Scherzer’s 9 K’s, Avila RBI double lift Nats past Cards 1-0

WASHINGTON (AP) — Max Scherzer struck out nine in six scoreless innings to move up to No. 21 on the career K’s leaderboard, and Alex Avila drove in the game’s lone run with one of his two doubles, helping the Washington Nationals edge the St. Louis Cardinals 1-0. Scherzer retired 12 of his last 13 batters and got his first win of this season. He gave up four hits and lowered his ERA to 1.80. Washington scored in the second on Avila’s two-out double against Carlos Martínez, whose record is now 0-4. Brad Hand got his third save.