MLB: Max Scherzer in another strikeout fest

Scherzer tossed eight scoreless innings with 10 strikeouts. He allowed just two hits and did not issue a walk. It was Scherzer's ninth game with at least 10 strikeouts and zero walks as a Nationals player, which is the most in franchise history.

Scherzer extended his contribution to the field when he made a great between-the-legs play to get Orioles second baseman Jonathan Schoop out at first base.

With just over a month left in the regular season, Scherzer firmly stamped his name in the National League (NL) Cy Young award discussion. He is now 14-7 with a 2.92 ERA and 227 strikeouts this year.

In the battle of the American League (AL) East, the Toronto Blue Jays and Boston Red Sox both lost.

The Blue Jays went down 6-3 to the Los Angeles Angels and the Red Sox were edged out 2-1 by the Tampa Bay Rays.

A 10th inning was needed as the Pittsburgh Pirates defeated the Milwaukee Brewers 3-2, the Detroit Tigers saw off the Minnesota Twins 8-5, the Kansas City Royals beat the Miami Marlins 5-2, the Texas Rangers routed the Cleveland Indians 9-0 and the New York Mets outlasted the St Louis Cardinals 10-6.

The Chicago White Sox trumped the Seattle Mariners 7-6, the Atlanta Braves were 3-1 winners over the Arizona Diamondbacks and the San Francisco Giants blanked the Los Angeles Dodgers 4-0.

MCCANN PROPELS TIGERS

The Tigers are heating up at the right time, and catcher James McCann led the charge in Thursday's win against the Twins. McCann collected four hits with two runs scored, a home run and three RBIs.

DENIED!

Royals outfielder Jarrod Dyson robbed Christian Yelich of a home run.

GOMEZ GETS HOT

Carlos Gomez got his Rangers career kicked off in a big way, smashing a three-run home run in his first at-bat with the team. The home run was his first in MLB since July 17.

The Mets scored 10 or more runs for the first time since July 3 against the Cubs. Outfielder Alejandro de Aza led the way in Thursday's win against the Cardinals with a career-high five RBI.

ORIOLES TRYING TO KEEP PACE IN AL EAST

Yovani Gallardo (4-5, 5.08 ERA) will try to help Baltimore stay in the tight AL East race against Luis Cessa (3-0, 4.01 ERA) and the still-lurking Yankees on Friday.

Meanwhile, Cleveland has been falling hard this week, losing three in a row. Corey Kluber (13-8, 3.13 ERA) will try to right the ship against Martin Perez (8-9, 4.27 ERA) and the Rangers.