Urías homers and Blue Jays beat Nationals 3-2 in Scherzer's return to Washington

WASHINGTON (AP) — Luis Urías homered, Myles Straw had a double and a run-scoring single, and the Toronto Blue Jays celebrated Max Scherzer's return to Washington with a 3-2 win over the Nationals on Monday night.

Scherzer came off the injured list to start on his 42nd birthday. In his first appearance since June 10, he gave up a run on four hits over 2 2/3 innings, throwing 75 pitches.

The three-time Cy Young Award winner's night ended after he struck out Daylen Lile to end a 12-pitch at-bat and looked to the Toronto bench.

Scherzer, who spent about 6 1/2 seasons with the Nationals and helped them win the 2019 World Series, left to a standing ovation and waved as he neared the Blue Jays dugout after his 100th career start at Nationals Park.

Mason Fluharty (5-1) got the win as six Toronto relievers combined to allow one run in 6 1/3 innings. Louis Varland pitched the ninth for his 22 save, giving up a two-out single and a walk before striking out Luis García Jr.

The Blue Jays had lost seven of 10 since the All-Star break.

Andrés Chaparro homered for the Nationals, and García had an RBI double.

A solo homer by Urias and back-to-back doubles by Straw and Ernie Clement gave Toronto a 2-1 lead in the third. Straw added an RBI sngle in the fourth.

Chaparro's homer in the fifth pulled Washington to 3-2.

Nationals opener Eddy Yean (0-1) gave up two runs and three hits in 2 1/3 innings.

Toronto RHP Shane Bieber (2-1, 4.70 ERA) opposes RHP Cade Cavalli (7-4, 3.58) in the middle game of the series Tuesday.

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Washington Nationals' Nasim Nuñez (26) beats out a throw to Toronto Blue Jays first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr., center, during the second inning of a baseball game, Monday, July 27, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/John McDonnell)

Toronto Blue Jays' Myles Straw heads home to score on an RBI double by Ernie Clement during the third inning of a baseball game against the Washington Nationals, Monday, July 27, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/John McDonnell)

Washington Nationals' James Wood, center, walks back to the dugout after striking out during the seventh inning of a baseball game against the Toronto Blue Jays, Monday, July 27, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/John McDonnell)

Toronto Blue Jays closing pitcher Louis Varland, left, is congratulated by Blue Jays catcher Brandon Valenzuela after getting a save during the ninth inning of a baseball game against the Washington Nationals, Monday, July 27, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/John McDonnell)

Toronto Blue Jays staring pitcher Max Scherzer throws during the second inning of a baseball game against the Washington Nationals, Monday, July 27, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/John McDonnell)

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Brandon Lowe singled home Billy Cook in the bottom of the 10th inning to rally the Pittsburgh Pirates to a 3-2 win over the Arizona Diamondbacks on Monday night.

Lowe finished a three-hit night by lacing a line drive off Diamondbacks reliever Taylor Clarke (2-2) that smacked off the glove of Arizona first baseman Ildemaro Vargas and rolled away, allowing Cook to race home as the Pirates pulled even with the Diamondbacks for the National League's third wild-card spot.

Mason Montgomery (4-3) worked around an error by third baseman Nick Gonzales and escaped a bases-loaded jam in the top of the 10th to earn the victory. The Pirates' bullpen, which has been a sore spot much of the season, tossed 4 2/3 scoreless innings.

Bryan Reynolds delivered a game-tying RBI double in the eighth for Pittsburgh, which lost promising rookie outfielder Esmerlyn Valdez to a left-hand injury in the fourth inning after getting hit with a fastball by Arizona starter Merrill Kelly.

Kelly allowed one unearned run in 5 2/3 innings, walking one and striking out six while lowering his ERA to 4.86, the lowest it has been since early April.

Pittsburgh's Mitch Keller had his second straight solid start coming out of the All-Star break, giving up two runs in 5 1/3 innings, his only real mistake coming in the sixth when three singles loaded the bases, and Max Kepler followed with a rope to the corner in right that gave the Diamondbacks the lead.

Kepler finished with three hits for the Diamondbacks, who lost for just the fifth time in 15 games. Arizona catcher Gabriel Moreno went hitless in four at-bats, but extended his on-base streak to 24 games with a first-inning walk.

The series continues on Tuesday when Arizona's Brandon Pfaadt (5-1, 4.43 ERA) gets the start against Pittsburgh's Bubba Chandler (3-8, 4.47).

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Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Merrill Kelly delivers during the first inning of a baseball game against the Pittsburgh Pirates in Pittsburgh, Monday, July 27, 2026. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Mitch Keller delivers during the first inning of a baseball game against the Arizona Diamondbacks in Pittsburgh, Monday, July 27, 2026. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

Pittsburgh Pirates' Esmerlyn Valdez is hit by a pitch from Arizona Diamondbacks' Merrill Kelly during the fourth inning of a baseball game in Pittsburgh, Monday, July 27, 2026. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

Pittsburgh Pirates manager Don Kelly, center, watches as Esmerlyn Valdez, left, is examined by a team trainer, right, after being hit by a pitch from Arizona Diamondbacks' Merrill Kelly during the fourth inning of a baseball game in Pittsburgh, Monday, July 27, 2026. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

Pittsburgh Pirates' Jake Mangum celebrates after scoring on a single by Brandon Lowe off Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Merrill Kelly during the sixth inning of a baseball game in Pittsburgh, Monday, July 27, 2026. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)