Baseball Notes: Nationals make it a week to remember
Max Scherzer’s record-tying 20-strikeout performance was only the latest in a recent series of newsworthy moments for the Washington Nationals, one right after the other.
If things were quiet around Bryce Harper and Co. on Thursday, perhaps it’s only because the club had a day off.
The way things have been going lately, there’s no telling what will happen when the Nationals host the Miami Marlins for a four-game series starting Friday.
Starting with Scherzer, only three other pitchers – Roger Clemens (twice), Kerry Wood and Randy Johnson – managed to strike out 20 batters in nine innings before Scherzer did it in a 3-2 victory over the Detroit Tigers on Wednesday night.
Harper himself played pivotal roles in some of the other unusual happenings during what’s been quite a week for the Nationals. Here’s a look:
SUNDAY: Harper tied a major league record by walking six times in a loss at the Chicago Cubs that capped a four-game sweep. Hitting one spot behind him was Ryan Zimmerman, who failed to make the Cubs pay for pitching around the 2015 NL MVP, going 1 for 7 and leaving 14 runners on base.
MONDAY: While Strasburg was on the mound in the series opener against Detroit, word emerged that the No. 1 overall pick in the 2009 amateur draft had agreed to a $175 million, seven-year contract. It was a stunning development given that the right-hander would have been eligible for free agency this offseason – and his agent, Scott Boras, loves seeing what clients can draw on the open market. Meanwhile, in the bottom of the ninth, Harper was ejected by home plate umpire Brian Knight after a teammate struck out. Moments later, pinch hitter Clint Robinson – who acknowledged afterward he thought it was only the eighth inning – hit the first game-ending homer of his career.
WEDNESDAY: Before Scherzer made history – and, as a footnote, before second baseman Daniel Murphy delivered his fourth consecutive multi-hit game to raise his batting average to a majors-best .409 – Major League Baseball announced that Harper would be suspended for one game and fined for what happened Monday. Harper appealed the punishment, so he was able to play Wednesday.
Rounding the bases
Struggling pitchers Chris Young and Kris Medlen have been put on the disabled list by the Kansas City Royals. An MRI Wednesday determined Young has a strained right forearm, and Meden has right rotator cuff inflammation. …Left-handed reliever Joe Beimel has agreed to terms with the Miami Marlins and will report to extended spring training pending a physical. The 39-year-old Beimel has pitched in 676 games and spent the 2014 and 2015 seasons with the Seattle Mariners. …The White Sox have acquired Anthony Ranaudo from Texas, two days after the right-hander walked five Chicago hitters in one inning with the Rangers. Texas obtained minor league pitching prospect Matt Ball. The right-hander will report to Class A Hickory. Chicago is sending Ranaudo to Triple-A Charlotte along with right-hander Scott Carroll. The White Sox will make a roster move to fill Carroll’s spot before Friday night’s game at the Yankees. …The Kansas City Royals needed to revamp their rotation Thursday after putting struggling starters Chris Young and Kris Medlen on the 15-day disabled list. Dillon Gee and Danny Duffy will fill in as starters while Young and Medlen are out. Gee is set to pitch Saturday at home against Atlanta and Duffy will go Sunday.