Scherzer solid again, but Nats still fall to St. Louis, 4-1

Max Scherzer just can’t get run support. The prized free-agent signee gave up two runs in seven innings on Thursday against St. Louis, but Michael Wacha and two Cardinals relievers handcuffed the Nats en route to a 4-1 win.

Scherzer (1-2) needed just 82 pitches to get through seven, giving up six hits and walking none while striking out four Cards hitters.

But Wacha (3-0) limited the Nationals to a run on five hits in seven innings, and relievers Jordan Walden and Trevor Rosenthal closed it out with two innings of scoreless relief.

Scherzer has a 1.26 ERA through four starts, but Washington has scored just 12 runs in those games, seven of them coming in his only win, on April 17 versus Philadelphia.