Max Scherzer allows four HRs to Padres in disastrous Game 1

New York Mets starting pitcher Max Scherzer should not have been given the start for Game 1. Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

Mets' Max Scherzer allows four home runs to Padres in disastrous Game 1 outing

By Mike Santa Barbara | Last updated 10/7/22

Ahead of Game 1 of the National League wild-card series, the New York Mets faithful questioned manager Buck Showalter's decision to start Max Scherzer instead of ace Jacob deGrom.

It seems that maybe Mets fans were right.

The Padres chased Scherzer from Game 1 after just 4.2 innings of work, batting seven runs across the plate off just seven hits.

For the first time in Scherzer's career, he allowed more than two home runs in a playoff game. In this case, Scherzer gave up four long balls to the high-powered Padres lineup, stunning the Citi Field crowd.

With two outs in the first inning, Josh Bell got to Scherzer first, smashing a long opposite-field two-run homer into the left-centerfield stands, putting the Padres on top, 2-0.

*ring ring* Josh Bell calling. #CaptureTheMoment pic.twitter.com/JR2Wq78GnZ
— San Diego Padres (@Padres) October 8, 2022

An inning later, Trent Grisham smoked a Scherzer fastball 400 feet over the right-field fence, increasing San Diego's advantage to 3-0.

Going. Grisham. Gone. #CaptureTheMoment pic.twitter.com/GlBT7L24xe
— San Diego Padres (@Padres) October 8, 2022

In the fifth inning, Jurickson Profar doubled the Padres' lead to 6-0, ripping a line-drive home run that landed just inside the right-field foul pole.

Postseason Pro ‼️#CaptureTheMoment pic.twitter.com/G0T8VTi0j7
— San Diego Padres (@Padres) October 8, 2022

After a Juan Soto groundout, Manny Machado ended Scherzer's night, blasting another hard-hit homer off the Mets right-hander.

MANNY. MACHADO. #CaptureTheMoment pic.twitter.com/jHBJORVp2K
— San Diego Padres (@Padres) October 8, 2022

Before Friday night, the most home runs Scherzer had given up in a playoff game was two, a feat accomplished by only three teams. The last occurrence happened in the 2019 NLWC when Yasmani Grandal and Eric Thames homered off Scherzer in a 4-3 Washington Nationals win over the Milwaukee Brewers.

Scherzer is the 11th pitcher in baseball history to give up four home runs in a playoff game. The last player to join the list was Jose Urquidy, who gave up four homers to the Oakland A's in October 2020.

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