Everything Max Scherzer said after his Texas Rangers debut win over Chicago White Sox
Max Scherzer settled down and helped the Texas Rangers secure a 5-3 victory over the Chicago White Sox at Globe Life Field on Thursday.
After a tumultuous first inning, Scherzer threw for six innings and gave up three runs on seven hits while striking out nine batters.
It was his first appearance for the Rangers, coming a few days after he was acquired via trade with the New York Mets.
Here’s what Scherzer said to the media after the game.
On rebounding after a tough first inning.
“Yeah kind of told the guys life’s easy when you can go seven, eight innings and they’re hitting the balls at people and you’re striking people out. You know, that’s, you know I don’t wanna say easy, but that’s when life’s easy as a pitcher when things break your way. But you find out about yourself when things don’t break your way. When they get some bleeding hits, they get some for me, I got kind of got singled to death there through the first two innings, I had 55 pitches through two. It’s then what do you do, then, that’s when you find out who you are about a pitcher. And sometimes these are almost my favorite starts, ‘cause when you’re getting kind of beat around there and the early part of the game, but you settle in, and catch rhythm, and you’re able to pitch deep into a ballgame. And so, you know, that’s what I’m most happy about. I finished strong, was able to get out damage in the first didn’t give up any more runs after that. I was able to get in rhythm with Garver back there. And we were able to sequence, we were able to pitch, we were able to execute the game plan that we wanted to. So you know, that’s what you hang your hat on is that even though you’re you know, things aren’t going your way, in the beginning, you still find a way to pitch deep into a ballgame and give your team a chance to win.”
On how his focus was affected by the first inning.
“No, it’s, you know, I was just in the dugout saying, don’t panic, like, don’t panic, you’re okay. Like, they’re not, they’re not blasting you, not hitting home runs. It’s not the execution of pitches, they’re just finding holes right now. And so just continue to execute pitches, get back in the zone, find a way to get some quick outs, and let’s just pitch and compete. So it’s great when that happens, you’re able to get some zeros going up. And then obviously, our offense today was able to get going and hit some good home runs. And so that’s what’s fun, is when the whole team has kind of a hand in it, everybody kind of did their job today and we won as a team.”
On pitching in front of Rangers fans
“Yeah, first time, being in the stadium, and so, it’s great to be able to break in here and get a feel for what the mound is, the slope of the mound. And just get with these guys and go out there compete. You know, we’re in a pennant race now, so this is what’s fun is this time of year. You need to win almost every single ballgame. That’s the mentality it takes to be able to be great. And you know, that we took care of business in this series.”
What Scherzer thought after Marcus Semien and Mitch Garver’s fifth-inning home runs.
“I was able to catch a lead and I think that’s there in the fourth [Inning], so going back out there for the fifth, you know, attack, you’re in a position to win. You know, now, for me, it’s like, let’s get through the fifth let’s be efficient get through the fifth and give yourself a chance to be able to get through the sixth. And so today, I was catching rhythm there was starting to execute with all my pitches, and was able to keep their offense at bay, never let them really get past first base after, late there in the ballgame. I was able to execute with all my pitches. And when I can do that, catch rhythm with the catcher and understand what talking to mad dog [pitching coach Mike Maddux], how we want want to sequence guys. You know, that’s baseball. That’s what feels good, and feels good to come out here and get a win.”
On how fun it is to rebound after a tough inning
“No, until you finish the sixth [inning]. I really think this game was kind of decided in the second and third innings to be honest with you. Through two innings, I’m at 55 pitches, you know, you’re kind of fatigued, you’re not fresh at that point, but was able to able to work through the third avoid any damage. And then after that, we kind of scored some runs, you know, we kind of had a little bit longer ABs, had a time to kind of catch a blow. So, that way when I went out there for the fourth, I thought I kinda started to get my legs back underneath me and was, you know, at that point felt like I was able to kind of get in a groove and start executing pitches at a high level.”
On how the pitch clock affected him
“Yeah, That’s the reality of this pitch clock this year is that you can run in some quick innings and you got to be right back out there. And, you know, at the end of their second inning I’m laboring, it’s no joke about it. You throw 55 pitches that quickly you’re tired. I mean, it’s just the reality, but you know, was able to when they had, first and second, two outs, was able to get a big strikeout there to be able to end the second. So then we were able to score a run in the bottom of the second, and then we were able to score a run in the bottom of the third and that gave me enough time to regroup. So then I was able to continue and able execute pitches against their lineup.”
Scherzer on if it matters how hard a ball is hit if runs score
“It’s just a part of the game. You know, these are major league hitters, they drive nice cars too, so, they’re gonna get hits off you and sometimes they get bleeding hits off you. You can’t cry about it. You got to go out there and continue to do the job and continue to pitch and continue to execute. You know, there in the bottom of the first [inning] I’m into some big situations, bases loaded, trying to find a way to navigate this and only keep it to one [run]. Unfortunately, you know, they get another ground ball through the hole. Still, it’s runners-on-like, I cannot give up another shot in this situation. You know, I was able to get out of that first inning. And then, you know, work through that. That happens that’s part of the game. Like you just got to continue to do your job.”
Scherzer jokingly talking about if he’ll buy a pickup truck now that he’s in Texas
“Yeah, I might have to do that. I get what people drive down here.
On if adrenaline from being on a new team affected him early during his start
“No, it wasn’t a factor. I know how to pitch, I know how to be within myself, I know how to execute. Things just didn’t go my way there in the first [inning]. I mean, this would have been a completely different conversation if those first two hits are outs, but they’re not. So what are you gonna do about it? So you have to go out there and continue to execute your game plan. You got to find a way to, you know, scratch and claw at every little inch out there within the strike zone and execute with all your pitches. You just got to find a way to compete and win.”
