Dave Roberts: Dodgers were surprised by Max Scherzer’s Game 2 relief appearance

The Washington Nationals went with an unexpected reliever during Friday’s NLDS Game 2, and Dave Roberts is admitting that he got thrown for a loop.

Nationals ace Max Scherzer entered during the eighth inning nursing a 4-2 lead and struck out the side in order on 14 pitches, as Washington went on to earn the victory and even their series against the Los Angeles Dodgers at 1-1. After the game, Roberts, the Dodgers manager, reacted to the move.

“We weren’t expecting that,” he said, per Bill Plunkett of the OC Register. “Obviously it was a big game for them to play for the split on the road.

“Yeah, I was surprised,” Roberts continued. “But obviously they have the option of using [Scherzer] Game 3 or Game 4 now.”

Scherzer, who just posted his fifth straight season with a sub-3.00 ERA, got the start for Washington three days prior in their NL Wild Card game victory over the Milwaukee Brewers. The team will now get a full day off before the series shifts back to Nationals Park for Game 3 on Sunday.

Of course, Roberts used a similar gambit against these very same Nationals a few years back, so he probably should have known to expect the unexpected.