Scherzer gets 2nd no-hitter

Washington’s Max Scherzer became the first pitcher since Roy Halladay in 2010 to throw two no-hitters in the same season when he held the New York Mets hitless in a 2-0 victory Saturday.
Washington’s Max Scherzer became the first pitcher since Roy Halladay in 2010 to throw two no-hitters in the same season when he held the New York Mets hitless in a 2-0 victory Saturday.

NEW YORK — Max Scherzer says he can get even better.

Imagine that.

The Washington Nationals ace threw one of the most dominant games in baseball history Saturday, pitching his second no-hitter of the season and striking out a team-record 17, and then vowed he wasn’t done.

“I still have room for improvement,” he said.

Try telling that to the National League East champion New York Mets after Scherzer shut them down in a 2-0 victory that completed a doubleheader sweep.

“He was great, we were bad,” Mets Manager Terry Collins said. “When you pitch as good as he does, it’s tough to take good swings. He made all the pitches he had to make. He was very, very good.”

NATIONALS 2, METS 0

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.

No one came close to a hit, and Scherzer struck out nine consecutive batters before Curtis Granderson lofted an easy popup to Escobar to end it on his 109th pitch.

The All-Star right-hander became only the sixth pitcher to throw two no-hitters in a year, and the first since Roy Halladay in 2010. The former Phillies ace had one in the regular season and another in the playoffs.

“These things are special,” Scherzer said. “To do it twice in one season, my gosh, it doesn’t seem possible.”

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 before hitting Jose Tabata.

Johnny Vander Meer, who pitched two in a row, Nolan Ryan, Virgil Trucks and Allie Reynolds also threw two no-hitters in the same season.

“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.”

The 17 strikeouts tied Ryan for the most in a no-hitter, STATS said. Overall, the teams combined for 35 strikeouts, a major-league record for a nine-inning game. The previous mark was 31 set by Texas and Seattle in 1997.

For good measure, Scherzer also outhit the Mets, lining a single off ace Matt Harvey.

The Mets lost their fifth in a row, having dropped the opener 3-1. The skid cost them home-field advantage in the National League division series against the Los Angeles Dodgers.

CUBS 1, BREWERS 0 Kyle Hendricks allowed 1 hit and struck out 8 in 6 innings, and visiting Chicago kept alive their hopes to host to the National League wild-card game with a victory over Milwaukee.

DODGERS 2, PADRES 1 Zack Greinke earned the league’s ERA title and host Los Angeles beat San Diego to clinch home-field advantage in its upcoming playoff series against the New York Mets. The Dodgers’ victory combined with Washington’s doubleheader sweep of the Mets (89-72) ensured Los Angeles (91-70) will open the division series at home Friday against New York starter Jacob deGrom.

REDS 3, PIRATES 1 A.J. Burnett (North Little Rock, Central Arkansas Christian) was outpitched by a rookie in the final regular-season start of his career, and visiting Cincinnati prevented Pittsburgh from clinching home-field advantage in the NL wild-card game.

AMERICAN LEAGUE

ANGELS 11, RANGERS 10 Anaheim rallied for five runs in the ninth inning, pushing their playoff hopes alive into the final day of the regular season with a victory over Texas that again kept the Rangers from clinching the AL West title. Rangers closer Shawn Tolleson, pitching for the fifth consecutive day, entered with a 10-6 lead and allowed consecutive home runs to Erick Aybar and Kole Calhoun. Ross Ohlendorf (3-1) relieved and allowed Albert Pujols’ double. C.J. Cron, David Freese, Carlos Perez and Johnny Giavotella had consecutive two-out singles, with Cron, Perez and Giavotella driving in runs.

ORIOLES 9-4, YANKEES 2-3 The New York Yankees failed to clinch home field in the AL wild-card game, getting swept in a day-night doubleheader by host Baltimore. Only needing one victory to host Tuesday’s one-game playoff, reliever Dellin Betances allowed the go-ahead run in the second game to score on a wild pitch in the eighth inning. In the night game, Paul Janish led off the eighth with a single, reached second on a wild pitch by Betances (6-4), and got to third on Gerardo Parra’s bunt single before scoring on a second wild pitch with one out.

RAYS 4, BLUE JAYS 3 Tim Beckham had a two-run single with two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning and host Tampa Bay rallied to beat Toronto.

ROYALS 5, TWINS 1 Host Minnesota was eliminated from the AL wild-card race, getting stifled by Yordano Ventura for seven innings in a loss to Kansas City. Ventura (13-8) carried a no-hitter into the fifth inning and struck out 11 to win his third consecutive decision for Kansas City. Blaine Boyer (3-6) allowed 2 runs, 1 earned, while getting 2 outs for Minnesota (83-78), which began play two games back of Houston for the second wild-card spot.

INTERLEAGUE

ASTROS 6, DIAMONDBACKS 2 Collin McHugh earned his 19th victory, Colby Rasmus hit two home runs and visiting Houston beat Arizona to clinch at least a tie for the American League’s second wild card. McHugh (19-7), pitching a night after teammate Dallas Keuchel (Arkansas Razorbacks) won his 20th game, allowed a run and 6 hits in 7 innings to improve to 6-0 in his last 7 starts. Jose Altuve had a home run and doubled for Houston.

Sports on 10/04/2015

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