WASHINGTON — Max Scherzer pitched seven sharp innings in his first start since he was sidelined by neck spasms, and the Washington Nationals beat the Miami Marlins 3-2 on Monday night.

Bryce Harper homered for Washington, and pinch-hitter Adam Lind singled in the tie-breaking run in the eighth inning. The Nationals expanded their lead in the NL East over second-place Miami to 14 games.

Max Scherzer, right, celebrates with Bryce Harper after coming off the field in the seventh inning of the Nationals' 3-2 win over Miami on Monday. Scherzer pitched seven innings and Harper homered in the win. Associated Press/ Carolyn Kaster

Wilmer Difo led off the eighth with a single off Jarlin Garcia (0-2). He reached second on a bunt and, with two outs, Lind delivered a single up the middle.

It was Lind’s 13th pinch hit of the season, and his 10th RBI in that role.

Brandon Kintzler (4-2) worked the eighth and Sean Doolittle got three outs to earn his sixth save. Both pitchers were acquired shortly before the July 31 nonwaiver trade deadline.

Giancarlo Stanton hit his major league-leading 37th homer for the Marlins, matching his previous career high.

Scherzer struck out nine and gave up two runs. The right-hander was coming off an abbreviated start against the Marlins six days earlier, when he was pulled after one inning with neck spasms.

REDS 11, PADRES 3: Joey Votto homered for the third straight game and pulled into a tie with Ted Kluszewski on the Reds’ career list, leading host Cincinnati to a win over San Diego.

The Reds homered four times in all, with Patrick Kivlehan hitting his first career grand slam. Adam Duvall and Zack Cozart also connected.

Votto’s 251st career homer off Jhoulys Chacin (11-8) moved him into a tie for fifth place with Big Klu, the first baseman who cut the sleeves off his uniform to free his big upper arms. Votto’s 136th homer at Great American bumped him ahead of Jay Bruce for the ballpark record.

Votto also hit an RBI single against Chacin while extending his hitting streak to 12 games, his longest of the season. Chacin allowed five runs for the first time in 13 starts. The right-hander hadn’t lost since June 27, going 5-0 with a 2.02 ERA.

Jose Pirela drove in all of San Diego’s runs with his first career multihomer game. The first was a two-run shot off Tim Adleman, who went only 42/3 innings. Adleman hasn’t won since June 27, going 0-5 in seven starts with a 6.88 ERA. Blake Wood (1-4) replaced Adleman in the fifth and pitched out of a two-on threat.

INTERLEAGUE

PIRATES 3, TIGERS 0: Trevor Williams allowed one hit over seven dominant innings to outduel Detroit’s Jordan Zimmermann and lead Pittsburgh to a victory at home.

Williams (5-4) struck out five and walked two, giving up only a leadoff single to James McCann in the third.

Williams threw a career-high 107 pitches and never allowed a runner to third base as the Pirates won their third straight to pull within four games of idle Chicago in the NL Central.

Francisco Cervelli gave the Pirates the early lead with an RBI double off Zimmermann (7-9) in the second. John Jaso provided some late insurance with a pinch-hit two-run homer in the seventh.

CARDINALS 11, ROYALS 3: Matt Carpenter hit a three-run homer in St. Louis’ six-run fourth inning, and the Cardinals won in Kansas City, Missouri, for their third consecutive victory.

Paul DeJong and Kolten Wong also connected for the Cardinals, who returned to .500 at 56-56. Carlos Martinez (8-9) pitched eight innings of two-run ball for just his second win in his last nine starts.

St. Louis also got some help from Kansas City during its outburst in the fourth. Ian Kennedy (4-8) walked No. 9 hitter Greg Garcia on five pitches with the bases loaded, and shortstop Alcides Escobar and catcher Drew Butera each committed an error.

Related Stories