PHOENIX — Defending National League Cy Young winner Max Scherzer took a punch to the face Friday. It did not sit well.
And while Scherzer escaped with a no-decision after giving up home runs to the first three Arizona Diamondbacks batters he faced Friday, he was not pleased that he did not give his Washington Nationals a fighting chance while going five innings in the first of a three-game series matching potential playoff teams.
“This is a great start to learn from,” Scherzer said. “They beat me. Sometimes in this game, you get punched in the face.