Max Scherzer took the mound with a 3-0 lead in the bottom of the first last night in Petco Park, and retired the San Diego Padres in order.
Then, after a 1-2-3 bottom of the second, the Washington Nationals’ ace came back out in the third inning, up 6-0, and worked around a one-out single for a third scoreless frame.
It was 8-0 as he returned to the mound in the fourth ... and flat. out. imploded.
“Uncharacteristic,” is the one word Nationals’ skipper Davey Martinez chose to describe what happened next.