‘Bring it on’: Scherzer leads statement win vs. Braves

The lone blight on Max Scherzer’s evening was still in the recent past on Monday when Eddie Rosario stepped to the plate with two outs in seventh. Standing on second base was Marcell Ozuna, who represented the tying run. Back in the dugout was Austin Riley, who had homered off Scherzer moments earlier. All around the Mets’ ace, a sold-out Truist Park crowd thundered as loudly as it could.

Scherzer ignored it and went to work, jumping ahead of Rosario in the count. He wasted an 0-2 pitch and then came back with his silencer: an 88-mph cutter that caused Rosario to fly open and swing wildly at the baseball. When Rosario did, Scherzer whirled and slammed his fist toward the ground, letting out an audible roar of emotion.

He knew how important this game was, not just in the standings but for his ascending club’s psyche. He understood how significant it would be for the Mets to complete what became a 4-1 win over the Braves.

“This is what you play the game for,” Scherzer said. “You want to be in these situations. You want to be facing the best teams in the league. You want to be in races. You’ve got to rise to the occasion and match it.”