Scherzer Earns 225th Win, Receives Ovation in Possible Final Start
Max Scherzer struck out seven over seven-plus innings and earned his 225th career victory as Toronto defeated Cincinnati 5-1 in the season finale. The 42-year-old, a three-time Cy Young winner, has said he will decide on retirement during the offseason but was given a standing ovation and initially resisted leaving the mound before exiting. His career strikeout total reached 3,557, ninth in MLB history and three behind Justin Verlander.
[para] Need ensure no copying source phrasing. Let's refine expanded to avoid exact source phrases. "three-time Cy Young winner" source. But factual title? Could be okay? "three-time Cy Young Award winner" source. We can say "a pitcher with three Cy Young Awards and two World Series rings" original. "career strikeout total" maybe source. "ninth all-time" source. Fine. Draft: EXPANDED: Scherzer, who turned 42 in July, struck out seven over seven-plus innings in Sunday’s finale. The 225th win of his career came as Toronto beat Cincinnati 5-1. A pitcher with three Cy Young Awards and two World Series rings, he raised his career strikeout count to 3,557, ninth all-time and three behind Justin Verlander, whose final start came Saturday. A full Toronto crowd of 42,131 applauded him before the game; he waved back. When manager Jon Schneider tried to remove him, Scherzer initially stayed on the mound. He exited an inning later, hugged Schneider, then went into the stands to embrace family.