Scherzer lives up to 'Mad Max' moniker with unique intentional walk

He's called Mad Max for a reason.

Dominating a rehab start for Triple-A Round Rock on Saturday, Max Scherzer pulled off something likely not seen in many professional games. The Rangers right-hander retired the first 11 batters in order before intentionally walking Logan Davidson (A's) in the bottom of the fourth inning, snapping a perfect start to his night at Las Vegas Ballpark.

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At first glance, it looked head scratching.

Scherzer -- who is recovering from right shoulder fatigue -- struck out the order twice en route to seven punchouts until that point and needed one more out to complete his first start since July 30. But for the 40-year-old veteran, there’s something he needed to work on.

Davidson -- a switch-hitting infielder -- stepped to the plate on the left side. The Las Vegas Aviators broadcast insinuated Scherzer preferred the following matchup to work on "something specific" during his rehab assignment, as Scherzer shifted to the stretch.

"I don’t think Scherzer wanted to go against a lefty there," Matt Neverett said.

"I'm going to go out on a limb," Russ Langer added. "It's the first time in baseball history that a perfect game has been broken up by an intentional walk."

Scherzer got his righty in catcher Carlos Pérez, who reached base six pitches later after Scherzer lost a curveball inside for a hit by pitch. For things to come full circle, a lefty proceeded Pérez. Scherzer fired five pitches to designated hitter Ryan Noda, catching the 28-year-old looking for an eighth punchout.

Noda challenged the call, as Scherzer cracked a laugh, walking off the mound to the strikeout being upheld on the video board after four hitless innings.

Did Scherzer want to keep working against righties? Get some work out of the stretch? By the time he was done, his line looked in line with his usual dominance: four innings, no hits, eight strikeouts.