Max Scherzer, one of the Mets’ top pitchers, acknowledges the need for improvement.

Mets co-ace Max Scherzer knows he has ‘gotta be better’

The New York Mets handed future Hall of Famer Max Scherzer a comfortable lead for the second time in a row, but once again, Scherzer couldn’t hold it. The veteran pitcher allowed five runs in a pivotal fourth inning that he did not escape in an eventual 7-6 Subway Series loss to the New York Yankees at Citi Field on June 13. It was Scherzer’s second consecutive subpar start, as the Mets gave him a 4-1 lead entering the bottom of the fifth inning last Wednesday against the Atlanta Braves, only to see him knocked out in the sixth with the score at 5-4.

For the most part, Scherzer appeared to have settled in during the June 13 game after allowing a first-inning home run to Giancarlo Stanton. The Mets’ offense then scored five runs before the fourth inning against a struggling Yankees team. But it all came apart for Scherzer in the top of the fourth, as the Yankees broke through with six hits in seven batters against one of the best pitchers of his era.

“I can’t remember the last time I was hanging that many sliders,” said Scherzer, who allowed four of his seven hits in the game, including home runs to Stanton and DJ LeMahieu, off the slider.

Scherzer’s slider drew nine swings but mostly resulted in hard-hit balls and just one swing and miss during the game. In that pivotal fourth inning, Scherzer allowed a single to Anthony Rizzo before LeMahieu blasted a long home run to left field. Afterwards, Isiah Kiner-Falefa reached on a bloop single, and with one out, Kyle Higashoka lined a single to left to move Kiner-Falefa to third. Scherzer could not seem to escape further danger, with runner-on-the-corner situation giving way to more Yankee runs. Anthony Volpe doubled down the left-field line to bring in Kiner-Falefa before Jake Bauers drove in two with a single to right, taking the lead away from the Mets.

Overall, Scherzer vetted six runs on seven hits in three and one-third innings and saw his ERA rise to 4.45. While his velocity was there, his slider was not as four of his seven hits, including home runs to Stanton and LeMahieu, came off the slider.

“I gotta be better. We all gotta be better,” Scherzer said. “You’re gonna win, you’re gonna win as a team.”

FAQs

Q: Who did the New York Mets play against on June 13?
A: The New York Mets played against the New York Yankees on June 13.

Q: What happened to Max Scherzer in the fourth inning of the June 13 game?
A: Max Scherzer allowed five runs in the pivotal fourth inning, which turned the Mets’ comfortable lead into an eventual 7-6 loss to the Yankees.

Q: How many hits did the Yankees make off Scherzer’s slider?
A: Four of Scherzer’s seven hits, including home runs to Giancarlo Stanton and DJ LeMahieu, came off the slider.

Q: What was Scherzer’s ERA after the June 13 game?
A: Max Scherzer’s ERA rose to 4.45 after the June 13 game.

Q: Who won the June 13 Subway Series game?
A: The New York Yankees won the June 13 Subway Series game against the New York Mets.

Max Scherzer, one of the Mets’ top pitchers, acknowledges the need to improve his performance.