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D-backs fall despite Segura’s HR, Koch’s impressive start
- Updated: September 28, 2016
WASHINGTON — With the news breaking earlier in the day Tuesday that Nationals All-Star catcher Wilson Ramos was lost for the season with a torn ACL, it left Washington looking for ways to replace his production in the middle of the order.
Anthony Rendon provided that offense Tuesday night, when he launched a three-run homer off right-hander Randall Delgado to help guide the Nationals to a 4-2 victory over the D-backs at Nationals Park.
His homer helped back a strong effort from right-hander Max Scherzer, who struck out 10 in six innings and broke his own team single-season strikeout record. The Nationals were able to keep pace with the Dodgers in the battle for home-field advantage in the National League Division Series, as Washington improved its lead to 1 1/2 games with Los Angeles playing Tuesday night in San Diego.
“That’s what we’re playing for,” Scherzer said. “I would love to have Game 5 here at Nationals Park facing the Dodgers. In a short series, home-field advantage matters. We need to go out and get hot and get moving in the right direction and take care of home-field advantage because it’s ours to lose.”
The D-backs jumped out to a 2-0 lead on Scherzer, thanks to a leadoff homer from Jean Segura on the first pitch of the game and a run-scoring double from Welington Castillo in the third. Then Scherzer settled down, eventually recording seven consecutive strikeouts, to pick up his 19th victory as he makes a push for the National League Cy Young award.
D-backs right-hander Matt Koch, making his first career start after he was …
