WASHINGTON (AP) — Max Scherzer earned his 20th victory of the season and drove in a career-high four runs to help the Washington Nationals beat the Miami Marlins 10-7 on Sunday.
Scherzer (20-7) allowed five runs in five innings while striking out seven. It was his second career 20-win season, and he became the second pitcher to win 20 games for the Nationals since they moved to Washington. Gio Gonzalez won 21 games in 2012.
Mark Melancon pitched the ninth to earn his 47th save in 51 chances.
The NL East champion Nationals, who will face Los Angeles in the division series, finished the regular season 95-67, a 12-game improvement in manager Dusty Baker’s first season.
Third baseman Martin Prado served as the Marlins’ manager, continuing a tradition actual manager Don Mattingly was a part of while working under Joe Torre in New York and Los Angeles and later when he managed the Dodgers.
Austin Brice (0-1) took the loss.
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