The Nationals looked to snap a five-game losing streak, and there was no better way to start than with a fresh series and their ace Max Scherzer on the mound.
In the first of a three-game set against the Atlanta Braves, here’s how the team lined up:
Trea Turner SS
Anthony Rendon 3B
Bryce Harper RF
Howie Kendrick 2B
Brian Goodwin LF
Michael Taylor CF
Pedro Severino C
Max Scherzer P
Scherzer and Julio Teheran faced off in what would be quite the rubber match. In cold and misty settings, these two gave up a combined seven hits and two earned runs (all by Teheran). The two runs were given up in the first inning and the rest was all pitching.
A Rendon double and Harper walk – which he “intentionally unintentionally” received all game – brought Howie Kendrick to the plate, and he delivered what fans didn’t know at the time would be the game-winning blow. He hit a double which scored the two on base and that was all she wrote.
Max Scherzer, the undisputed star of the game, gave one of the more efficient pitching performances in his career. Two hits, zero earned runs and 10 strikeouts. It’s almost an expected finishing line from him, which is a testament to his greatness. The stalking of the mound, the drooling, and talking to himself as a pick-me-up was all featured in this one. The “intangibles” as MASN Nationals color analyst F.P. Santangelo says, makes him so enjoyable to watch every fifth day. Scherzer checks in with his ninth career complete game and fifth career shutout. Not only did he give a pitching gem, but he was not to be taken lightly in the batters’ box. He checked in with a hit and his first career stolen base.
The Nationals snap their five-game losing streak in fashion and look to build on this win to get them going back in the right direction. Next game is April 10 at 7:05 pm against the Braves.
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Photo credit: Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports
