Nats ace Scherzer leaves in 2nd inning after hitting homer

MIAMI (AP) Washington Nationals ace Max Scherzer hit his first career home run Tuesday night before a neck spasm cut short his outing against the Miami Marlins

MIAMI (AP) Washington Nationals ace Max Scherzer hit his first career home run Tuesday night before a neck spasm cut short his outing against the Miami Marlins after he pitched only one inning.

Scherzer slept funny and left the game as a precaution, the Nationals said.

The reigning NL Cy Young Award winner worked a 1-2-3 first inning, and in the top of the second he hit a three-run homer.

He went to the mound for the bottom of the second, but walked off pointing to his neck and shaking his head after throwing a wild warmup pitch.

Washington manager Dusty Baker came out of the dugout to meet Scherzer, who said, ''I can't go.'' He left with the Nationals leading 6-0.

Scherzer came into the game with a 12-5 record, 2.23 ERA and a league-best 201 strikeouts for the NL East leaders.

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