WASHINGTON — Max Scherzer made his first appearance back at Nationals Park in an opposing uniform Monday night, and the three-time Cy Young winner got just enough help from Toronto’s bullpen to hold off his former team. The Blue Jays beat the Washington Nationals, 3-2, turning a tight pitchers’ duel into a series-opening win with a two-out rally in the middle innings.
Scherzer, making his first start off the injured list on his 42nd birthday, went 2 2/3 innings for Toronto, allowing one run on four hits with three walks and four strikeouts across 75 pitches. He did not factor into the decision. The Blue Jays’ bullpen shut the door from there, with Mason Fluharty (5-1) picking up the win in 1 1/3 scoreless innings and Louie Varland closing it out for his 22nd save of the season.
Toronto broke the game open with two runs in the third inning and added another in the fourth off Nationals starter Andrew Alvarez, who otherwise turned in a solid outing across 4 1/3 innings, allowing four hits and three walks. Luis Urias supplied a solo home run for the Blue Jays. Washington answered with a run in the second and pulled within one in the fifth when Andres Chaparro delivered a pinch-hit solo homer for Jose Tena, but the Nationals couldn’t complete the rally. James Wood reached base three times, Luis Garcia went 2-for-5 with an RBI double, and CJ Abrams drew two walks and swiped two bases.
The loss dropped Washington to 54-53 on the season, with Toronto improving to 49-58. The two clubs continue their series Tuesday night at Nationals Park.