Rangers' Max Scherzer struggles in return as Astros win Game 3 - ESPN

ARLINGTON, Texas — If the Texas Rangers are going to win the World Series, they will likely need Max Scherzer to make at least one more start, perhaps as many as three — and they will need him to perform a lot better than he did Wednesday night against the Astros, when he allowed five runs in four innings.

Making his first appearance in a major league game in 36 days, after being sidelined by a strained right shoulder, Scherzer struggled to command his slider, the pitch that has been a difference-maker for him throughout his career. The Rangers couldn't make up the deficit, losing 8-5 to see their ALCS lead cut to 2-1.

«It comes down to execution,» said Scherzer, who talked over and again about how he was not able to complete pitches as he intended, his words tumbling quietly and quickly in front of his locker. «I know what I need to do.»

Scherzer's first pitch was 95 mph, even more velocity than Rangers manager Bruce Bochy hoped for; given Scherzer's long layoff, Bochy mentioned before the game that he'd be pleased if Scherzer reached 93 mph. And Scherzer spun his curveball effectively.

But his slider was not sharp, and he couldn't wield it to finish off hitters, as he has so often in his career. Scherzer threw 13 sliders and allowed more hits (two) with the pitch than he generated missed swings.

As Astros second baseman Jose Altuve acknowledged after the game, this allowed the Houston hitters to narrow their focus and look for pitches to drive.

Altuve jumped a high fastball for a home run, among five hits that Scherzer allowed, and as Scherzer tried to establish his slider or an alternative, he hit Yordan Alvarez with a pitch, threw a wild pitch and issued a walk.

«He's going to be a little rusty overall,» said Bochy,