Max Scherzer throws his 2nd no-hitter of season to beat Mets

Washington Nationals ace Max Scherzer closed out his regular season in style, pitching a no-hitter to beat the New York Mets 2-0 in the second game of a doubleheader on Saturday night at Citi Field in New York.

It was the second no-hitter of the season for Scherzer, who also no-hit the Pirates on June 20. He's the first pitcher to throw multiple no-hitters in the same season since Roy Halladay in 2010.

Scherzer struck out 17 on the night, and walked none. He struck out nine in a row from the sixth through the ninth inning before getting the last out on an infield pop fly. The only batter to reach base for New York was Kevin Plawecki, who reached on a throwing error by third baseman Yunel Escobar to open the sixth inning.

The Nationals backed Scherzer by cashing in a fielding error for one run in the sixth, then getting a solo home run by Dan Uggla in the seventh.

It was a dismal season for the Nationals, the pre-season World Series favorites who will watch the playoffs from home. But Scherzer has been an absolute bright spot in his first season in Washington after signing a seven-year, $210 million contract.

Scherzer has the seventh no-hitter in the majors this season, joining Chris Heston (June 9), Cole Hamels (July 25), Hisashi Iwakuma (Aug. 12), Mike Fiers (Aug. 21) and Jake Arrieta (Aug. 30).

The loss hurt the Mets, who were swept in a doubleheader on Saturday by the Nationals and are now likely to open their National League Division Series on the road against the Dodgers.

* * *