Max-ing out in Arizona

The Nationals dumped 10 runs on the Diamondbacks in the first two innings last night. It was the second time this season that the Nats had been in a game that got out of control before most had an opportunity to even settle in their seats. Back on April 28, the Braves stunned the Nats with nine runs in the first two frames before Washington staged an improbable comeback that has propelled them to win 11 of their last 13 games and climb to within 2 1/2 games of the lead in the National League East.

There seemed to be no chance of the Diamondbacks repeating such drama for one main reason - Nationals ace Max Scherzer wouldn't let them. The right-hander treated the wide margin as if it was a tie ballgame, coming after Arizona with an array of filthy sliders and changeups that were backed up by a darting fastball topping out at 96 mph. After the Nats poured on runs in the first and second, Scherzer basically put the Diamondbacks into submission as he followed with three straight quick outs each time.

"It's easy to let your guard down," Nationals manager Matt Williams told reporters after the game. "I mean, we're all human. He doesn't do that though. He competes every time he goes out there for an inning, regardless of score or situation, whatever it is. He just competes."

Williams knew about Scherzer's competitive streak long before either ended up together in the nation's capital. After the Diamondbacks selected Scherzer 11th overall in the 2006 First-Year Player Draft, Williams became his manager for a brief period at Double-A Mobile. Williams watched as a young Scherzer battled through a 9-15 record in Arizona in his first two years in the majors before the Diamondbacks shipped him to Detroit, where he would go on to win the 2013 American League Cy Young Award.

"Early on, Max was a high volume guy," Williams said. "He would throw a lot of pitches in five innings. Many times in the minor leagues, many times when he first got to the big leagues with the Diamondbacks, you'd look up in the fifth inning and he'd be at 100 pitches. Now he's developed the ability to get early outs. So that's kind of the maturity level that comes."

"I think it's just zoning in. He's got confidence, of course, and some success to back it up. But that maturity level has gotten him to the point where he is now - being able to be an ace on arguably one of the best staffs in the game."

Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo also had plenty of firsthand experience with Scherzer before deciding to extend the astronomical seven-year, $210 million contract offer this offseason. Rizzo was the Diamondbacks' director of scouting when Arizona made the call to draft Scherzer. He has seen Scherzer develop into one of the game's most devastating right-handers, a pitcher who can simply demoralize opposing lineups as he did to the Diamondbacks from the start last night.

"The difference is he just competes so much," Rizzo said. "In every aspect, the preparation he puts in is just remarkable. He prepares from the time he leaves his start for his next start. The way his repertoire has come together. I think the big difference from then until now is the way he can pitch with that repertoire. The stuff was always there. This guy reads swings and reads hitters. He's a student of the game. He really employs the mental aspect to it along with the physical."

There was certainly plenty of doubt as to whether the Nats giving an outsider boatloads of cash would disrupt the chemistry of the clubhouse. But from Day One of spring training, the ultra-confident Scherzer meshed perfectly with his new club. Teammates gravitate toward his infectious humor and are inspired by his relentless drive.

"What he's meant to this clubhouse can't be understated, either," Rizzo said. "He's a mentor, he's a leader. When things are needed at their most and when they're needed from a leader, he steps up."

Scherzer has also brought one of the most bizarre postgame celebrations to the Nats. It all started with Dan Uggla's three-run homer that capped off the historic eight-run late-inning comeback in Atlanta. As an excited Uggla was recounting his heroics during his postgame interview, Scherzer came rushing out of the dugout spraying chocolate syrup. And again after Bryce Harper's walk-off on Saturday, there was Scherzer showering the young Nats star with chocolate.

Last night, the Nats repaid their ace with a sweet 10-spot early to help Scherzer even his record at 3-3. By the way, in Scherzer's three losses, the Nats have combined to score three runs. In other words, Scherzer has been lights out. His 55 strikeouts are tied for second-best in the majors, just one behind the Dodgers Clayton Kershaw. He's also walked only six batters in his 49 2/3 innings to give hime the fourth-best strikeout-to-walk ratio in the majors at 9.17. And his 1.99 ERA places him fifth among starters in the National League.

"He gives us a chance to win every time he goes out there," Williams said.

Simply put, yes he does.