Ace in new role saves Nats in extra innings

Scherzer’s hit, run in 14th throttle Braves

ATLANTA — Nationals ace Max Scherzer has had plenty of great moments as a three-time Cy Young Award winner.

Now he’s delivered one with his bat, too.

Scherzer singled as a pinch hitter in the 14th inning and scored the tiebreaking run on Wilmer Difo’s triple, sparking the Washington Nationals to a 5-3 victory over the Atlanta Braves on Saturday.

“For me to get in a tie game at a point and time where we needed to win against a team that’s playing really good baseball, I got an opportunity,” he said. “Holy cow. I got a hit and scored a run. That’s too cool. I never thought in a million years it would happen.”

In his third big league pinch-hit appearance, Scherzer singled up the middle against Miguel Socolovich (0-1) and sped home from first on Difo’s two-out hit to right-center. Rookie Spencer Kieboom added an RBI single.

Scherzer touched off a dugout celebration after he scored.

“I just screamed,” Scherzer said. “I didn’t say any four-letter words. … I kept it pretty PG. That was a good outburst.”

Justin Miller (2-0) struck out five in three innings, facing the minimum, and Sean Doolittle got three straight outs for his 14th save in 15 chances. Washington’s bullpen has allowed two earned runs in its past 33 innings.

Jesse Biddle, the fifth Atlanta reliever, struck out eight of his 13 batters, including Juan Soto with the bases loaded to end the 11th. He walked two in three innings.

Nationals starter Gio Gonzalez faced the minimum through four innings, striking out five, before Nick Markakis’ leadoff single in the fifth. Tyler Flowers singled and Johan Camargo homered for a 3-2 lead, his third homer this week and fifth this season.

Soto tied the score with a seventh-inning homer off Sam Freeman.

Michael Taylor hit a two-run homer in the seven off Brandon McCarthy, who allowed four hits in six innings. McCarthy struck out seven and retired 15 of his final 17 batters.

Scherzer started getting ready to hit in the ninth, putting on his spikes, hitting off a tee and taking batting practice indoors.

“I’ve got a high school swing,” Scherzer said, “but hey, it’s good enough to get the ball in play.”

John Amis The Associated Press Nationals pitcher Max Scherzer connects for a pinch-hit single in the 14th inning of Washington’s 5-3 victory over the Braves on Saturday. He scored the go-ahead run.