Max Scherzer took a perfect game into the sixth inning in his bid to become the second pitcher in major league history to throw two consecutive no-hitters as the Washington Nationals beat the Philadelphia Phillies 5-2 on Friday.
On the day Phillies manager Ryne Sandberg resigned, Scherzer stole the show.
Scherzer (9-5) retired the first 16 batters before Freddy Galvis doubled on a 1-1 pitch to the right-field wall. The Nationals right-hander allowed two runs and five hits in eight innings.
Photo: USA Today
Scherzer tossed a no-hitter the previous Saturday against Pittsburgh, falling one strike shy of a perfect game before hitting Jose Tabata on a 3-2 pitch with two outs. He threw a one-hitter, striking out 16, in his previous start.
However, he could not match Johnny Vander Meer, who threw two straight no-hitters for the Cincinnati Reds in June 1938.
CARDINALS 3, CUBS 2, 10 INNINGS
In St Louis, Missouri, Peter Bourjos scored the winning run from third on a throwing error by Mike Baxter in the 10th inning to lift St Louis to a win over Chicago.
Bourjos began the inning with a double off Justin Grimm (1-2). Kolten Wong followed with a single off the second base bag and Matt Carpenter was walked to load the bases. Jhonny Peralta then hit a routine grounder to second base, where right fielder Baxter was positioned with the bases loaded and no one out to give the Cubs five infielders. He had plenty of time, but threw wildly to the plate.
Kevin Siegrist (2-0) got the win as St Louis won their fourth in a row overall and seventh straight at home, where the Cardinals are a major-league best 27-7.
Chicago lost their third in a row after a four-game winning streak.
ROYALS 5, ATHLETICS 2
In Oakland, California, Kendrys Morales and Alex Gordon homered to back Edinson Volquez as Kansas City beat Oakland.
Unlike when these two teams met in April, when there were bench-clearing scuffles in all three games, there were no signs of lingering animosity. A few players from both clubs exchanged hugs and handshakes before the game, and both managers downplayed talk of any carry-over effect.
Instead the Royals rode the power of Morales and Gordon, while getting another strong outing from Volquez.
Pitching against the A’s for the first time since 2007, Volquez (8-4) gave up three hits and one run in seven innings. Volquez also reached 1,000 strikeouts for his career when he fanned Brett Lawrie in the sixth.
Sam Fuld had an RBI double for Oakland, who had their five-game winning streak snapped.
Friday’s other results:
‧ Rockies 8, Giants 6
‧ Yankees 3, Astros 2
‧ Mets 2, Reds 1
‧ Dodgers 7, Marlins 1
‧ Mariners 3, Angels 1
‧ Red Sox 4, Rays 3, 10 innings
‧ Blue Jays 12, Rangers 2
‧ Pirates 3, Braves 2, 10 innings
‧ Brewers 10, Twins 4
‧ Padres 4, Diamondbacks 2
‧ Tigers 5, White Sox 4
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