Despite rough fourth inning, Scherzer likes "step forward"

Even though Max Scherzer allowed four runs in the fourth inning against the Mets on Tuesday night, he was able to finish off six innings. The right-hander left trailing 4-2, but the Nationals later made a dramatic comeback to win 11-10.

Despite allowing four runs on five hits, Scherzer said the 90-pitch performance was a still a positive third start since his most recent return from the injured list.

"It was definitely a step forward," Scherzer said. "I felt like I was able to start bringing some intensity to the pitches, especially getting six innings. There was a lot of good in this start. Obviously, in the fourth, ran into kind of a buzz saw. They were able to get on some pitches and get a rally going.

"Obviously, there's things I can sharpen up. As I continue to ramp up intensity and everything follows suit, an outing like today, as much as you want to beat yourself up for it, was a step forward."

Oh, and speaking of that dramatic comeback - the Nationals seven runs in the bottom of the ninth capped off by Kurt Suzuki's three-run shot to win it - would you believe Scherzer didn't see it?

"Honestly, I was not even watching," Scherzer said. "We were down six. I was kinda looking at something else, and you could tell something else was going on and it's my superstition to not watch that. So all I know is everyone starts screaming, 'Kurt hit a home run.' We all went nuts.

"I wasn't watching and things were happening. Don't all of a sudden jump on the bandwagon - if you weren't watching before, why start watching? So I just let that unfold."

Nationals manager Davey Martinez agreed that Scherzer made a solid step forward. He admitted his ace wanted more after those six frames.

"One bad inning, location that one inning," Martinez said. "They came out and they ambushed him pretty good, but he was good. The good thing about it, he came out feeling really good. He fought me about staying in the game and I told him, 'Let's think about the big picture. You feel great. That's six innings for you, more than you have in the last two outings. Let's just build from there. Ninety, 91 pitches. I think you did great.' And then he finally said, 'Yeah, that's good.' He's got five days and he's at it again."

Suzuki started the evening by catching Scherzer for six innings.

"I get excited every time he's on the mound," Suzuki said. "Every time I get to catch Max, it's always a fun time. You have to think a lot - not saying I don't think with other guys - but with Max, he has his things that he does. I love it.

"Obviously, that one inning didn't go as planned. There's probably a couple pitches I'd take back calling. He went out there six innings against a hot team, a team that's swinging the bat. It was good."

So a third start is in the books for Scherzer since his back and shoulder were a problem. He went from 71 to 89 to 90 pitches. On Aug. 22, he lasted four innings, the he went 4 1/3 innings on Aug. 28 and six innings Tuesday night.

Did Suzuki also see progress, even with the four-run five-hit Mets inning?

"He's getting better. He's definitely getting better," Suzuki said. "Let's think about it. The guy never went on a rehab start. This guy is pitching against the best competition out there as a so-to-say rehab. And he's going out there and giving us a chance to win every single time out, striking guys out and being Max.

"I think as time goes and he gets more comfortable and everything starts clicking, you'll see that 'Mad Max' out there. That's kind of what we're waiting for. He's obviously, in my eyes, the best pitcher in the game right now. And you take him every fifth day."

Scherzer believes this start was different because he was able to rear back and throw as hard as he could, something he admitted he wasn't doing in those two late August outings.

"This start, I was able to start throwing pitches at 100 percent," Scherzer said. "Start letting it eat. Really started throwing some fastballs and really stepping on some fastballs, and stepping on some off-speed pitches as well. So for me, that was picking up the intensity on a per pitch basis, was definitely higher tonight than it was in the past two starts.

"That's why I feel like this was definitely a good step forward. These are big league hitters. They can really hit any mistake you make. So when I'm cranking up the intensity, I've just got to keep the location where I want to throw the ball. There was a couple balls that leaked over the middle of the plate, where I didn't execute it quite that way. Take your lumps, move forward and try to sharpen everything up."