Scherzer dominantly backs up Williams' opening day call

VIERA, Fla. - Two day after Nationals manager Matt Williams announced Max Scherzer will start opening day, the prized right-hander turned in a nine-strikeout gem in 1-0 loss to the Cardinals on Wednesday. St. Louis managed just three hits in six innings against Scherzer, his longest outing of the spring.

"I'm happy with that," said Scherzer. "No walks. Nine strikeouts. That happens. That was a result of me just executing pitches today. I really felt like I did a good job of generating swings and misses with all my pitches, but more importantly, I didn't walk anybody. I was pounding the zone. I think I only fell behind two hitters, too, so that's a more telling number than anything is that I'm pounding the zone. I'm pounding the zone with all my pitches and that's something I can take forward into the season."

The Cardinals only threatened once against Scherzer, when they runners at the corners with two outs in the fifth. But Scherzer was able to strike out St. Louis starter Michael Wacha to end the inning. It was part of three consecutive strikeouts for Scherzer who was able to get third baseman Pete Kozma and right fielder Jason Heyward to start the sixth.

"Where I really got my work in was I got in a jam in the fifth and I had to go back and dig out of it, and then go back out there for the sixth and really get my pitch count up," said Scherzer. "So I got a lot out of it from a physical standpoint."

Williams appreciated how Scherzer performed against the Cardinals' top bats. With the way the Grapefruit League schedule has worked out, Scherzer has made more road starts by far than any other member of the rotation. That means that jumping on the bus to play Miami, St. Louis and Houston twice has given Scherzer the early opportunity to measure himself against major league players who typically only see action at their home stadiums.

"I've been the road warrior this year, so I've been facing everybody's lineup," said Scherzer. "I've been facing Houston's lineup the past couple times. I enjoy that. I like facing everybody. I want to get a feel for where I'm at. These guys know me and that's where you get a read off where you're at."

Yunel Escobar played his second consecutive game at second base after missing the first 18 with a Grade 1 left oblique strain. The eight-year veteran was 0-for-3 with three groundouts and in five innings.

"His track record is such that we know he doesn't strike out a whole bunch," said Williams. "It's still early for him, but he's on everything. The second game in, it's good that he's on pitches and seeing it good right now. That's all we're concerned about right now."

Williams has previously mentioned center fielder Michael A. Taylor, left fielder Jayson Werth and third baseman Anthony Rendon as potential candidates to bat leadoff during the regular season until Denard Span returns from abdominal muscle surgery. Today, Williams included Escobar in the conversation.

"He's one of them that, given his propensity for making contact and on-base percentage, he's one of them," said Williams.

The Nationals didn't fare so well against Wacha and the rest of the St. Louis pitchers. Hits by first baseman Ryan Zimmerman, second baseman Dan Uggla and Taylor were among the five singles the Nats managed on the afternoon. Uggla continues to look comfortable at the plate raising his spring average to .333.

Right-hander Aaron Barrett took the loss, giving up the game's only run in the eighth on a walk and two hits in just 2/3 of an inning.

Lefty Gio Gonzalez jumps back into the rotation tomorrow to face the Mets at 5 p.m. on MASN.