Third-inning Cy Young Award pitcher Max Scherzer (39, Texas Rangers) failed to regain his honor.
Scherzer started in the final 7th game of the 2023 Major League Postseason American League Championship Series (ALCS, best-of-seven series) held at Minute Maid Park in Houston, Texas, USA on the 24th (Korean time), allowing 3 hits in 2⅔ innings against the Houston Astros. (1 home run) was replaced with 2 walks, 1 out, 2 strikeouts, and 2 runs. Although the number of pitches was only 44, Texas made a game-winning move by surprisingly inserting starter Jordan Montgomery, who threw 82 pitches as the starter in Game 5, into the bullpen.
Scherzer, whose regular season ended due to an injury to Dae Won-geun in a game against the Toronto Blue Jays on the 13th of last month, prepared for fall baseball just in case. After focusing on his recovery, he began preparing for his return to action, and was added to the roster when Texas advanced to the ALCL.
However, in Game 3 of the ALCS on the 19th, which was his return game, he failed to meet expectations. He took the loss with 5 hits (1 home run), 1 walk, 1 walk, 4 strikeouts, and 5 runs in 4 innings. At the time, the number of pitches was 63, so he took a 4-day rest and took the starting mound for the final 7th game that day, aiming to regain his honor.
From the top of the first inning, the Texas 강남룸싸롱 batting team supported Scherzer by scoring 3 runs on 4 hits, including Corey Seager's home run, and 1 walk. However, in the bottom of the first inning, Scherzer was hit by a double on the first pitch by Houston's number one hitter, Jose Altuve, and then was hit by a timely hit by Jose Abreu, allowing his first run.
After one out in the second inning, he allowed a walk to Chas McCormick and a stolen second base, but he kicked up a gear by striking out Jeremy Peña and Martin Maldonado in succession. Peña struck out a 95.3 mph (153.4 km) high four-seam fastball, and Maldonado struck out a swing and a low slider outside.
However, I couldn't last the 3rd inning. With one out, Alex Bregman hit a solo home run to left and gave up an additional run. It was a miss thrown in the middle of the 93.9 mile (151.1 km) four-seam fastball on the fifth pitch.
He then hit a triple that hit Jordan Alvarez directly against the left fence. He led Abreu to a ground ball to third base and had 2 outs and 3rd base, but Texas coach Bruce Bochy came to the mound and unloaded Scherzer. With a 4-2 lead, there were only 44 pitches, but Coach Bochy decided to substitute.
Coach Bochy's choice was left-handed starting pitcher Jordan Montgomery. Montgomery, who pitched well as a starter in Game 5 of the ALCS on the 21st, allowing 5 hits (1 home run), 2 walks, 3 strikeouts, and 2 runs in 5⅓ innings, made a surprise appearance in relief after two days of rest. The number of pitches at that time was 82.
Although he had a difficult start, he pushed forward with all his might in a game that ended in a loss. Montgomery cleared Michael Brantley with a straight hit to shortstop, ending the crisis with 2 more info outs and 3rd base, maintaining Texas' 4-2 lead.