WASHINGTON — After his team rebounded from a scrutinized four-game sweep by the Cubs last month, Nationals manager Dusty Baker seemed weary of answering resurrected questions from that series.
WASHINGTON — After his team rebounded from a scrutinized four-game sweep by the Cubs last month, Nationals manager Dusty Baker seemed weary of answering resurrected questions from that series.
“You can give them the pennant right now if you want to,” Baker told a reporter Monday during his pregame news conference. “It’s up to you. But we’ve still got to play.”
Just as Baker didn’t want to give the Cubs too much credit yet, Nationals pitcher Max Scherzer wasn’t giving them anything Monday night. Scherzer struck out 11 and didn’t allow a baserunner until Addison Russell’s solo home run with one out in the sixth as the Cubs fell 4-1 at Nationals Park.
Scherzer’s dominant performance was reminiscent of the way the Mets’ starting pitching handled the Cubs during the National League Championship Series.
“That’s what we ran into last year,” Maddon said. “We got through the Pirates (wild-card) game. We go through St. Louis (in the NL Division Series). And we ran into the Mets, and we didn’t put the ball in play enough.
“That’s what we’ve really got to strive to do, at least move the ball and give ourselves a chance.”
Scherzer struck out nine of the first 10 batters, mixing a 97 mph fastball, 89 mph slider and 87 mph changeup. His performance overshadowed more shoddy Cubs fielding and their handling of slugger Bryce Harper.
The Cubs (43-19) didn’t shy away from Harper, who drew 13 walks in the four-game series in May. Harper went 1-for-5 and didn’t haunt them nearly as much as the pitching of Scherzer (8-4), who allowed seven runs — including four home runs — in five innings in a May 6 loss at Wrigley Field.
Maddon intentionally walked Danny Espinosa to load the bases in the seventh so Scherzer would be lifted for a pinch hitter
“You could have brought Sandy Koufax in, and it might have looked a little better at that point,” Maddon said.
When reminded Scherzer struck out 20 in the start after his Wrigley debacle, Maddon said he thought Scherzer “may strike out 20” again after having nine through 31/3 innings.
Cubs catcher Miguel Montero caught Scherzer during a rehab assignment with Triple-A Tucson in 2008 and said he encouraged Scherzer to throw his changeup more. Montero said Scherzer’s performance Monday was the most dominant against the Cubs this season.
Montero struck out on a changeup in his first at-bat.
“I’m not going to look for a changeup when he’s throwing 98 mph,” he said. “You’ve got to beat a good pitcher to win the playoffs, and he’s one of them.”