Max Scherzer’s early-season struggles continued on Friday.
The 41-year-old right-hander wasn’t able to make it out of the third inning against the Cleveland Guardians, surrendering seven runs, six hits and three homers before the Toronto Blue Jays turned to their bullpen.
Scherzer, who entered the night just one strikeout away from 3,500, was unable to record the historic punchout, despite getting into 12 two-strike counts.
The outing boosted Scherzer’s ERA to 9.64 on the season through five starts and 18.2 innings. It also marked the second time in three appearances that the 19-year MLB veteran was unable to pitch into the fourth inning — he allowed eight runs through 2.1 on April 12 against the Minnesota Twins.
Most of Cleveland’s damage came in the first inning, when Daniel Schneemann hit a leadoff blast, George Valera doubled home two and Angel Martinez capped the five-run frame with his fourth homer of the season.
The Blue Jays had reliever Joe Mantiply up in the inning, but Scherzer was able to escape with just the five runs allowed.
Scherzer bent but didn’t break in the second, putting runners on first and second to open the inning. But he bounced back to retire the next three batters and escape the jam.
The Guardians continued to work the veteran, however, as Rhys Hoskins led off the next inning with a walk before Martinez strung together the at-bat of the night two hitters later.
Martinez fell behind 0-2 to Scherzer, but fouled off the next five offerings before taking three balls to load the count. Then, on the 11th pitch of the battle, Cleveland’s centre-fielder blasted his second homer of the game.
It chased Scherzer from the mound, as Blue Jays manager turned to Mantiply, starting the bullpen carousel earlier than Toronto would have liked.