It was fitting that third baseman Anthony Rendon hit a game-winning homer and pitcher Max Scherzer picked up his sixth straight win on Sunday in Detroit.
A few hours later, the two Nationals were rewarded by being named to the National League All-Star team that will play July 9 in Cleveland against the American League.
Despite having a strong sophomore season, Washington left fielder Juan Soto was denied a spot.
Scherzer won all six starts in June and posted a 1.00 ERA with 68 strikeouts and just five walks.
“I’ll be going to Cleveland ready to party,” Scherzer told reporters in Detroit.
“He has been unbelievable,” Nationals manager Dave Martinez said. “I’m just glad I’m on his side.”
Scherzer gave up just one run with 14 strikeouts and no walks in Sunday’s win. This is the seventh time Scherzer (8-5, 2.43) has been named to an All-Star team and he has been selected all five years with the Nationals.
Rendon will be part of his first Midsummer Classic.
“It’s amazing this is his first appearance,” ESPN analyst Tim Kurkjian said of Rendon.
This season, Rendon has 19 homers with a .313 average and .633 slugging percentage.
He broke a 1-1 tie with a homer in the eighth inning in Sunday’s 2-1 win.
“(Rendon) is the guy that makes our offense fly,” Martinez said.
Scherzer started the All-Star game for the National League last July at Nationals Park.
The right-hander from St. Louis now has 34 strikeouts and no walks in 17 innings against the Tigers since he left Detroit via free agency after the 2014 season.
He struck out the side in the eighth on Sunday in his last inning of work.
“There are times you are locked in,” Scherzer said.
This is one of those times.
“(Scherzer) sets the bar so high for himself,” Nationals closer Sean Doolittle said. “He has to be the best pitcher of our generation.”
Other Nationals who appeared to have a shot at the All-Star game but were snubbed were Soto, infielder Howie Kendrick, and starting pitcher Stephen Strasburg.
Soto is hitting .297 with 14 homers and 52 RBI, while Kendrick is at .325 with 12 homers and 45 RBI. Strasburg is 9-4 with a 3.88 ERA.
Brewers reliever Josh Hader, who graduated from Old Mill High in Millersville, Maryland and was drafted by the Orioles in the 19th round in 2012, also made the NL All-Star team.
Orioles pitcher John Means was named to AL squad.
The American League won the All-Star game last July at Nationals Park. It was the first time the nation’s capital hosted the game since 1969.
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