Cubs Struggle With Max Scherzer In 4-1 Loss To Nationals

Max Scherzer retired the first 16 batters and ended up throwing seven innings of two-hit ball in the Washington Nationals’ 4-1 home victory over the Chicago Cubs on Monday night.

Cubs Struggle With Max Scherzer In 4-1 Loss To Nationals

When the Cubs faced Scherzer last month, they blasted seven runs off the right-hander in five innings in the middle of a four-game sweep.

“I remember that,” Scherzer said. “They beat my brains in last time and I wanted to come out there and take my shot at them.”

The Nationals ace’s bid for his third career no-hitter ended with one out in the sixth when Addison Russell hit a 3-2 pitch into the left-field seats. The only other batter to reach against Scherzer (8-4) was Anthony Rizzo, who doubled in the seventh.

“He threw really well,” Cubs manager Joe Maddon said after the game. “An understatement.”

Maddon was asked what he was thinking after Scherzer powered through three innings with eight strikeouts. Last month, the right-hander tied a league record with 20 strikeouts in a 3-2 home victory over the Detroit Tigers.

“That he may strike out 20,” the Chicago manager replied. “He had such good stuff and he was throwing it exactly where he wanted.”

Scherzer became the 26th pitcher in Major League Baseball history to record 40 games with at least 10 strikeouts. He has won three consecutive starts, allowing only three runs over 22 innings.

Scherzer didn’t seem to seriously ponder throwing a no-hitter up until the sixth inning. Unfortunately, Russell ended his shot.

“It was a matter of trying to get through Russell there to get to the pitcher,” he said. “Unfortunately, I hung a slider and that didn’t happen.”

Right-handed reliever Shawn Kelley got five out for his first save with Washington, and struck out four.

Wilson Ramos hit a tie-breaking homer in the sixth for the NL East-leading Nationals, who have won four straight and seven of their last eight.

Russell’s homer, his fifth of the season, was the lone highlight for the Cubs, who committed two errors to increase their total to nine over the last three games.

Cubs starter Kyle Hendricks (4-6) gave up four runs and six hits in 5 1/3 innings. It was the first time in six starts he allowed more than five hits.

Washington opened up scoring with an unearned run in the third, courtesy of an overthrow from center field to third base by Dexter Fowler. 

After Russell’s hit in the sixth, Ramos connected in the bottom half and Danny Espinosa and Ben Revere added RBI singles.

The two teams will face off again on Tuesday night at Nationals Park for the second of their three-game series. Cubs (43-19, 1st in NL Central) right-hander John Lackey (7-2, 2.63 ERA), 37,  will make his 400th career start while Gio Gonzalez (3-5, 3.93 ERA) will start for the Nationals (40-24).

PHOTO: WASHINGTON, DC – MAY 11: Max Scherzer #31 of the Washington Nationals pitches in the first inning against the Detroit Tigers at Nationals Park on May 11, 2016 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Greg Fiume/Getty Images)