PHILADELPHIA (AP) – Nationals righty Max Scherzer is perfect through five innings against the Philadelphia Phillies on Friday night in his bid to become the second pitcher in major league history to throw two consecutive no-hitters.
Scherzer tossed a no-hitter last Saturday against Pittsburgh, falling one strike shy of a perfect game before hitting Jose Tabata with a pitch with two outs and two strikes. He threw a one-hitter, striking out 16 in his previous start.
Johnny Vander Meer threw two straight no-hitters for the Cincinnati Reds in June 1938.
Scherzer has thrown 48 pitches through five innings.
Washington leads 5-0 in the sixth.