hman Jeremy Chardy 6-3, 6-4 and Croatias Ivo Karlovic defeated Dudi Sela of Israel 7-6 (4), 6-2. The Colts will be minus one reg

PHILADELPHIA -- For most pitchers, flirting with a no-hitter might be one of the most memorable days of your career. For Max Scherzer, it was just another day at the office.Scherzer didnt allow a hit until the sixth inning and he was dominant through eight as the Washington Nationals continued their mastery of the Philadelphia Phillies with a 3-2 victory Tuesday night.Scherzer (15-7) allowed three hits and struck out 11 while walking one. He was perfect through the first four innings, striking out five consecutive batters -- all swinging -- between the second and third innings.He has taken a no-hitter into the sixth in nine of his 61 all-time starts with the Nationals, and has allowed just five total hits in his last two outings.Hey man, I mean thats why hes Max, Washington manager Dusty Baker said. You know we had a good chance to win when Max pitches, and theres a good chance of him going deep in the game.Ryan Howard, who got the start despite being 1 for 18 with 11 strikeouts against Scherzer coming in, hit an opposite-field two-run home run in the seventh inning to break up the shutout and pull the Phillies within 3-2.But Scherzer closed the door from there, striking out three more in the seventh and eighth en route to his 15th win of the season.I knew I was throwing the ball well, I knew I had all the pitches working, I knew I could go out there and keep different looks going multiple times throughout the lineup and really sequence guys right, Scherzer said. When Im able to throw all my pitches for strikes it really allows (catcher Wilson Ramos) to do his job back there and come up with the right sequence.Mark Melancon pitched a scoreless ninth for his 37th save, getting a strikeout and inducing a big game-ending double play after issuing a leadoff walk.Freddy Galvis and Odubel Herrera collected the only other hits for the Phillies, who have lost six of eight to fall 12 games below .500. They have dropped their last eight games to first-place Washington, which matches the team record for consecutive losses vs. the Nationals/Expos franchise.We need to improve our plate discipline, Phillies manager Pete Mackanin said. Were just not getting hits. But Scherzer was dominant, youve got to give him credit. Hes a tough cookie.Scherzer, who pitched two no-hitters last season, didnt allow a runner to reach base until Phillies catcher Cameron Rupp walked with one out in the fifth. Galvis ripped a double to right-field to lead off the sixth to break up Scherzers no-hit bid, but was picked off second base by Scherzer to end the scoring threat.The Washington ace also had a sacrifice-bunt RBI in the fourth after Ryan Zimmerman walked and Danny Espinosa ripped a single.The Nationals staked Scherzer to an early lead in the first inning. With two outs and nobody on, Daniel Murphy doubled before scoring on a double by Bryce Harper, his 19th RBI in the last 19 games. Ramos brought Harper home with an RBI single to put the Nats ahead 2-0.He can smell it, Baker said. When he gets some runs, its usually a shutdown inning. He doesnt give it right back. It usually takes a while for them to score off of Max.Phillies starter Jerad Eickhoff (9-13), who walked just six batters in his last eight starts coming in, issued three walks and allowed five hits and three earned runs through six innings.Scherzers double-digit strikeout game was the 12th of the season, setting a Nationals record. He improved his career record to 7-1 against the Phillies, including a 6-0 mark since he joined the Nats in 2015.HOWARDS STILL GOT POPHowards homer was the 20th of the season and the 377th of his career, tying him with Jeff Kent and Norm Cash for 73rd on MLBs all-time list. His next home run will tie him with Matt Williams for 72nd place.He has 10 career 20-homer seasons, the second most in Phillies history behind only Hall of Famer Mike Schmidt (14).HOME-PLATE COLLISIONThe fourth inning ended when Espinosa was thrown out at the plate on a dart from Phillies right fielder Aaron Altherr. On the play, Espinosa collided with Rupp at home, which seemed to anger some Phillies.Afterwards, Mackanin admitted that he didnt think he had to bowl him over, but Howard laughed that Rupp probably liked it and thats baseball.OWNING PHILLYThe Nationals, who opened their six-game road trip with a 4-0 victory over the Phillies on Monday, are 7-1 at Citizens Bank Park this season.TRAINERS ROOMPhillies: Peter Bourjos missed his second straight game after getting hit in the left wrist by a pitch Sunday.UP NEXTThe Phillies and Nationals wrap up their three-game series Wednesday night with Philadelphia LHP Adam Morgan (1-8, 6.50) opposing LHP Gio Gonzalez (9-9, 4.25). Custom Cardinals T-shirts . The winner Saturday will remain in the elite 10-team field next year. "We talked about wanting to be disciplined and stick with our game plan and good things will come," Draisaitl said, who had two goals for the victors. Cheap Cardinals Jerseys . Nine days before the opening ceremony, organizing committee chief Dmitry Chernyshenko said Wednesday that Sochi is "fully ready" and will deliver safe, friendly and well-run games that defy the grim reports that have overshadowed preparations. http://www.custommlbcardinalsjersey.com/ . Vokoun departed practice on Saturday morning after discovering swelling in his thigh. He was taken to a local hospital where the clot was revealed. The club announced the surgery following a 5-3 exhibition loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets. Cheap Custom Cardinals Jersey .C. United of Major League Soccer. United chose the defender in the second round of the 2013 MLS re-entry draft. Authentic Custom Cardinals Jersey . Ferrer, trying to win his fourth title on Mexican soil, will next play South Africas Kevin Anderson, who eliminated American Sam Querrey,7-6 (2), 6-4. Also Wednesday, Gilles Simon (6) of France beat Donald Young of the United States 6-4, 6-3, Ukraines Alexandr Dolgopolov downed Frenchman Jeremy Chardy 6-3, 6-4 and Croatias Ivo Karlovic defeated Dudi Sela of Israel 7-6 (4), 6-2. The Colts will be minus one regular defensive starter Sunday but will welcome one offensive starter back.Defensive lineman Kendall Langford will miss the first game of his NFL career when the Colts face the Chiefs, but receiver Donte Moncrief will play for the first time since Week 2. Langford suffered a setback on the knee he had surgery on in early August.Hes been battling through that thing and just never really got right, coach Chuck Pagano said Friday. Hes a tough, tough guy. Hes an ironman. Hes a warrior. He wants to play. His teammates know that. Finally we just said, lets shut him down for a little bit and get that thing totally healed, calmed down to where he can get back to playing winning football.Langford had surgery on his knee on Aug. 8 and returned in time to extend his consecutive games played streak to 128. Pagano said he doesnt have aa timetable on when Langford, who has 10 tackles this season, will be back.ddddddddddddoncrief will be back for the first time since he injured his shoulder against the Denver Broncos in Week 2.We havent had Donte for quite a while and it has hurt us, Colts offensive coordinator Rob Chudzinski said. It will be good to have him back in the mix.The return of Moncrief and Phillip Dorsett means quarterback Andrew Luck will have his top three receivers at his disposal against the Chiefs.Besides Langford, the Colts also have ruled out defensive lineman Henry Anderson (knee), tight end Dwayne Allen (ankle), Curt Maggitt (ankle), offensive lineman Jack Mewhort (triceps) and receiver Chester Rogers (hamstring/foot) for Sundays game. ' ' '