BALTIMORE (AP) -- Max Scherzer ended his impressive first half with another dominant performance, taking a three-hitter into the ninth inning to lead the Washington Nationals to a 3-2 victory over the Baltimore Orioles on Sunday.Yunel Escobar had three hits and scored a run for the Nationals, who reached the All-Star break in first place in the NL East after taking two of three from their neighboring rivals.Scherzer was one out away from his fourth complete game when Adam Jones hit his second homer of the game. Drew Storen entered and struck out Chris Davis to earn his 27th save. 
Scherzer (10-7) allowed four hits, struck out seven and walked none. He retired 14 straight after allowing a first-inning homer to Jones.His outing fit accordingly into a first half that included a no-hitter, a one-hitter and 17 starts of at least six innings.Coming off an uncharacteristic dud in which he gave up five runs in 4 2-3 innings against the Reds, Scherzer allowed only three base runners until Jones connected in the ninth.Scherzer was selected to the NL All-Star team, but won't pitch in Tuesday's game because he was used in this one. Though the right-hander certainly deserves a chance to show his stuff on the grand stage in Cincinnati, the Nationals gave him a $210 million, seven-year contract in January to help the team win the division and excel in the postseason.He's done his part thus far. Scherzer has accounted for more than a fifth of Washington's 48 wins, and his 2.11 ERA ranks among the league leaders.He outpitched Orioles starter Wei-Yin Chen (4-5), who allowed three runs and eight hits in a career-high tying eight innings.Baltimore reached the break at .500, no small disappointment for the defending AL East champions. The Orioles have lost 10 of 13 since June 28, when they were in first place with a 41-34 record.This game started well for Baltimore, performing before a third straight sellout crowd at Camden Yards.With runners on second and third with two outs in the top of the first, right fielder Davis made a nice running catch of Wilson Ramos' liner in the gap.Scherzer struck out the first two batters in the bottom half before Jones hit a 1-2 pitch into the seats in left field.Jones' second homer in the ninth was his 180th with the Orioles, pushing him past Frank Robinson into eighth place on the team's list.Washington used three straight two-out hits to take a 3-1 lead in the fourth. After singles by Escobar and Clint Robinson put runners on first and second, Dan Uggla singled in a run and Tyler Moore followed with a two-run double.That was enough offense for Scherzer, who was looking to avoid a third straight loss for the first time since May 2010.
Scherzer (10-7) allowed four hits, struck out seven and walked none. He retired 14 straight after allowing a first-inning homer to Jones.His outing fit accordingly into a first half that included a no-hitter, a one-hitter and 17 starts of at least six innings.Coming off an uncharacteristic dud in which he gave up five runs in 4 2-3 innings against the Reds, Scherzer allowed only three base runners until Jones connected in the ninth.Scherzer was selected to the NL All-Star team, but won't pitch in Tuesday's game because he was used in this one. Though the right-hander certainly deserves a chance to show his stuff on the grand stage in Cincinnati, the Nationals gave him a $210 million, seven-year contract in January to help the team win the division and excel in the postseason.He's done his part thus far. Scherzer has accounted for more than a fifth of Washington's 48 wins, and his 2.11 ERA ranks among the league leaders.He outpitched Orioles starter Wei-Yin Chen (4-5), who allowed three runs and eight hits in a career-high tying eight innings.Baltimore reached the break at .500, no small disappointment for the defending AL East champions. The Orioles have lost 10 of 13 since June 28, when they were in first place with a 41-34 record.This game started well for Baltimore, performing before a third straight sellout crowd at Camden Yards.With runners on second and third with two outs in the top of the first, right fielder Davis made a nice running catch of Wilson Ramos' liner in the gap.Scherzer struck out the first two batters in the bottom half before Jones hit a 1-2 pitch into the seats in left field.Jones' second homer in the ninth was his 180th with the Orioles, pushing him past Frank Robinson into eighth place on the team's list.Washington used three straight two-out hits to take a 3-1 lead in the fourth. After singles by Escobar and Clint Robinson put runners on first and second, Dan Uggla singled in a run and Tyler Moore followed with a two-run double.That was enough offense for Scherzer, who was looking to avoid a third straight loss for the first time since May 2010.
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