Update (9:26 PM EDT): Scherzer struck out Yoenis Cespedes and Lucas Duda to start the ninth inning, then got Curtis Granderson to complete the frame and notch his second no-hitter of the season. He set a Nationals record and a new personal-best with 17 strikeouts. He struck out nine batters in a row prior to Granderson’s pop-up.
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Update (9:12 PM EDT): Scherzer struck out Kelly Johnson, Kirk Nieuwenhuis, and Kevin Plawecki to keep his no-hitter intact. He’s at 93 pitches with 15 strikeouts. He has struck out the last seven batters he has faced.
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Nationals starter Max Scherzer has no-hit the Mets through seven innings thus far on Saturday night, his final start of the season. It would have been a perfect game, but shortstop Yunel Escobar committed a throwing error to allow the leadoff batter to reach base in the sixth inning.
Scherzer has thrown 80 pitches and recorded 12 strikeouts. He is looking to become the first pitcher to throw two no-hitters in the regular season in the same year since Nolan Ryan in 1973. Roy Halladay threw a perfect game in the regular season and a no-hitter in the NLDS in 2010. Scherzer no-hit the Pirates at home on June 20.
The Nationals have provided Scherzer with two runs of support. Wilson Ramos hit a sacrifice fly in the sixth inning and Dan Uggla clubbed a solo home run in the seventh.
Opposing starter Matt Harvey pitched well, allowing only one run on four hits while striking out 11 and walking none in six innings. The Mets were no-hit already this season, with Giants starter Chris Heston accomplishing the feat on June 9.
We’ll keep you updated as Scherzer attempts to complete the no-hitter.