Max Scherzer strikes out 13 to earn 10th win as Washington Nationals defeat Tampa Bay Rays

Max Scherzer kept throwing strikes and the Tampa Bay Rays kept making outs. It was just another efficient outing for the Washington Nationals ace, who pitched eight strong innings Tuesday in a 4-2 victory to become the first 10-game winner in the majors this season. Scherzer (10-1) won his ninth consecutive decision, striking out 13 while throwing 81 of his 99 pitches for strikes. Scherzer struck out Johnny Field, Christian Arroyo and Daniel Robertson on a combined nine pitches in the sixth inning. It was the third nine pitch/three strikeout inning in Nationals history and the first since Scherzer did it against Philadelphia on May 14, 2017. Scherzer joins Hall of Famers Lefty Grove, Randy Johnson, Sandy Koufax and Nolan Ryan as the only pitchers to accomplish the feat twice.