WASHINGTON _ The Rays knew the Max Scherzer experience was going to be challenging Tuesday, and it was in a 4-2 loss.
Scherzer struck out 13 _ including three on nine pitches in an "immaculate" sixth inning _ and allowed only five hits over eight dominant innings.
Brad Miller knocked in the only two runs with a pinch-hit double in the eighth when the Rays were down 4-0.
Rays starter Nathan Eovaldi wasn't quite as sharp as his return to the majors last week in Oakland, when he threw six no-hit innings in his first start since August 2016 Tommy John surgery. But he wasn't bad, allowing four runs on four hits over five innings.
Matt Adams started off the scoring in the second with a 422-foot home run. The Nationals added another run in the second off of Wilmer Difo's fielder's choice. Difo drove in another run in the fourth inning when he hit a triple, scoring 19-year-old Juan Soto. Difo would score the Nationals' fourth run on an Eovaldi wild pitch.
Wilmer Font and Ryne Stanek provided some quality relief, throwing three innings and allowing no hits and striking out four total.
Rays CF Mallex Smith was ejected for showing his unhappiness.
The loss was the fifth straight for the Rays, who are the only team in the majors with winning and losing streaks of at least five games this season.
