Max Scherzer on outing against Mets: "I'm just making mistakes in the zone"

Nationals right-hander Max Scherzer has allowed more home runs since the beginning of July than he did in the first three months of the season.

Unfortunately, that trend continued against the Mets in a critical matchup on Monday as New York outlasted the Nationals 8-5.

In six innings against the Mets, Scherzer allowed seven extra-base hits, three of those were solo homers.

"I'm just making mistakes in the zone," Scherzer said. "I'm leaving the ball thigh high instead of getting the ball down by the knees. That's something that's been symptomatic here it seems like in the second half. That's something I got to get better at. I got to get better at getting the ball down in the zone, getting it back down to the knee level. That's what's going to keep me up late tonight is figuring out how I should do that."

Manager Matt Williams said the ball was flying around the yard today, but he also believes that Scherzer's fastball is not dropping like he would want it to in the zone.

"I just thought the ball was really carrying today," Williams said.

Prior to July 1, Scherzer had surrendered seven homers in 15 starts. Since July 1, Scherzer has given up 17 homers in his last 13 starts.

"More recently," Williams said of Scherzer giving up home runs. "I just think that fastball command is important for him. I haven't had a chance to look at the video yet. It seems as if the ball, the Cespedes homer, was a little bit up in the zone. More than usual.

"Again I haven't seen today's footage, but when he does get in trouble the ball's more lateral as opposed to having down movement."

The Mets slammed a pair of solo shots in the second by Michael Conforto and Kelly Johnson to lead 2-0. A homer from Yoenis Cespedes to lead off the fourth made it 3-0 New York.

The Nationals battled back with a grand slam from Wilson Ramos in a five-run fourth to lead 5-3. But Scherzer could not whole the advantage.

Curtis Granderson smacked a RBI double and Travis d'Arnaud provided a line drive sacrifice fly in back-to-back innings and the game was tied 5-5.

"I am just disappointed I wasn't able to hold that lead," Scherzer said. "That's something that I take pride in is when you get a lead like that, when your offense wakes up and responds. Willy hits a huge grand slam and we go up 5-3. I take pride just putting up those zeroes to turn over the bullpen. It's extremely frustrating for me that I wasn't able to do that and get that lead to the bullpen and let them tie it."

Scherzer finished six innings, but allowed the five runs on seven hits with no walks. He had six strikeouts, but also a wild pitch, a balk and the three homers allowed.

"I just got to execute better," Scherzer said. "I got to find a way to execute pitches and keep the ball out of the middle of the plate. I feel like my pitches are there. I made great pitches throughout the outing. But I keep making mistakes and keep giving up home runs on that. That's something I have to correct."

In the sixth, Scherzer was called for a balk by second base umpire Mike Estabrook that sent Cespedes to third. He later scored on a sac fly by d'Arnaud.

"He said my hands moved," Scherzer said. "I don't know. I looked at replay, I really don't think they moved, but that was his opinion. I knew from the previous two pitches I had an inclination Cespedes was going to try to steal. That's why I had a long hold when he went it really didn't fluster me at all, I just turned my head and looked and umpire called me for a balk."

Now the Nationals are five games back of the Mets after the loss. Scherzer said the frustration lies in knowing he could have done more to help his team win.

"I think it's frustrating because everybody thinks they could've done something better today," Scherzer said. "It starts with me. I know I could pitch better. I give them credit knowing what they were able to accomplish today. I'm not taking anything away from them. I just know I can get balls down in the zone, I know I can drive balls and be very effective lower in the zone. That's where makes me successful. I'm not doing that."

"Max's a competitor," said right fielder Bryce Harper. "He goes out there trying to win every single ballgame he throws. He's lights out. I think he's one of the best pitchers in the game, and I truly believe in his stuff and what he does out there and how he goes about it and he competes. And that's all you ask for.

"You want a guy that competes every single day that he throws and that's what Maxie does. He goes out there, competes and works his tail off and that's all you can ask from one of your best guys on your staff."