Sometimes truth is stranger than fiction, and that was the case today in Miami. Max Scherzer had a no-hitter into the eighth inning and left with 121 pitches and a complete-game loss while giving up no earned runs.
The Nationals lost 2-1 on 2 unearned runs on an Adam Lind error that prolonged the inning which turned into a complete-game loss.
Once the no-hitter ended in the 8th inning, Dusty Baker did not go to the bullpen but the 3rd out should have been recorded before a run scored which came later on a Scherzer wild pitch and then a single to Giancarlo Stanton.
Max Scherzer finished at 121 pitches which was a season-high for him eclipsing the 118 pitches he threw 5 days ago. That’s a total of 239 pitches in the last week.
Ryan Raburn was the offense and was the reason the final score wasn’t 3-1 after he threw out Dee Gordon at the plate in the decisive 8th inning. Raburn scored the only Nats run today on a solo home run.
This is only the second time in Washington Nationals history that a pitcher has lost a complete-game giving up no earned runs — the other time was Jordan Zimmermann losing to Dan Haren of the Angels 1-0 in 2011. This was also the second time in Washington Nationals history that a pitcher gave up 2 or fewer hits in 8 innings or more and was debited with a loss — the other time was Stephen Strasburg losing to the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2013.
While it seemed what happened today was rare, it has happened to other great pitchers in Washington Nationals history. Of course in any rare feat, it is never apples to apples in comparison as Jordan Zimmermann only needed to throw 93 pitches in his complete game loss with no earned runs.
