PHOENIX -- Arizona manager Bob Melvin was merely happy to have Max Scherzer back on the mound. The young right-hander couldn't stop kicking himself over his costly error.
Scherzer recorded only two outs in a rough spring debut Tuesday, allowing five runs, one earned, and three hits as an Arizona split squad lost 11-3 to the Oakland Athletics. His errant throw home on a comebacker contributed to the four unearned runs on his line.
"It was good to get a feel for being in the game," Scherzer said. "I got some positives out of it. I can't beat myself up too much. I'm beating myself up over the error. ... That's inexcusable. I've got to make that play."
Scherzer, who had been out with a sore shoulder, said he felt fine after the outing. Opening day is less than three weeks away but the Diamondbacks have enough off days that they don't need a fifth starter until April 14.
Scherzer issued a bases-loaded walk to Mark Ellis before coaxing a comebacker out of Kurt Suzuki. He fielded it moving toward the first-base line and threw home to start a potential inning-ending double play, but it sailed past catcher John Hester. Two runs scored on the error.
"He was a little jumpy out there, but the most important thing is he's healthy and feeling good," Arizona manager Bob Melvin said. "He was just a little spotty with his command."
Sean Gallagher pitched four scoreless innings for Oakland. He allowed three hits, struck out two and walked one.
Gallagher gave up five runs in two-thirds of an inning in his previous outing but he was sick that day.
"It was good to get back on the mound and get over whatever I had, get back to 100 percent," he said. "It was like night and day. Last time I didn't have any energy, couldn't put anything behind the ball. It felt like I was throwing a shot put out there."
Notes
A's RHP Justin Duchscherer resumed throwing after taking three days off following a cortisone injection in his sore elbow. Duchscherer made 24 throws at a distance of 120 feet at about 80 percent velocity. Duchscherer said he is hoping to throw again Wednesday, and perhaps be ready to throw batting practice within a week or 10 days. Duchscherer will not be ready to start the season in the rotation, so he'll either be on the disabled list or in the bullpen as he builds toward the rotation. ... Oakland 3B Eric Chavez said he is hoping to play in a game in about a week. Chavez, rehabbing from shoulder surgery, has thrown four days in a row, but has not swung a bat in more than a week.
