Scherzer sets Nats' single-season K record

WASHINGTON -- Right-hander Max Scherzer has been a workhorse for the Nationals this season, and he put himself in the team's record books during Wednesday's 4-3 loss to the Orioles at Nationals Park.

In the fourth inning, Scherzer fanned Jonathan Schoop for strikeout No. 243, which broke Stephen Strasburg's record for most strikeouts in a season by a Nationals pitcher. Scherzer ended up with 12 strikeouts in the game, leaving him with 249 for the year.

"It's cool, but at the same time, it's overshadowed by a loss. Maybe after the season, I will feel good about it," Scherzer said.

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The Nationals had a 3-2 lead going into the seventh inning. Manager Matt Williams decided that Scherzer would go out and pitch the seventh inning even though Scherzer already had thrown 104 pitches. But Scherzer was feeling strong, and his fastball was clocked in the high 90s (mph).

"I actually felt very strong in the seventh," said Scherzer. "My pitch count wasn't indicative [of how my arm felt]. I was in the low 100s [with the pitch count] after the sixth. I still felt strong, I still felt good. I knew I could go out there and compete for a full inning, and I did."

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In the seventh, Manny Machado hit a 2-2 pitch into the left-center-field stands for a two-run homer. The pitch Machado hit out was clocked at 98 mph, and it left Machado's bat at 115 mph, per Statcast™. The pitch was the 122nd and final for Scherzer on the night.

The home run did not bother Scherzer as much as the double hit by J.J. Hardy to begin the inning.

"J.J. was able to get a knock on that 0-2 slider that was down and out of the zone," Scherzer said. "He put a good swing on it. That's the pitch you are frustrated with, not necessarily the Machado home run."