Nationals 5, Reds 1
WASHINGTON -- Right-hander Max Scherzer, signed in January as a free agent, took a no-hitter into the eighth inning as the Washington Nationals ended the home portion of their season with a 5-1 win over the Cincinnati Reds on Monday in a makeup game from a July 8 rainout.
Scherzer did not allow a hit until catcher Tucker Barnhart lined a clean single to left with one in the eighth. Later in the inning left fielder Scott Schumaker had an RBI single to break up the shutout bid.
Scherzer (13-12) came within one out of a perfect game at home on June 20 against the Pittsburgh Pirates in a no-hitter.
On Monday he struck out 10 batters and gave up two hits with three walks in eight innings and also had two hits at the plate. Veteran lefty Matt Thornton pitched the ninth for the Nationals.
It was the second year in a row that a Washington pitcher had a gem in the regular-season home finale. Jordan Zimmermann threw a no-hitter against the Miami Marlins on Sept. 28, 2014 -- exactly one year ago.
The win came two days after Washington was eliminated from postseason play and one day after closer Jonathan Papelbon went for the throat of teammate and MVP candidate Bryce Harper in the dugout in the eighth inning of a loss to the Philadelphia Phillies.
Scherzer last won at home on June 20, when he threw the no-hitter against the Pirates. His next start at Nationals Park after that was a 5-0 loss to the Reds on July 7. In the eight starts at home after the Pittsburgh no-hitter Scherzer was 0-4 with four no-decisions.
Matt den Dekker, who had three hits, had a solo homer in the sixth to give Scherzer a 4-0 lead.Washington catcher Wilson Ramos smashed a solo homer to right-center in the fifth to make it 3-0.
Left fielder den Dekker had an RBI double and center fielder Michael A. Taylor (two hits) added an RBI single in the fourth to give the Nationals a 2-0 lead. Reed Johnson pinch-hit for Scherzer in the eighth and had a sacrifice fly to make it 5-1.
The Nationals (80-76) won just five of their last 15 home games as they fell out of playoff contention as the defending division champs. The Reds (63-93) lost their ninth game in a row.
The last pitcher to throw two no-hitters in the same regular season was Nolan Ryan with the Angels in 1973. Ryan also threw a no-hitter on Sept. 28, 1974. Roy Halladay of the Phillies threw a regular-season and a playoff no-hitter in 2010.
Reds starter and loser Brandon Finnegan (4-2) went five innings and allowed three runs on eight hits before Jumbo Diaz came on to pitch the sixth.
It was the 10th time this year Scherzer had at least 10 strikeouts in a game. In the last two games, den Dekker has seven hits.
NOTES: The Nationals suspended RHP Jonathan Papelbon for four games on Monday after his altercation with outfielder teammate and MVP candidate Bryce Harper in the dugout in the eighth inning of a 12-5 loss Sunday to the Phillies at Nationals Park. Papelbon was suspended without pay by the team for his role in the fight while Harper was suspended one game with pay, manager Matt Williams said before a makeup game in the regular-season home finale Monday afternoon against the Reds. ... In addition, Papelbon will serve his three-game suspension that was handed down by Major League Baseball last week after he hit Baltimore star Manny Machado with a pitch in a game Wednesday at Nationals Park. That three-game suspension began Monday and Papelbon is not allowed to be around the team for the MLB suspension and is not expected to be on the road trip. ... Harper served that suspension Monday. ... The Reds are 29-49 on the road. ... Reds LHP Brandon Finnegan made his third major league start with the Reds and fifth appearance with the club. ... RHP Josh Smith (0-2, 7.23 ERA) of the Reds will face Cubs RHP Dan Haren (9-9, 3.83) on Tuesday in Cincinnati. ... Washington RHP Max Scherzer made his final home start Monday in his first year with the Nationals. He has allowed 27 homers this year -- two less than his career high and nine more than last year with Detroit.