Jordan Zimmermann tossed the Washington Nationals’ first no-no since the franchise’s move to the nation’s capital, four years ago today.
Zimmermann no-hit the Miami Marlins on the final game of the 2014 season at Nationals Park on Sept. 28, 2014, striking out 10 batters while issuing just a single walk for a 1-0 victory.
The Nats’ Steven Souza Jr. saved the no-no on the final play with a diving catch. Souza, a rookie outfielder inserted as a defensive replacement in the ninth, chased down a two-out deep fly ball to left center and made the grab near the warning track for the game’s final out. Teammates mobbed Zimmermann,
The losing pitcher was Henderson Alvarez, who tossed a no-no for the Marlins on the last day of the 2013 regular season. That game ended on a rare walk-off wild-pitch.
Although it was the first no-hitter for the Nationals, the franchise had recorded four no-hitters north of the border as the Montreal Expos:
- Bill Stoneman, April 17, 1969, against the Philadelphia Phillies
- Stoneman, Oct. 2, 1972 (game one of doubleheader), against the New York Mets.
- Charlie Lea, May 10, 1981 (game two of doubleheader), against the San Francisco Giants
- Dennis Martinez, July 28, 1991, a perfect game against the Los Angeles Dodgers
The Nats’ Max Scherzer has since tossed the second and third Nationals no-hitters:
- Saturday, June 20, 2015, against the Pittsburgh Pirates.
- Saturday, October 3, 2015 (second game of doubleheader), against the New York Mets.
