For most pitchers, flirting with a no-hitter might be one of the most memorable days of your career.
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Max Scherzer #31 of the Washington Nationals throws a pitch in the bottom of the first inning against the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park on August 30, 2016 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He allowed just two hits on the night without walking a batter. He was flawless through the first four innings, striking out five consecutive batters – all swinging – between the second and third innings.
“Hey man, I mean that’s why he’s Max”, Washington manager Dusty Baker said.
White Sox (63-68) at Tigers (71-61), 1:10 p.m. ET – Though the White Sox are no longer in the playoff picture, this game presents one of the best pitching duels of the season.
Last year, Scherzer carried a no-hitter to the sixth inning at Citizens Bank Park, only to have Freddy Galvis break it up with a double to right.
The Phillies’ only produced runs against the 2013 American League Cy Young Award victor came with one out in the bottom of the seventh, as first baseman Ryan Howard launched his 20th home run of the season to left field, a two-run blast that pulled the Phillies within one. I’m real pleased with that, and that’s just what he needed.
Mark Melancon pitched a scoreless ninth for his 37th save, getting a strikeout and inducing a big game-ending double play after issuing a leadoff walk. The Phillies have dropped eight of their last nine games at home to Washington.
Houston closed within two games of the second AL wild card with the win and Baltimore’s loss.
“Nine hits in a three-game series isn’t going to cut it”, Phillies manager Pete Mackanin said. “When I got to the mound twice and got those reps, it helped a lot”. “He’s a tough cookie”. Few pitchers sprint out groundballs the way Scherzer did his RBI sacrifice bunt with runners on first and third in the fourth inning Tuesday, which was ultimately the decisive run.
Scherzer blows away the competition in the first couple of innings, striking out a bunch of batters in succession, keeping his pitch count low. In the first, he allowed a RBI double and single to right fielder Bryce Harper and catcher Wilson Ramos, respectively. Morgan looked like he had Ramos struck out, but home plate umpire Mark Carlson didn’t call a borderline 0-2 pitch a strike.
“He kept the ball down”, Baker said.
NEW YORK – Yoenis Cespedes homered with two outs in the bottom of the 10th inning to give New York victory over Miami. “He doesn’t give it right back”. “They’ve got some power, so if you make mistakes, they burn you”. He lost his last start against the Mets in NY, allowing six runs in five innings of work.
Previous year he went 14-12 with a 2.79 ERA for Washington, and fashioned a no-hitter against the Pittsburgh Pirates on June 20.
Gio Gonzalez gave up 2 ER in 13 ⁄3 IP (1.35 ERA) in two starts against the Phillies earlier this season, and he’s (5-3) with a 2.52 ERA in 11 career starts vs Philadelphia.
Tanner Roark threw seven impressive innings, Jayson Werth hit a solo homer and the Washington Nationals beat the Philadelphia Phillies 4-0 on Monday night.
Jose Reyes dashed home to score the tying run in the eighth on a unsafe collision at the plate, and the Mets pulled even with Miami for second place in the NL East. Once again, he was on the receiving end, as a seemingly dead-out Danny Espinosa tried to take out Rupp by veering a little off course and right into him. “I thought I had him beat and he just got enough on it”. Phillies 3B Maikel Franco is 0-for-8 in the series and 8-for-49 versus the Nationals this season.3.
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Detroit Tigers second baseman Ian Kinsler got back on track by collecting two hits with a home run and four RBIs.
