Injury Contributes To Scherzer's First Loss
By Ashley Dunkak
@AshleyDunkak
COMERICA PARK (CBS DETROIT) – Max Scherzer is now 13-1.
The Detroit Tigers starting pitcher began this season with one of the longest win streaks to start a season in history, compiling a 3.19 ERA and a 0.98 WHIP as his team's offense provided generous run support.
Saturday proved to be the exception. The Tigers lost 7-1 to the Texas Rangers, and Scherzer's 13-game win streak ended.
"I ran into a good team," Scherzer said. "They swung the bat well. I threw some good pitches they hit, made some bad pitchers they hit even farther. That's what happens when you're not quite 100 percent on your game."
Right fielder Torii Hunter was disappointed to not be able to get runs for Scherzer.
"He probably wasn't as dominant, but he still gave us a chance to win and kept us close – we just couldn't get any run support for him, so tonight we failed him," Hunter said sadly.
To make matters worse, a line drive plunked Scherzer on the wrist during the game, forcing him to adjust his mechanics. While he was still able to make pitches, it was more difficult than usual.
"I don't want the injury to take away from what they were able to do tonight," Scherzer said. "They had success. They beat me. But at the same time, it was a battle the whole night to deal with that."
An X-ray showed that nothing was broken, but it still affected his delivery.
"I thought it hit my chest when it hit, but it hit right there on my wrist, right on that bone, and that's what gave it problems because it hit that bone, and so it hurt, initially, the squeeze and have any type of contact coming back as to generate with my hand coming down, the squeeze coming forward, when I was going forward," Scherzer said.
"I was able to make adjustments around squeezing with my front side and how my shoulders twist because of this wrist," Scherzer added. "I was still able to execute pitches but it did take a toll on me of trying to make that adjustment throughout the game."
Scherzer iced his hand between innings, which helped keep the swelling down. After the game, he said the hand felt much better and that he could not imagine it being a problem farther down the road.
