MLB notes: Surging Nationals celebrate wins with chocolate syrup dousing

Let the chocolate syrup flow.

As the Washington Nationals have set aside a slow start and grabbed a one-game lead in the N.L. East, they developed an unusual way to celebrate their mounting collection of comeback victories: Starting pitcher Max Scherzer pours chocolate from a bottle on the player responsible for producing the winning run.

Scherzer, who joined the Nationals in the offseason with a $210 million, seven-year contract, did his latest dousing Tuesday night, turning the goop on Ryan Zimmerman after the first baseman’s game-ending, two-run homer with two outs in the 10th inning lifted Washington past the New York Yankees 8-6.

“It’s just something to top off a good win,” Scherzer explained Wednesday. “Chocolate sauce is the perfect topping for ice cream, so might as well top off a game and give that person in the on-the-field camera interview a little something to taste.”

Scherzer, who won the 2013 A.L. Cy Young Award with Detroit, isn’t merely content to drop a dollop of the stuff.

He squeezes gobs and gobs, getting it all over the recipient.

Bryce Harper and Dan Uggla have also been treated to the sweet taste of success thanks to Scherzer.

Uggla was the first to get the chocolate treatment, after his three-run homer in the ninth inning helped Washington erase an eight-run deficit for a 13-12 victory at Atlanta last month, seen by many as the turning point for the Nationals.

The Nationals went into Wednesday having won 16 of their last 20 games, putting a 7-13 start in the past.

Zimmerman’s hit produced Washington’s third walk-off win of 2015, and their 11th comeback victory.

Ellsbury placed on DL

New York Yankees center fielder Jacoby Ellsbury has been placed on the 15-day disabled list with a sprained right knee after getting hurt during an 8-6, 10-inning loss to the Nationals.

Ellsbury, New York’s leadoff hitter, left Tuesday’s game in the fourth inning after manager Joe Girardi noticed the player seemed hurt while batting.

Ellsbury entered the game with a team-leading .327 batting average.

Clearing the bases

Dodgers left-hander Hyun-Jin Ryu will undergo surgery on his troublesome throwing shoulder today. Ryu, who had been the team’s projected No. 3 starter, has not pitched this season because of inflammation. … Struggling outfielder Drew Stubbs has been optioned to Triple-A Albuquerque by the Rockies, who recalled outfielder Brandon Barnes from the Isotopes. … Pitcher John Cornely has been traded from Braves to the Red Sox. … The Indians are donating new catcher’s gear to the Garfield Heights Baseball League after it had some equipment stolen last week. … Josh Hamilton is headed back to Triple-A Round Rock before rejoining the Texas Rangers. The 2010 A.L. MVP will play in games today through Saturday and then be re-evaluated. … Co-host and top-ranked Japan has been grouped with the United States in the inaugural Premier12 baseball tournament, which features the top 12 countries in the World Baseball Softball Confederation’s rankings. The tournament will be held in Japan and Taiwan from Nov. 8-21 to help showcase the sport’s popularity in the region as baseball and softball vie for a spot at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. Major League Baseball has no plans to makes its players available.