Max Scherzer, broken nose and all, pitches Nationals to sweep of Phillies

WASHINGTON — For someone who seems to thrive when challenged, Max Scherzer was in his element Wednesday night.

This time, the challenge Scherzer faced was his own face — after he suffered a broken nose while taking batting practice a day earlier.

Sporting what manager Dave Martinez called “a nice shiner,” the right-hander tossed seven scoreless innings and struck out 10 in leading the Washington Nationals to a 2-0 victory and a doubleheader sweep of the Philadelphia Phillies.

The Nationals didn’t commit to Scherzer starting the nightcap until they could examine the swelling around his right eye where the foul bunt hit him. No problem, Scherzer assured them.

“I feel like only it could happen to him. He’s going to go out there, thrive on it, be ready to go,” Patrick Corbin said after pitching seven strong innings in a 6-2 victory in the opener. “He’s got a nice shiner there. He’ll be ready to go. You know Max.”

Nationals pitcher Max Scherzer sports a black eye from a broken nose as he pitches against the Phillies at Nationals Park. (Photo: Brad Mills, USA TODAY Sports)

Scherzer stared down the Nats’ NL East rivals with one black-and-blue eye and one brown eye, looking even more menacing than ever.

Brian Dozier gave the Nats an early lead with a solo homer in the second inning off Phillies starter Jake Arrieta.

Then Scherzer put his (broken) nose to the grindstone and powered through 117 pitches in seven innings. The only threat the Phillies mounted against him came in the seventh when Cesar Hernandez ripped a lead-off double over the head of right fielder Adam Eaton.

But with the tying run at second base, the three-time Cy Young Award winner struck out Brad Miller, Andrew Knapp and pinch-hitter J.T. Realmuto to finish with a flourish.

Wander Suero pitched a scoreless eighth, Victor Robles added an insurance run with a homer and Sean Doolittle nailed down the save, but the night belonged to Scherzer and his hard-nosed performance.

Follow Gardner on Twitter @SteveAGardner.

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