas City will seek to avoid a three-game sweep Wednesday. The Royals came to town having won 10 of 11 but have only scored three runs in these two games at Camden Yards.
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