PHILADELPHIA -- This is pretty much what everybody expected from Max Scherzer, isn't it?
He pitched well against the Phillies in his season debut Friday afternoon in a 7-6 victory at Citizens Bank Park. Scherzer missed time in Spring Training and started the fourth game of the season because a stress fracture in the knuckle of his right ring finger put him behind schedule. But he showed he is healthy, allowing just four hits, two runs, two walks and striking out seven in 6 2/3 innings to spoil the Phillies' home opener, despite Philadelphia scoring four runs against the Nationals' bullpen to make it close.