DENVER -- Max Scherzer made his mark on baseball history while Kyle Schwarber, Juan Soto and Trea Turner added an impressive honor to their resumes on Tuesday night at Coors Field.

• MLB All-Star Game presented by Mastercard: Complete coverage

The Nationals were four deep at the 2021 All-Star Game, where Scherzer became the sixth pitcher in history to start at least four Midsummer Classics. This season marked the first selections for position players Schwarber, Soto and Turner. Schwarber took in the events, but he did not play because of a right hamstring strain.

“I always say this is the best All-Star format game, I think, in sports, because pitchers are going up there throwing everything they've got and hitters are going up there swinging for the fences,” Scherzer said after his appearance in the American League’s 5-2 victory. “You get to see the best version of baseball possible.”

Scherzer tossed a 1-2-3 first inning in his eighth All-Star Game. His night of work began by facing leadoff hitter and fellow pitcher, Shohei Ohtani of the Angels. Scherzer got the MLB leader in home runs to ground out to second.

“Throw everything,” Scherzer said of his approach against the 6-foot-4 lefty batter. “You actually see him in the box, and he's tall. I kind of knew I really had to try and get that cutter up, even more so than usual, just because you've seen it in the highlights here, if you don't get it all the way up in there, he'll hit that thing a long way. Fortunately, I was able to get him to ground out on a cutter."

The next at-bat was more action-packed. Scherzer had to dodge a comebacker from Blue Jays slugging first baseman and All-Star Game MVP Vladimir Guerrero Jr. It resulted in a groundout -- and a hug.

“I'm alive,” Scherzer said. “I didn't get hit by a ball. Right now, that's the success story. When that ball comes screaming at me, that's your worst nightmare. That's every pitcher's worst nightmare.”

Scherzer fanned Red Sox shortstop Xander Bogaerts to wrap his outing at 11 pitches (seven strikes). He holds a 1.29 ERA and 14.14 strikeouts per nine innings rate in All-Star competition.

Scherzer joined the elite group of Hall of Famers Don Drysdale, Lefty Gomez, Robin Roberts, Jim Palmer and Randy Johnson as the only pitchers to start at least four All-Star Games. Scherzer also started in 2018, '17 and '13.

At the plate, Soto drew a pair of walks. This, one day after crushing a record-setting 520-foot homer in the Home Run Derby. Turner, who enjoyed the weekend with his newborn son, Beckham, accompanying him in Denver, flied out and grounded out in his pair of at-bats.

“I envisioned coming to the All-Star Game, but nothing more than just playing in it,” Turner said on Monday. “Now, it’s pretty cool to be a father and have him come here. He’s probably not going to remember it, but I have the photos and I’ll share them with him. I’ll remember it.”

The Nationals’ All-Stars will have two days off before the Nats open a six-game homestand on Friday against the Padres and Marlins.