Don’t expect ace pitcher Max Scherzer to have two subpar performances in a row.
That was the certainly the case Monday night, as he bounced back from a poor outing to dominate the Atlanta Braves in a 2-0 win for Washington at Nationals Park.
Scherzer gave up just two singles and no runs with 10 strikeouts in nine innings after yielding six hits and five runs (two earned) on Wednesday in a 7-1 setback in Atlanta. The St. Louis native now has five career shutouts and nine complete games.
“I got a lot of first-pitch outs,” he said after the game.
He also singled in the seventh and then stole second for the first steal in a career that covers 308 games since 2008.
The victory ended a five-game losing streak for the Nationals (5-5), who began the season with four wins in a row.
Scherzer, who has won the past two Cy Young Awards in the National League, is 2-1 this season while Atlanta starter Julio Teheran fell to 0-1. Teheran gave up two runs and five hits in six innings.
The Nationals took a 2-0 lead in the first inning on a two-run double by Howie Kendrick.
Anthony Rendon doubled with one out and Bryce Harper drew a walk against Teheran. That set the stage for Kendrick, who smashed a liner to left field.
Harper, who has eight career homers against Teheran, walked in his first two at bats and then was retired on a popout in his third trip against the Atlanta starter.
Harper walked three times and has now drawn 16 free passes in 10 games. His on-base average is .553 this year. It was .460 when he won the MVP award in 2015.
The game-time temperature was 45 degrees with just a few thousand fans in the stands. The announced crowd was 19,528 fans.
The last time the Nationals lost as many as five games in a row was a seven-game skid in June 2016 under former manager Dusty Baker.
The starting catcher for Scherzer was Pedro Severino, who began the year at Triple-A Syracuse. He had a double in the fourth and is hitting .400 this season.
Nationals manager Dave Martinez said before the game that regular starting catcher Matt Wieters, who went on the disabled list April 2 with a left oblique strain, will head to Single-A Potomac of the Carolina League on Tuesday for a rehab assignment.
“We want him to get some at bats. I don’t think he needs that many,” Martinez said.
The new Washington manager has been impressed with Severino, who was called up when Wieters went on the disabled list.
“I have always liked Pedro,” Martinez said. “When we sent him down (in spring training) it wasn’t a demotion. He has done a great job. I love what I see.”
NOTES: Martinez said it is possible the Nationals could carry three catchers once Miguel Montero comes back from the paternity list. “We have some decisions to make. We are going to talk about it,” he said … Washington right-hander Stephen Strasburg (1-0, 3.65) is slated to face Braves righty Mike Foltynewicz (1-0, 2.61) in the second game of the series Tuesday night … The Color Guard for the game was the Fairfax County Police Department Honor Guard.
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