WASHINGTON (AP) -- Max Scherzer pitched a no-hitter Saturday, losing his perfect game with two outs in the ninth inning when he hit a batter in the Washington Nationals' 6-0 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates.Scherzer was masterful in retiring the first 26 batters and was one strike from throwing the 22nd perfect game in major league history since 1900.Pinch-hitter Jose Tabata fouled off three 2-2 pitches before Scherzer clipped him on the elbow with a breaking ball. Tabata dropped his elbow as the pitch approached, and Scherzer immediately grimaced after plunking him.Scherzer then retired Josh Harrison on a deep fly to left. 
The Nationals' ace admitted there was a bit of a letdown after hitting Tabata."I mean there is, just because you're so close, one strike away from a perfect game," he said. "But to get a no-hitter in front of these fans, there's nothing better."Scherzer struck out 10 Pirates. In his previous start, he took a perfect game bid into the seventh at Milwaukee and finished with a one-hitter and 16 strikeouts.Scherzer turned in perhaps the most dominant consecutive starts in the majors since Johnny Vander Meer pitched back-to-back no-hitters for Cincinnati in 1938.Signed to a $210 million, seven-year contract in the offseason after leaving Detroit, the 2013 AL Cy Young winner pitched the second no-hitter in Nationals' history. Jordan Zimmermann threw one against the Marlins last year to end the regular season.It was the fourth no-hitter in the city's baseball history - Walter Johnson and Bob Burke threw them for the old Washington Senators.This was the second no-hitter of the season. San Francisco rookie Chris Heston did it June 9 against the Mets.
The Nationals' ace admitted there was a bit of a letdown after hitting Tabata."I mean there is, just because you're so close, one strike away from a perfect game," he said. "But to get a no-hitter in front of these fans, there's nothing better."Scherzer struck out 10 Pirates. In his previous start, he took a perfect game bid into the seventh at Milwaukee and finished with a one-hitter and 16 strikeouts.Scherzer turned in perhaps the most dominant consecutive starts in the majors since Johnny Vander Meer pitched back-to-back no-hitters for Cincinnati in 1938.Signed to a $210 million, seven-year contract in the offseason after leaving Detroit, the 2013 AL Cy Young winner pitched the second no-hitter in Nationals' history. Jordan Zimmermann threw one against the Marlins last year to end the regular season.It was the fourth no-hitter in the city's baseball history - Walter Johnson and Bob Burke threw them for the old Washington Senators.This was the second no-hitter of the season. San Francisco rookie Chris Heston did it June 9 against the Mets.
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