WEST PALM BEACH Matt Holliday Jersey , Fla. (AP) — In his third spring training start, Washington ace Max Scherzer wanted to try something different: batting.Nationals manager Dave Martinez could have used a designated hitter in Tuesday’s 8-4 loss to Boston, but instead wrote Scherzer’s name in the ninth spot on the lineup card.“He’s real big into the whole game, not just the pitching portion,” Martinez said. “He loves to hit, he loves to run the bases Austin Romine Jersey , he loves to play the game.”A .243 hitter last season, Scherzer fouled a pitch into his dugout and fouled another straight back in his lone plate appearance before watching the sixth pitch for a called third strike.The three-time Cy Young Award winner has taken batting practice since camp began and intends to hit for himself in each of his final three spring outings.“Hopefully get some situations where I can bunt and just work on that because that’s my No. 1 job, to make sure I move runners,” Scherzer said. “I saw last year how important it was.”On the mound, Scherzer delivered a mixed performance.After retiring the first nine batters in order, seven of the first eight batters in the fourth inning reached base http://www.yankeesfanproshop.com/authentic-giancarlo-stanton-jersey , ending his afternoon.“I actually was happy in the fourth inning that I ran into some trouble and I had to try to pitch out of a jam,” Scherzer said. “I had to try to execute pitches out of the stretch when I’m tired.”Ultimately he surrendered five runs on five hits while striking out four in 3 1/3 innings. Martinez pulled Scherzer with one out and the bases loaded in the fourth after throwing 38 of 56 pitches for strikes.Scherzer wanted to pitch a little longer.“In my head I was trying to get my max pitch count to 60 or 65,” said Scherzer, who surrendered at least five runs only once last season. “I knew I wanted to try to face one more hitter, but Davey wanted to get a lefty-lefty match-up in there and get that look.”The inning before the Nats pulled Scherzer, Howie Kendrick left the game with a left hamstring strain after beating out an infield hit. The Nationals are considering sending Kendrick for an MRI exam in the coming days.“I don’t how severe it is right now Bernie Williams Jersey ,” Kendrick said. “Right when I felt it I tried to slow down as much as possible so I wouldn’t do any more damage. That’s all I can really tell you right now.”A 13-year veteran, Kendrick, 35, missed the final four months last season after tearing his right Achilles.“I’m thankful it wasn’t that but, yeah, now a hamstring C.C. Sabathia Jersey ,” Kendrick said. “I figure we can deal with that.” The Houston Astros released a statement Sunday expressing their support for reliever Roberto Osuna as his 75-game suspension after being arrested for assault ends."Our decision to acquire Roberto was based entirely on information we gathered during our extensive investigation," the statement read. "That included as much information as we could gather about the specific incident and the charges that were filed but it also included as much as we could gather about his actions before and after the incident, as well as his personal reputation among his former teammates and coaches. The information regarding this specific incident weighed heavily on our decision but when evaluating the entirety of the information, we felt Roberto deserved a second chance."...We believe Roberto will not let us down. If there is any type of issue in the future, we will take immediate and decisive action will not be tolerated."Osuna, 23 http://www.yankeesfanproshop.com/authentic-giancarlo-stanton-jersey , spent his first three-plus MLB seasons with the Toronto Blue Jays, making the All-Star team in 2017. He was arrested in May on assault charges after allegedly assaulting the mother of his child. MLB placed him on administrative leave when the charges were filed before suspending him for 75 games.The case is currently ongoing.Lawyer Domenic Basilesaidhe is working on a deal that he hopes will get the assault dropped.The Astros' decision to acquire Osuna at MLB's trade deadline was roundly criticized for being tone deaf about domestic abuse. The organization has said in the past it has a zero-tolerance policy against domestic violence, though that only applies to acts committed in an Astros uniform."Make no bones about it violence allegations are bad," manager AJ Hinchtold reporters. "Domestic violence is bad. All of us as humans know that and believe that. And so we have to figure out a way to separate those feelings versus the additional opportunity he is getting on our club."Osuna will be activated to the MLB roster Sunday and could wind up serving as the Astros' closer during the season's stretch run.