Max Scherzer looked like Max Scherzer for most of his 2017 debut this afternoon in Citizens Bank Ballpark.
Scherzer retired the first ten Philadelphia Phillies he faced before giving up a hit, and he took a shutout into the sixth inning before Cesar Hernandez doubled to center with one down, scoring when Odubel Herrera hit a two-out single to right one out later.
Dusty Baker sent the defending NL Cy Young winner back out for the seventh with a 7-1 lead, but that’s when things went pear-shaped for the 32-year-old right-hander.