Scherzer falls just short of perfect

The way Max Scherzer was pitching, the Milwaukee Brewers were going to need a bit of luck to even manage getting anyone on base. They got it — barely. Scherzer struck out a Nationals-record 16 and threw a one-hitter, losing his perfectgame bid on Carlos Gomez’s broken-bat, bloop single in the seventh inning as Washington beat the Brewers, 4-0, Sunday in Milwaukee.

“I was able to execute every pitch for the most part where I wanted to,” Scherzer said.

Gomez opened the seventh with a looper to shallow right field that just fell inches beyond the outstretched glove of second baseman Anthony Rendon. Gomez, indeed, said he “got lucky” to get that hit off Scherzer.

“I wouldn’t imagine that that’s going to be the last opportunity that he’s going to have to do something special,” Nationals Manager Matt Williams said.

Scherzer watched the ball drop, then turned away.

“Why would I be disappointed on a broken-bat base hit? It takes luck to do that,” Scherzer said.

Scherzer set a career high for strikeouts and broke the Nationals mark of 14 set by Stephen Strasburg in his big league debut in 2010. The franchise record of 18 was set by Bill Gullickson in 1980 with Montreal — the Expos moved to Washington for the 2005 season. Prado has shoulder sprain, is day to day

Miami Marlins third baseman Martin Prado left Sunday’s game against Colorado in the first inning because of a sprained right shoulder after he took a tumble trying to beat out a grounder.

Prado’s status is day to day, and he hopes to avoid a stint on the disabled list. Xrays were negative, and he’ll be further evaluated Monday.