Scherzer throws no-hitter as Nationals sweep Mets
NEW YORK -- Hey Nolan Ryan, Virgil Trucks, Allie Reynolds and Johnny Vander Meer: Make room for Max Scherzer.
The Washington Nationals' right-hander made history Saturday night, when he struck out a Nationals-record 17 in throwing his second no-hitter of the season in a 2-0 win over the New York Mets in the second game of a doubleheader at Citi Field.
Scherzer, who tossed a no-hitter against the Pittsburgh Pirates on June 20, is just the fifth pitcher in history to throw two no-hitters in the same regular season. Ryan in 1973 was the most recent while Trucks did it in 1952 and Reynolds did it in 1951. Vander Meer threw his no-hitters in consecutive starts in 1938.
Toronto's Roy Halladay threw two no-hitters in a single season, one in the regular season and the other in the postseason.
Scherzer walked none and struck out nine in a row between the sixth and ninth. He got to a three-ball count just twice.
And just like in his no-hitter against the Pirates — when Scherzer retired the first 26 batters before hitting pinch-hitter Jose Tabata with a pitch — he missed perfection by one batter.
Catcher Kevin Plawecki hit a routine grounder to third leading off the sixth, but the throw from Yunel Escobar bounced and first baseman Clint Robinson could not corral it. Plawecki was forced on a one-out grounder by pinch-hitter Daniel Murphy and Scherzer ended the inning by striking out right fielder Curtis Granderson.
Other than that, a depleted Mets lineup — Murphy, first baseman Lucas Duda, third baseman David Wright, catcher Travis d'Arnaud and left fielder Yoenis Cespedes all got the night off after New York fell, 3-1, in the opener — didn't come close to getting a hit against Scherzer, who got better as the innings piled up on a 54-degree night.
Scherzer struck out seven straight between the sixth and eighth and whirled off the mound after recording the final outs of the seventh and eighth. In the ninth, he struck out a pair of pinch-hitters, Cespedes and Duda, before right fielder Curtis Granderson popped out to Escobar. Scherzer pounded his right fist into his glvoe before being mobbed by teammates.
The National League East champion Mets were no-hit for the second time this season. San Francisco Giants right-hander Chris Heston did it on June 9. The Mets' NL Division Series opponent, the Los Angeles Dodgers, has also been no-hit twice.
Catcher Wilson Ramos had a sacrifice fly and second baseman Dan Uggla homered for the Nationals (83-78).
Right-hander Matt Harvey (13-8) took the loss after allowing an unearned run on four hits and no walks while striking out 11 over six innings for the Mets (89-72).
In the first game, center fielder Bryce Harper launched a tie-breaking, two-run homer with two outs in the eighth inning as the Nationals won, 3-1.
With the win, the Nationals locked up their fourth straight winning season while damaging the National League East-winning Mets' hopes of earning home field advantage in the NL Division Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Harper, a season-long target of Mets fans, absorbed chants of "Jonathan Papelbon!" -- in "honor" of the Nationals closer who is suspended for the season after attacking Harper in the dugout last Sunday -- and heard some cheers when he was plunked on the left knee by a pitch from right-hander Noah Syndergaard in the sixth.
But Harper got the last laugh in the eighth. With one out, second baseman Anthony Rendon walked against right-hander Addison Reed (3-3). Third baseman Yunel Escobar then hit a grounder behind second base, but shortstop Ruben Tejada initially mishandled it and could only force Rendon at second.
Harper homered into the second deck in right field three pitches later. The homer was his 42nd of the season, tying him with Colorado Rockies third baseman Nolan Arenado for the NL lead. He is one RBI shy of 100.
NOTES: Nationals OF Bryce Harper, who was hit in the left shin by a pitch in the sixth inning of the opener but hit the go-ahead homer two innings later, wasn't in the starting lineup for the nightcap. "Felt like he threw it through me," Harper said of the 97 mph fastball thrown by Mets RHP Noah Syndergaard. Harper, whose homer increased his RBI total to 99, said he would like to reach the 100-RBI milestone. ... The Nationals have recorded four straight winning seasons, the second-longest stretch in franchise history. The Montreal Expos had five straight winning seasons from 1979-1983. ... Mets IF Wilmer Flores (strep throat) missed the opener and was not in the lineup for the nightcap. He hasn't played since Wednesday. ... Syndergaard finished the regular season with 166 strikeouts, fifth-most by a rookie in franchise history. His 1.05 WHIP was the best mark ever by a Mets rookie.