Nationals ace Scherzer pitching no-hitter thru 8 vs Mets

His final pitch was to Curtis Granderson, who popped out to third base.

Scherzer shoved disappointment away for a night – one that ended with his arms in the air, charging toward Wilson Ramos to do the duo’s handshake, the one they do before each game, the one they did on that warm summer’s afternoon in June. The previous record was 31 strikeouts back in 1997 between the Texas Rangers and Seattle Mariners.

The next time up, Harper connected for his 42nd homer, tying Colorado’s Nolan Arenado for the NL lead. His “game score” – a method devised by Bill James, the godfather of sabermetrics – was 104, which is the second-highest score in history.

“I walk outside my apartment and I get recognized at least one or two times just walking around”. Arrieta tossed a no-hitter against the Dodgers in August. Pitch count has threatened his masterpieces before.

There have been seven no-hitters in the major leagues this year. In the ninth, they sent up pinch-hitters Yoenis Cespedes and Lucas Duda to begin the inning and both struck out swinging. The Angels then strung together four consecutive two-out singles off Ross Ohlendorf (3-1).

Andres Blanco blasted a homer leading off the eighth against Dario Alvarez for the Phillies’ final run.

Scherzer has thrown 93 pitches on a brisk, blustery night at Citi Field in the second game of a day-night doubleheader. Toronto holds the tiebreaker. That means the Nationals get a chance to preview their potential double play combo of the future with rookies Wilmer Difo and Trea Turner starting.

MINNEAPOLIS – The Minnesota Twins’ surprising run for a playoff spot came down to the final innings on the next to last day of season. The Orioles roughed up Ivan Nova in the opener. It’s nearly like playing a game of horse.

Syndergaard recorded his first victory in a month last time out, and he did so in impressive fashion.

New York was 3 for 19 with runners in scoring position in the doubleheader. He took the loss, but now has a 2.71 ERA and added 11 strikeouts to make it 288 on the season. 290 to. 298 after game one going 5/5, and raised it from. He’s 2-2 with a 3.26 ERA in those outings.

MILWAUKEE – Kyle Hendricks struck out eight and Chicago kept its hopes of hosting the National League wild-card game alive.

CLEVELAND – Corey Kluber pitched eight scoreless innings as Cleveland beat Boston.

Kluber (9-16) ended his rocky season with a strong performance, allowing three hits and striking out nine.

This is Scherzer’s first season with the Nationals after the 2013 AL Cy Young victor left Detroit and signed a $210 million, seven-year deal as a free agent.

Cleveland’s runs came on solo home runs by Carlos Santana and Ryan Raburn. The 24-year-old rookie is 4-0. In the bottom of the ninth, he still had gas throwing 96 miles per hour fastballs. After Jose Abreu was intentionally walked, Garcia singled. Yelich raised his batting average from. The Blue Jays lost to Tampa Bay, 4-3. Before that one, their last no-hitter came on September 8, 1993 against Darryl Kyle of the Houston Astros.

Ben Paulsen homered for the Rockies, who have lost four of five.

Yelich was 5 for 5 in the first game then hit safely in his first three at-bats in the second.

The 31-year-old became just the sixth player to achieve the feat.

Gordon had two steals to up his season total to 58, overtaking injured Reds outfielder Billy Hamilton for the league lead. With that locked up, the Mets have nothing left to do but play a regular season game and get ready for that series.