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MLB roundup: Max Scherzer’s start is a perfect 10

Detroit righthander Max Scherzer became the first starter to win the season’s first 10 decisions since 1997.LEON HALIP/GETTY IMAGES

Max Scherzer has shrugged off the significance of his undefeated start, saying records are fluky statistics for pitchers and that he’s simply playing for a good team.

When the Detroit Tigers righthander found out he is the first to accomplish a couple feats since Rogers Clemens and Pedro Martinez, though, it knocked Scherzer off his humble script.

‘‘That tickles me when you say those type of names,’’ he said.

Scherzer improved to 10-0 and struck out 10, Miguel Cabrera hit a two-run homer, and host Detroit beat the Baltimore Orioles, 5-1, on Monday night.

He became the first pitcher to begin a season 10-0 — with all decisions coming in starts — since Clemens went 11-0 for Toronto in 1997, according to STATS. And Scherzer is the first to have at least six strikeouts in his first 14 starts in a season since Martinez did it in 2001 with Boston, STATS said.

Scherzer allowed one run and seven hits in six innings. Chris Davis hit his major league-leading 24th homer in the second, but struck out with the bases loaded in the fifth and the Orioles down by two runs.

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Jake Arrieta (1-2) allowed five hits on 10 hits in 4 2-3 innings, and was sent to Triple A Norfolk after the game with a 7.23 ERA.

‘‘We got (Scherzer’s) pitch count up and got him out of there,’’ Showalter said. ‘‘But Smyly is a good one, you can see why they’re so high on him.’’

Detroit began the game leading baseball with an average of 5.72 runs per game at home and almost scored that much through five innings.

Blue Jays 2, Rockies 0 — Maicer Izturis hit a two-run single in the eighth inning and host Toronto won its sixth consecutive game, silencing Colorado behind Josh Johnson.

Johnson struck out a season-high 10 over 7⅓ innings but remained winless in seven starts with Toronto, having received only 13 runs of support. Brett Cecil (3-0) escaped an eighth-inning jam and Casey Janssen finished for his 14th save in 15 chances.

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Izturis had two of Toronto’s three hits as the Blue Jays won six straight for the first time since May 10-16, 2011.

Phillies 5, Nationals 4 — Domonic Brown hit an RBI single with two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning as Philadelphia beat Washington.

The Nationals tied it at 4 when Chad Tracy hit a solo homer with two outs in the ninth off closer Jonathan Papelbon (1-0). It was the first blown save for Papelbon, who had converted his previous 13 chances.

Cardinals 5, Cubs 2 — Shelby Miller pitched five shutout innings and Yadier Molina had a two-run double to lead host St. Louis past Chicago after a rain delay of 1 hour 59 minutes to start the game.

Rangers 8, Athletics 7 — Nelson Cruz homered twice, A.J. Pierzynski drove in three runs, and Texas snapped a six-game losing streak with a win over AL West-leading Oakland in Arlington.

Marlins 3, Diamondbacks 2 — Giancarlo Stanton hit two home runs, including the winner off of Arizona closer Heath Bell in the ninth, and Miami won just its ninth road game of the season.

White Sox 4, Astros 2 — Dayan Viciedo’s bases-loaded triple in a four-run sixth inning sent Chicago to a win in Houston and avoided a four-game sweep.

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Royals 2, Indians 1 — Pinch runner Elliot Johnson scored from third base on a wild pitch by reliever Matt Albers in the ninth inning, giving Kansas City a road win over Cleveland.

Reds 4, Pirates 1 — Zack Cozart and Todd Frazier hit upper-deck homers off lefthander Francisco Liriano and Cincinnati moved a season-high 15 games over .500 by beating visiting Pittsburgh.