Goodwin's big blast gives Nats early lead (Rangers win 5-1)

The Nationals gave Max Scherzer an early lead, thanks to the power stroke of Brian Goodwin.

Leading off the bottom of the first, Goodwin crushed an 0-1 pitch from right-hander Austin Bibens-Dirkx over the right field wall to give the Nationals a 1-0 lead. Goodwin's second homer of the season was also the first leadoff homer of his career.

Scherzer allowed a leadoff single by Shin-Soo Choo, but then became very Scherzer-like with a pair of strikeouts sandwiched around a flyout to left field by Nomar Mazara.

Scherzer now has 40 strikeouts in his last 25 2/3 innings.

After one inning in D.C., the Nationals lead the Rangers 1-0.

Update: Shin-Soo Choo keeps making life uncomfortable for the Nationals. With two outs in the third, Choo launched a two-out 2-2 Scherzer pitch over the left-center field wall to tie the game at 1-1. Scherzer did have two strikeoeuts in the inning, but he will rememeber the Shoo solo shot that erased the shutout possibility.

Bibens-Dirkx has calmed down aftre allowing the first two batters to notch base hits. He has recoreded eight outs in a row after giving up a homer and a single to start the game.

After three, the Nationals and the Rangers are tied at 1-1.

Update II: Scherzer struck out Nomar Mazara to begin the top of the fourth, marking the 2,000th strikeout of his career. He is the third-fastest pitcher to reach 2,000 strikeouts in terms of innings pitched, joining Pedro Martinez (1,711 1/3 innings) and Randy Johnson (1,733 1/3). Scherzer reached the plateau in 1,784 innings.

Bibens-Dirkx has now retired 11 straight batters.

After four innings, the game remains tied at 1-1.

Update III: Scherzer's strikeout of Rougned Odor in the seventh was his 10th of the game. He has seven games of 10 or more strikeouts this season and 56 in his career, which is the most among active pitchers. He has now struck out more than 10 batters in four straight starts, a total of 48.

The Nationals and the Rangers are tied at 1-1 through 6 1/2 innings.

Update IV: The Rangers scored four runs on just one hit in the eighth, highlighted by a two-run triple off the bat of Elvis Andrus versus Blake Treinen. One of the runs scored on a passed ball and another on a sacrifice fly. Oliver Pérez walked the only batter he faced.

Scherzer finished 7 1/3 innings, allowing three runs, two earned, on three hits with one walk and 10 strikeouts. He tossed 109 pitches, 78 for strikes.

Relief pitcher Jose Leclerc struck out the side in the bottom of the eighth.

After eight innings, the Rangers lead the Nationals 5-1.

Update V: The Nats went quietly in the ninth against Alex Claudio. Pinch-hitter Ryan Raburn and Bryce Harper grounded out. Daniel Murphy lined out to third base to end the game.

The Nats managed just three hits on the day.

The Rangers sweep the Nats. It's the first home series sweep of the Nationals this season.

Final score: Rangers 5, Nationals 1.