The Rays obviously knew how good Max Scherzer could be, given his highlights-laden resume. If they needed a reminder, they could listen to teammate Mike Brosseau tell tales of facing the Nationals ace in informal workouts around the Palm Beach area during the pandemic shutdown.
But the Rays got to see for themselves Monday night as Scherzer shut them out for the first seven innings in a 6-1 loss in Washington.
Charlie Morton made his second start for the Rays since a three-plus week stint on the injured list, allowing the first three runs in a bit of an inconsistent outing. On the plus side, the veteran right-hander did make it through five innings and built his pitch count to 57, which will serve him and the Rays well going forward.
The Rays' American League-leading record dropped to 28-14. The defending World Series champion Nationals moved to 15-25, third worst in the National League.
Tampa Bay had its chances early against Scherzer, who hasn't been his normal Cy Young Award-candidate self most of this delayed and abbreviated season, coming into Monday with a 3-2, 3.95 record.
Several chances.
And the Rays were 0-for-6 with runners in scoring position to show for it.
In the first inning, when they got one-out singles by Brandon Lowe, who snapped a career-worst 0-for-22 streak, and Joey Wendle, but Ji-Man Choi popped out and Willy Adames struck out.
In the second, when Kevin Kiermaier doubled and Nate Lowe walked with one out, but Kevan Smith struck out and Austin Meadows flied out.
In the third, when Wendle singled with one out and stole second, but Choi and Adames popped out.
And even in the fourth, when Kiermaier singled with one out, but Nate Lowe grounded into a fielder's choice and Smith struck out again.
Scherzer, a three-time Cy Young winner, had faced the Rays 10 times previously, though not since June 2018.
They finally got on the board in the eighth, when Randy Arozarena greeted reliever Tyler Rainey with a home run. That was the fourth by Arozarena in seven games since being called up Aug. 30 following the trade of Jose Martinez.
