Pitchers Max Scherzer and Jon Lester Each Hit Their First Career Home Runs

Two pretty good pitchers took to the mound on August 1st, and both did something for the first time in their careers. Washington Nationals righthander Max Scherzer and Chicago Cubs lefty Jon Lester each hit home runs, the first time either had accomplished the feat.

Scherzer hit his in the top of the 2nd inning of the Nationals’ 7-6 win over the Marlins in Miami. It was a three run shot off of Marlins’ lefthander Chris O’Grady. Max wasn’t around to pick up the victory, however; he left the game with neck spasms in the bottom half of the inning. He raised his batting average to .205 for the season, with five RBIs. Last season he hit .186 in 33 games, but drove in 12 runs. His lifetime average is still shy of .200 at .191.

In Chicago, the Cubs’ Jon Lester got into the act as well. Lester hit a two run shot off of Arizona lefthander Patrick Corbin with one man on base in the third inning in the Cubs 16-4 rout of the Diamond backs. Lester, who also got his 2000th career strikeout, came out in the fifth inning and thus was not around for the victory. Lester also had another base hit in the game, and is hitting .150 for the season.