Kyle Farmer and Eugenio Suarez hit solo homers off Max Scherzer to give the Cincinnati Reds enough offense to edge the host Washington Nationals 2-1 on Tuesday night.

The Reds, who had lost six of their previous seven games, led 2-0 in the bottom of the ninth when Josh Bell belted his sixth homer of the season, to left field off Amir Garrett with one out.

Garrett then retired pinch hitter Ryan Zimmerman on a ground-out. Lucas Sims replaced Garrett and proceeded to get Starlin Castro to ground out to third to end the game. Sims picked up his second save in three chances this season.

The Nationals, who had won four of their previous five games, couldn't back up an otherwise strong outing from Scherzer (4-3), who struck out nine and walked one while allowing five hits over seven innings. Scherzer threw 107 pitches, but two of them made the difference in the game.

Farmer belted a solo shot 375 feet to left field on Scherzer's first pitch of the top of the third inning.

Suarez led off the sixth with a solo homer of his own -- his 10th homer of the season.

Tyler Mahle (3-2) kept the Nationals at bay by throwing 5 1/3 scoreless innings. Mahle allowed three hits, while striking out two and issuing one walk. Mahle didn't allow a hit until the fourth, when Bell singled with one out.

In the sixth, Juan Soto's single with one out prompted Mahle's removal by Reds manager David Bell. Tejay Antone replaced Mahle and induced Josh Bell to ground into an inning-ending double play.

Antone struck out three and walked one over 2 2/3 scoreless innings.

Nick Castellanos went 2-for-4, including a double with one out in the top of the fourth. On the play, he went to third as the Nationals failed to get the ball back to the infield cleanly. But Scherzer struck out Tyler Naquin and Tyler Stephenson to end the threat.

--Field Level Media