WASHINGTON — The Pittsburgh Pirates couldn't stop Max Scherzer from pitching a no-hitter. Pinch-hitter Jose Tabata's elbow got in the way of a perfect game.
Scherzer came agonizingly close to perfection, plunking Tabata with two strikes and two outs in the ninth inning Saturday in the Washington Nationals' 6-0 win over the Pirates.
Masterful in retiring the first 26 hitters, Scherzer nearly threw the 22nd perfect game in major league history since 1900. He struck out 10 in his second straight dominant performance.
"You need to find it in your baseball heart to appreciate that performance," Pirates manager Clint Hurdle said.