Max Scherzer strikes out 10 in Washington Nationals’ 7-2 win over New York Mets

Washington Nationals’ pitcher Max Scherzer had the snarl and growl in full effect in the Nats’ 7-2 victory over the New York Mets on Friday night.

Scherzer pitched a gem, allowing one run and recording 10 strikeouts in eight innings of work. Scherzer has recorded 10 or more strikeouts for the fifth straight game.

The Nationals offense was on point, hitting three home runs. Catcher Matt Wieters went deep in the third inning to put the Nationals on top. Michael A. Taylor followed with a solo home run of his own.

The Nationals were then held scoreless until the sixth inning when Anthony Rendon hit a two-run home run. Rendon went 2-4 with three RBI. Bryce Harper went 3-5 with a RBI single in the ninth, and Daniel Murphy went 1-3 with a pair of intentional walks.

Mets’ pitcher Steven Matz gave up four runs on eight hits in seven innings of work. Michael Confronto and Yoenis Cespedes combined to go 0-6. Jay Bruce, and Jose Reyes homered for the Mets.

Nationals now 41-26

HERE’S HOW IT HAPPENED:

• Scherzer struck out Confronto before hitting Cespedes with a 2-2 changeup in the bottom of the first inning. Ryan Raburn then made a diving catch in the left field corner.

• Matz kept the Nationals hitless through the first two innings.
• Scherzer walked Lucas Duda then hit T.J. Rivera with a changeup to put runners on first and second with no outs. The Mets couldn’t make any noise as Travis d’Arnaud grounded into a double play and Reyes flied out to right field.
• SEE YOU LATER! THERE GOES THE NO-HITTER! Wieters blasted a home run to center field to give the Nationals a 1-0 lead in the third inning.
• SEE YOU LATER! The bottom of the order continued to do damage as Taylor hit a home run to right field. Nationals are up 2-0.

• Rendon hit a two-out single, but reached second on a throwing error by Cespedes. The Mets escaped trouble after Wieters flied out.
• Scherzer struck out Flores and Duda to end the fourth inning.
• Scherzer recorded three strikeouts, but allowed an infield single to Reyes. Nationals still lead 2-0.
• SEE YOU LATER! Rendon hit a two-run home run to give the Nationals a 4-0 lead in the top of the sixth.

• Flores grounded into a double play to keep the Mets scoreless.
• Scherzer continued his dominance in the seventh inning as he tallied his seventh and eighth strikeout.
• Paul Sewald replaced Matz on the mound in the eighth inning.
• Matz’s line: 7.0 IP, 8 H, 4 ER, 0 BB, 4 SO, 10/3 GO/FO
• Harper’s helmet came off after he smoked a leadoff double to right in the top of the eighth inning. Murphy walked, but that was all the Nationals could do.
• Reyes put the Mets on the scoreboard in the bottom of the eighth inning with a solo home run.
• Scherzer struck out Cespedes to get out of the eighth inning.
• Scherzer’s line: 8.0 IP, 4 H, 1 ER, 2 BB, 10 SO, 3/5 GO/FO
• Taylor reached first on a bunt single then stole second in the ninth inning.
• Harper hit a two out single to put the Nationals up 5-1.
• Zimmerman hit a RBI single and reached second base on a error. Nationals are up 6-1.
• Murphy was intentionally walked for the second time before the Mets went to their bullpen. Rendon walked with the bases loaded, which put the Nationals up, 7-1. Wieters grounded out to send the game into the bottom of the ninth inning.
• Shawn Kelley came out of the bullpen to pitch the ninth, and gave up a leadoff home run to Bruce. Nationals up 7-2.
• Kelley retired the three batters to end the game. Nationals win, 7-2.

Nationals are now 41-26