Striking display: Scherzer K’s 7 Reds in a row

Nationals ace Max Scherzer has made it clear to begin the 2018 season that, even after winning back-to-back National League Cy Young Awards, he is not satisfied. He believes he can be a better pitcher this year than he was last year. Scherzer got to work in proving that during Friday’s season opener against the Reds. He struck out seven consecutive batters from the second inning and into the fourth before Joey Votto broke up the streak with a flyout. Scherzer reached 10 strikeouts in the fifth, having thrown 88 pitches, with the Nats holding a 1-0 lead.