Max Scherzer Reacts After Costly Fly‑Ball Misplay by Blue Jays Outfielder

Scherzer’s “Mad Max” nickname proved fitting.

Veteran pitcher Max Scherzer lost his composure after outfielder Jesus Sanchez inexplicably misplayed a routine fly ball, his second costly defensive error, which turned into a two‑run single in Toronto’s 7‑6 loss to the Rays on Wednesday.

Scherzer appeared visibly frustrated, retrieving the ball and directing a glare toward Sanchez after the Rays extended their lead to 4‑1 in the fourth inning.

Sanchez also misplayed a fly ball, allowing it to become a ground‑rule double in the first inning.

John Schneider, manager of the Blue Jays, said, “Today was not a good day for him,” per MLB.com.

Sanchez’s limited defensive skills contributed to a difficult loss for Toronto, a team sitting at 62‑66 and battling for a wild‑card spot.

Despite recognizing that the outcome was not preordained, Scherzer certainly merited a far better result than his four‑inning, seven‑run disaster.

In the opening inning, he induced a fly ball to left field from Junior Caminero with no runners on and one out; the ball seemed to strike the catwalk, landed near Sanchez, then cleared the short wall for a ground‑rule double.

Scherzer struck out the subsequent batter, which would have ended the inning had Sanchez not misplayed the prior ball, before Yandy Diaz hit a two‑run home run.

The future Hall of Famer blamed himself for the pitch.

“That’s not acceptable,” Scherzer said, per MLB.com. “I’m a team player; I don’t point fingers at others. I own my mistakes and am accountable.”

Two innings later, Sanchez again made a costly error.

With Toronto trailing 2‑1 and the bases loaded and one out, Scherzer induced a soft fly ball to left field from Richie Palacious.

Sanchez ran in, misread the ball, which landed to his right, allowing two runs to score; the runner from third was not in position to tag had the ball been caught.

Scherzer, who had been one out away from escaping the jam, ultimately surrendered five runs in the inning, giving Tampa Bay a 7‑1 lead.

The former Met immediately reversed his stance and may have cursed after watching the ball sail in.

Sanchez declined to speak with reporters after the game.

“I’m sure it’s a play [Sánchez] would have liked to make,” Schneider said, per MLB.com.

“He appeared not to see it, or saw it and then missed it. You’ll need to ask him what he actually saw.”

While Scherzer expressed his frustration through his body language, Rays announcer Brian Anderson also criticized the outfielder.

“He’s livid, and I don’t blame him,” Anderson said of Scherzer. “He wasn’t pleased with the ball that Caminero hit, which turned into a ground‑rule double. This was a routine fly ball for Jesus Sanchez; I have no idea what he was doing, and I don’t think anyone else does either.”

“The ball was up there long enough for a routine catch; there was plenty of time, yet he was running away from it.”

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