In this edition of the 20th anniversary series we will re-live Max Scherzer’s no-hitter
When Max Scherzer signed with the Nationals for seven-years $210 million, it was seen as an overpay. However, Scherzer quickly dispelled that notion in a dominant first season. Today, we will talk about his no-hitter that somehow left a sour taste in Nationals fans mouths.
The date was June 20th, 2015, and Max Scherzer was coming off the best performance of his career. He had struck out 16 Brewers in a one hit, one walk performance, where he flirted with a no-hitter. He found a way to one up himself against the Pirates.
Scherzer was mowing down Pirates hitters. While he didn’t quite match his 16 strikeouts from the previous start, he struck out 10, and only allowed 11 balls out of the infield. It was a masterclass in front of a boisterous Nationals Park crowd.
Scherzer would get plenty of run support on the day, with the Nationals winning 6-0. That included a Bryce Harper home run, which raised his OPS to 1.206. Harper was in the midst of an MVP season. Despite generational seasons from Harper and Scherzer, the Nats would miss the playoffs in 2015.
By the middle innings, the crowd knew something special was happening. With Scherzer, you knew you had the chance to see something you had never seen before on any given start. You could tell pretty quickly when Scherzer was truly on top of his game. He would just blow hitters away.
That was what he was doing against the Pirates. After seven perfect innings, Nats fans were itching in anticipation, rooting for Nats hitters to get out quickly so Scherzer could get back on the mound.
In the 8th inning, Danny Espinosa made a phenomenal play to rob Pedro Alvarez of an infield hit. It was the type of great play that happens in almost every perfect game. Then came the ninth inning.
Scherzer quickly got Jordy Mercer and Gregory Polanco out to get one out away from perfection. In stepped the pinch hitter Jose Tabata. Scherzer got the count to 2-2 before one of the most infamous moments in Nats history occurred. A slider backed up on Scherzer. It was inside, but Tabata leaned his elbow into it the pitch, getting hit and taking first base. The perfect game was over, Scherzer had a scowl of disappointment and Nats Park booed.
Future National Josh Harrison flew out to give Scherzer the no-hitter. However, it felt like a buzzkill. He was so close to perfection. While the Jordan Zimmermann no-hitter was a moment of pure joy, this felt like a bit of a let down.
Scherzer would throw another no-hitter, once again being so close to perfection. The only baserunner that game reached on an Yunel Escobar error.
Max Scherzer is the greatest pitcher to ever wear the curly W. Every time he was on the mound, you knew there was a chance of seeing something utterly remarkable. Against the Pirates, he was remarkable, and cheated out of perfection.