That's also when players in both dugouts seemed to sense this might be one of those days they'd remember for the rest of their lives.
Suddenly, this bundle of nerves and energy seemed to reach another level. This would be his moment.
"Let's go," Scherzer told himself. "I'm coming after you."
He opened the game by retiring 26 straight Pirates and got within one lousy out of a perfect game on a humid 91-degree Saturday afternoon at Nationals Park.
Perfection? That's one word for a day when Scherzer sailed through six innings, needing just 67 pitches.