Max Scherzer strikes out 17 in a dominant performance, leading the Nationals to a 5-2 victory over the Reds. Scherzer allowed just two hits and one walk over seven innings, setting a career high with his 17 strikeouts. He fanned the side in the first inning and tied a career best with six strikeouts in the fourth. Scherzer became the first pitcher in franchise history to record 17 strikeouts in a game and the first in MLB since Randy Johnson in 2004. His performance helped Washington improve to 10-5 on the season.