Last year, manager Matt Williams took some heat when he did not set up his rotation to have Max Scherzer pitch in a series against the New York Mets. For the first time in 47 starts as a National, he struck out the side in the first inning, getting back-to-back punchouts of Jason Heyward and Kris Bryant with a 96 mile-per-hour fastball.
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The Cincinnati Reds battled to a 9-8 win over the Atlanta Braves and the Philadelphia Phillies shut out the Toronto Blue Jays 7-0. The win was also the Phillies’ first on a Monday since July 20, 2015, snapping a stretch of 13 consecutive losing Mondays.
Having scored one run in their last game, the Cubs are going to have to step it up if they want to win this matchup.
Cubs starter Kyle Hendricks had been rolling this season, but he was stung by a three-run sixth inning. That would be all the Cubs would muster against the Nats’ ace, who threw seven innings allowing the one run on two hits with no walks and eleven strikeouts.
“Tonight, I really felt like I had some good stuff with the fastball”, said Scherzer, who had a flawless game through five innings.
Francisco Lindor homered and drove in three runs in the first two innings, and the Cleveland Indians pounded the L.A. Angels 8-3. Former Cardinal Peter Bourjos had two hits and two RBIs for Philadelphia, which had lost 17 of 22 overall. He played for the A’s last season, hitting.229 with three homers and 20 RBIs.
WHITE SOX 10, TIGERS 9 (12) Adam Eaton hit a game-ending single in the 12th inning and host Chicago rallied from seven runs down for a wild victory over Detroit.
With the bases loaded in the bottom of the ninth Jayson Werth lined a 2-2 pitch up the middle to drive in two runs to give the Nats the win.
David Hernandez pitched the seventh, Hector Neris handled the eighth and Andrew Bailey finished the six-hitter.
– Phillies first baseman Ryan Howard, after recently getting benched, hit his 367th career home run Monday, breaking a tie with Lance Berkman for sole possession of 80th all-time. He is 0-5 with a 5.14 ERA in seven home starts. Chicago though will send John Lackey to the bump tonight who has been a pleasant surprise since making his way to the Windy City and with a 7-2 record to his name so far he is a vital part to the Cubs’ success this season and he will look to extend that tonight as he will face off against Gio Gonzalez.
The A’s snapped a seven-game losing streak on Sunday, then beat a Texas team that had won eight of 10. The home runs, however, are keeping him from his rightful place among the game’s elite pitchers. Perez and Kelley, who replaced Scherzer after Joe Maddon ordered Espinosa intentionally walked to force Dusty Baker’s hand (Dusty pinch-hit for Scherzer with Chris Heisey, who struck out), K’d four of the five hitters they faced. The shortstop added a two-run single an inning later as the Giants won for the ninth time in 11 home games.
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Matt Cain gave up three runs, five hits and five walks in 3 2/3 innings after missing his previous two turns with a right hamstring strain.
