NEW YORK — Max Scherzer pitched his second no-hitter this season for Washington, striking out a team-record 17 batters and leading the Nationals over the National League East champion New York Mets 2-0 Saturday night for a doubleheader sweep.
Only one batter reached base against Scherzer, and that came when third baseman Yunel Escobar bounced a throw for an error on Kevin Plawecki’s leadoff grounder in the sixth inning.
The All-Star righty became just the sixth pitcher to throw two no-hitters in a year.
“These things are special,” Scherzer said. “To do it twice in one season, my gosh, it doesn’t seem possible.”
Scherzer struck out nine straight batters before Curtis Granderson hit an easy popup to Escobar to end it on his 109th pitch.
“To throw a no-hitter, sometimes it takes a little luck,” Scherzer said. “I was able to execute all four of my pitches whether I was behind in the count or ahead in the count.”
Working quickly on a brisk, blustery night at Citi Field, Scherzer (14-12) added to the no-hitter he threw against Pittsburgh on June 20, when he came within one strike of a perfect game.
Scherzer pitched the seventh no-hitter in the majors this year, including one by San Francisco rookie Chris Heston at Citi Field on June 9.
At times, Scherzer looked as if he was simply playing catch with Wilson Ramos. Wherever Ramos put his catcher’s mitt, Scherzer seemed to hit it.
“I trusted my catcher,” Scherzer said. “There were a lot of times he called some pitches I wasn’t sure about. I trusted him and it worked we were in sync.”
Thumbnail photo via Andy Marlin/USA TODAY Sports Images
