ST. LOUIS _ Sunday's game was billed as a showdown between starting pitchers Carlos Martinez and St. Louis native Max Scherzer.
By the time Scherzer took the mound for the first time, it was clear that Martinez was not up to the challenge. The Nationals won 7-2 after jumping out to an early lead.
Scherzer entered the game first in the National League in ERA and opponents' batting average. Martinez entered fourth in ERA and second in opponents' average. Shortly before the first pitch, both were named to the NL pitching staff for the upcoming All-Star Game.
In the top of the first inning, Martinez surrendered a double to the game's first batter, Nationals left fielder Brian Goodwin. Two batters later, Bryce Harper, who was also named to the NL all star lineup, hit a 393-foot home run to right field.
Martinez found himself in a similar situation in the third inning, facing Harper with a man on base.
The result was the same.
Harper hit another home run over the fence in right field, this one measuring 392 feet. Daniel Murphy then scored on a double hit by Anthony Rendon to extend the Nationals' lead to 5-0.
Martinez was ultimately removed after five innings. He had pitched at least six innings in each of his last 12 starts. The last time he didn't make the sixth, April 20, was also the last time he gave up five earned runs.
Meanwhile, Scherzer struck out five of the first six batters he faced en route to 12 strikeouts on the day. He pitched seven innings and allowed two hits for the third straight start. The game was Scherzer's 10th of the season with 10 or more strikeouts and his 59th such game in his career. That leads all active pitchers.
The Nationals padded their lead with two additional runs in the top of the eighth. Adam Lind tagged up from third and scored when Wilmer Difo hit a sacrifice fly off reliever Mike Mayers. Matt Wieters did the same thing two batters later when Goodwin hit a fly ball to center field.
The Cardinals finally got on the board in the eighth inning when Tommy Pham hit a two-run home run. Stephen Piscotty followed up the home run with a double, giving fans hope of a rally, but Jedd Gyorko then struck out and Yadier Molina's fly ball was caught at the warning track to end the inning.
