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Washington Nationals: Max Scherzer Twirls Gem As Nats Sweep Mets

By Chris Lacey

Jun 29, 2016; Washington, DC, USA; Washington Nationals starting pitcher Max Scherzer (31) pitches against the New York Mets in the first inning at Nationals Park. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 29, 2016; Washington, DC, USA; Washington Nationals starting pitcher Max Scherzer (31) pitches against the New York Mets in the first inning at Nationals Park. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Washington Nationals received a phenomenal performance from ace Max Scherzer, and it led to them winning, 4-2, and sweeping the series against the Mets.

Scherzer was locked in from the first pitch of this game, and the Mets didn’t stand a chance. The superb outing by him and the two homers from Daniel Murphy led to a 4-2 victory for the Nationals.

Daniel Murphy hit his first home run of the game in the second inning to give the Nats a 1-0 lead. One inning later, Jayson Werth increased the lead to 2-0 by hitting a sacrifice fly that scored Danny Espinosa.

Murphy went yard once again in the eighth inning, as he crushed a two-run home run to extend the lead to 4-0.

The two bombs by Murphy were the 13th and 14th home runs of the year for him.

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James Loney cut the deficit to 4-2 with a two-run homer in the ninth inning.  It was the third home run of the season for him.

Logan Verrett threw the ball well in his spot start for the Mets. He pitched five innings, yielded four hits, allowed two runs, walked four batters and struck out one on a season-high 92 pitches (55 strikes). Verrett lost for the fifth time this season.

The right-hander was effective on the mound in just his fifth start of the season.

Meanwhile, Scherzer had a dominant performance against the Mets.

Scherzer tossed 7 1/3 scoreless innings, surrendering just two hits, issuing one walk and striking out 10 batters on 108 pitches (75 strikes). The excellent outing allowed him to earn his ninth victory of the season.

There was one stretch of the game in which he retired 18 consecutive batters.

Today’s game marked the fourth straight start that he struck out 10 or more batters, and it was the seventh time in 2016 he reached double-digit K’s.

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    • Oliver Perez came in relief of Scherzer in the eighth inning with one out and a runner on first base, but Perez gave up a single to Curtis Grandson. The scoring threat was nullified when Blake Treinen forced Travis d’Arnaud to ground out, and Shawn Kelley struck out Alejandro De Aza to end the inning.

    Kelley did hit a roadblock in the ninth inning but worked out of danger to earn his fourth save of the season.

    Scherzer was outstanding in this game as he carved through the Mets’ lineup with great ease. The Nats will be leaning on him to have more starts like tonight’s, as he his now the best pitcher in the rotation with Stephen Strasburg on the DL.

    Next Game: The Washington Nationals (47-32) will welcome the Cincinnati Reds (29-50) to town. It will be Gio Gonzalez (3-7, 4.73 ERA) on the mound for the Nats and Brandon Finnegan (3-6, 3.83 ERA) on the hill for the Reds. You can watch the game at 7:05 p.m. ET on MASN.

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