Tuesday, September 30, 2014
Sunday, September 28, 2014
Cardinals beat D-backs 1-0 after title decided
Cardinals 1
(90-72, 39-42 away)
84°Clear
4:10 PM ET, September 28, 2014
Chase Field, Phoenix, Arizona
Chase Field, Phoenix, Arizona
Associated Press
Cards Shut Out D-Backs
Even after they surged into the lead, the Cardinals had a hard time finishing it off, limping to the finish while allowing Pittsburgh to hang around for a chance at the division title.It all came down to game No. 162 and it ended up being the easiest win of the season -- even if they didn't need it.The Cardinals clinched their second straight NL Central title before the first pitch Sunday and finished off the regular season with a get-to-the-celebration 1-0 win over the Arizona Diamondbacks.Next up: The Dodgers in the NL division series Friday in Los Angeles."Fortunately, we weathered the storm and the guys just put their nose down," Cardinals manager Mike Matheny said. "I'm real proud of the guys."The Cardinals were assured of a playoff spot entering the day. What that spot would be depended on whether they could beat the Diamondbacks or Cincinnati knocked off Pittsburgh.The Reds took care of business for the Cardinals by beating the Pirates 4-1, a victory that was announced about 10 minutes before St. Louis' game against Arizona.The Cardinals celebrated in the dugout, then it did it again after the final out against the Diamondbacks, wildly spraying each other with champagne and beer after an oh-so-sweet finish to their second straight 90-win season."We know Pittsburgh had a good run, but we had a better one," Cardinals catcher Yadier Molina said.Once Sunday's game started, both teams seemed to go through the motions, the only run coming on Kolten Wong's groundout in the sixth inning off Josh Collmenter (11-9).The Cardinals scratched scheduled starter Adam Wainwright just before the start, using five relievers instead. Justin Masterson (3-3) pitched two scoreless innings and Carlos Martinez got the final two outs for his first save.Arizona went down meekly, managing two hits to finish 64-98, worst in the majors and second-worst record in team history."We had higher expectations coming out of the spring," Arizona reliever Brad Ziegler said. "Whether you look at the injuries or the pure lack of execution on the field, this is not how we wanted to finish. We definitely don't feel like we are the worse team in baseball, even though the record says we were this year."The Cardinals went to the World Series last season, yet have seemed to make it hard on themselves this season, taking the NL Central race down to the final game after limping to the finish.St. Louis had a chance to wrap up the division title Saturday night, but couldn't put away the Diamondbacks, losing 5-2 after Mark Trumbo hit a pair of homers.Cincinnati eliminated the drama for St. Louis with a win that sent the Pirates to the wild-card game and St. Louis into the division series. The result was announced at Chase Field about 10 minutes before first pitch and the Cardinals celebrated with a round of high-fives and hugs in the dugout."I think I threw a pitch without looking because I was watching the scoreboard," Wainwright said. "It was a great feeling."Matheny said Wainwright would start the season finale regardless of what happened with the Pirates, but he was replaced by Nick Greenwood just before the game.With nothing to play for on either side, the Cardinals and Diamondbacks breezed through a brisk, free-swinging game that was more like spring training than a season finale.COLLMENTER'S OUTINGCollmenter was Arizona's best starter down the stretch of the season and turned in another solid outing the finale, even if he didn't get much support. The right-hander allowed three hits in eight innings, dropping his ERA to 1.26 over his final seven starts."I just wanted to finish the season strong," Collmenter said.NUMBERSThe Cardinals notched their 23rd shutout of the season, third-most in team history. The 1968 team had 30 and the 1944 team 26. ... Arizona's Ender Inciarte went 0 for 4 to end a 15-game hitting streak. ... Masterson earned his first win as a reliever since July 5, 2009, against Seattle.TRAINER'S ROOMCardinals: LF Matt Holliday was out of the lineup after leaving in the sixth inning Saturday night due to flu-like symptoms.UP NEXT:Cardinals: Wainright will start against NL Cy Young Award favorite Clayton Kershaw in the division series opener against the Dodgers.
Copyright by STATS LLC and The Associated Press
Photo Wire
Arizona Diamondbacks starting pitcher Josh Collmenter (55) throws in the first inning during a baseball game...
(AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
(AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
Game Information
| Stadium | Chase Field, Phoenix, AZ |
| Attendance | 30,617 (63% full) - % is based on regular season capacity |
| Game Time | 2:20 |
| Weather | indoors |
| Umpires | Home Plate - Jordan Baker, First Base - Hal Gibson III, Second Base - Jerry Meals, Third Base - Bob Davidson |
Zack Greinke, Dodgers finish off milestone season with streaks intact
70°Few Clouds
4:10 PM ET, September 28, 2014
Dodger Stadium, Los Angeles, California
Dodger Stadium, Los Angeles, California
Associated Press
Dodgers Power Past Rockies
Adrian Gonzalez hit a three-run homer to finish with a major league-leading 116 RBIs and Matt Kemp added a two-run drive in a 10-5 win over the Colorado Rockies 10-5 Sunday for the Dodgers' fifth straight victory."As that game was coming to an end, you can almost feel a change," manager Don Mattingly said. "The next game we play is going to be a lot different."The Dodgers open the NL division series at home Friday against the St. Louis Cardinals, who knocked them out in the league championship series last season."They've been a thorn in our side the last couple years," Mattingly said. "It's kind of turning into a pretty good rivalry."The Dodgers' 94 wins were their most since going 95-67 in 2009. They ended the regular season without a losing streak longer than three games, something only their 1924 and 1988 clubs had done.Zack Greinke (17-8) set a career high for wins and remained unbeaten in his last eight starts, going 5-0 with a 2.34 ERA since Aug. 15. He allowed one run and four hits in five innings, struck out six and walked one while finishing 12-0 with a 1.74 ERA in 15 starts against NL West opponents."I felt good," he said. "I used all the pitches; they all had some crispness to them. I didn't give up too many hard-hit balls, so that was the goal."Clayton Kershaw acted as pitching coach in place of Rick Honeycutt. Before the game, Kershaw threw 32 pitches in two simulated innings in an effort to limit rustiness over the nine days between his scheduled starts. He will take the mound in the playoff opener after becoming the first pitcher to lead the major leagues in ERA in four consecutive years at 1.77."He was kind of half doing his job," Greinke said of Kershaw, while giving props to third baseman Juan Uribe, who served as manager. "Juan was more intense doing his job."Uribe started out wearing Mattingly's name and number on his jersey. He later changed to a jersey with Hall of Fame manager Tom Lasorda's name on it."Easy game today," said Uribe, who got a cooler full of a blue sports drink tossed on him by Kemp before a postgame rally on the field."He did great. We won, right?" Mattingly said of Uribe. "He had them playing hard and got them to do what he wanted."Lasorda took the mic during the rally and showed he could still muster some bombast after turning 87 earlier in the week."I think we're going to get to the Fall Classic," he told the crowd. "Then the big Dodger in the sky can take me away."Colorado's Justin Morneau won the NL batting title, finishing at .319 after he grounded out as a pinch hitter in the eighth. It's the lowest average for a batting champion since the late Tony Gwynn hit .313 for San Diego in 1988."I'm most proud that I was consistent all season," Morneau said. "Sometimes you get hot for a while and hit .450, but I think I was consistent all season and I focus and concentrated on that."Morneau edged Pittsburgh's Josh Harrison, who was hitless in four at-bats Sunday and slipped three points to close at .315.It was the Rockies' second straight batting title and ninth in 22 years; Michael Cuddyer led the NL last season at .331. Morneau finished the season two hits shy of 1,500 for his career, although his 160 hits are his most since he had 187 in 2008.Gonzalez finished three RBIs short of his career high, set in 2008. His 27th homer helped power a 16-hit attack and extended the Dodgers' lead to 5-1 in the third. It scored Darwin Barney who singled and Yasiel Puig, who reached on an error by shortstop Josh Rutledge.Kemp's 25th homer into the left-field pavilion with two outs in the first gave Los Angeles a 2-0 lead and scored Gonzalez, who doubled."They've been a force together," Mattingly said.Dodgers second baseman Dee Gordon, who didn't play, finished as the major league stolen base leader with 64.Rookie Christian Bergman (3-5) gave up eight runs -- seven earned -- and 11 hits in 5 1/3 innings.FIRST HITDefensive replacement Roger Bernadina collected his first hit in nine games with the Dodgers. He hit a three-run homer on his first pitch from Rob Scahill in the sixth, making it 9-1. He finished 2 for 2 with four RBI.Hawkins replied.TRAINER'S ROOMRockies: INF DJ LeMahieu (sprained left knee) will have a MRI on Monday.Dodgers: Gordon had a MRI on his right hip Sunday after leaving in the second inning a day earlier. The results were not available, but Mattingly said he expects Gordon to be ready for the playoff opener. ... LHP Hyun-Jin Ryu (left shoulder inflammation) threw a bullpen session and used all his pitches, topping out in the 85 mph range. He is set to throw a simulated game on Wednesday.
Copyright by STATS LLC and The Associated Press
Photo Wire
LOS ANGELES, CA - SEPTEMBER 28: Pitcher Zack Greinke #21 of the Los Angeles Dodgers pitches in the first inning...
(Photo by Victor Decolongon/Getty Images)
(Photo by Victor Decolongon/Getty Images)
Game Information
| Stadium | Dodger Stadium, Los Angeles, CA |
| Attendance | 48,278 (86.2% full) - % is based on regular season capacity |
| Game Time | 3:15 |
| Weather | 75 degrees, partly cloudy |
| Wind | 6 mph |
| Umpires | Home Plate - Mike Estabrook, First Base - Manny Gonzalez, Second Base - Jim Reynolds, Third Base - Fieldin Culbreth |
Felix Hernandez secures AL ERA title, but Mariners fail to make playoffs
66°Clear
4:10 PM ET, September 28, 2014
Safeco Field, Seattle, Washington
Safeco Field, Seattle, Washington
Associated Press
Mariners Fall Short In Playoff Bid
Part of the attention was transfixed on the field and making sure the Mariners closed with a victory in the hope it had postseason meaning. The other was on the out-of-town scoreboard, hoping for the result they needed in Texas.
"This was a very hard game to manage. I had one eye on the scoreboard and one eye on what was happening on the field. That was kind of tough," Seattle manager Lloyd McClendon said.
The Mariners did their part with a 4-0 win over the Los Angeles Angels as Felix Hernandez put the final notch on what could be a Cy Young Award season by throwing five shutout innings to secure the American League ERA title.
Seattle started the day needing a win over the AL West champion plus an Oakland loss at Texas to force a one-game playoff on Monday for the AL's second wild card. The Mariners did their part, but the A's completed a 4-0 victory as Seattle was in the fifth inning and finished one game ahead of the Mariners.
It made for an awkward afternoon of emotions. The excitement and anticipation of possibly forcing a 163rd game was replaced by disappointment when the Oakland result went final.
Ultimately, the Mariners should be satisfied. Seattle's 87 wins in the first season of All-Star second baseman Robinson Cano were its most since 2007 and made September baseball relevant in the Pacific Northwest for the first time in a decade.
"To be able to play 162 games and every single one of them mean something, you can't ask for much more than that," Seattle's Dustin Ackley said.
The Oakland game was on in the Mariners video room but most players were getting updates from the scoreboard. Austin Jackson noticed at one point that Texas had runners on first and third and no outs. But he was left to wonder what happened as the Rangers score never changed from zero.
Oakland already led 2-0 when Hernandez threw his first pitch at 1:10 p.m. PDT. Fans at Safeco Field let out a collective groan and a smattering of boos when the A's took a 4-0 lead in the ninth inning. A brief "Let's go Texas!" chant started in the fifth inning with Hernandez on the mound but died off quickly.
At 2:46 p.m. PDT, the A's closed out their victory in Texas. The fans at Safeco Field responded with a brief standing ovation in the middle of Kendrys Morales' at-bat after the A's score was shown as final on the scoreboard.
Hernandez allowed just one hit -- Albert Pujols broken-bat blooper in the first inning -- and struck out seven. Hernandez (15-6) had a 2.14 ERA, bettering the 2.17 of Chicago's Chris Sale. Thanks to a scoring change announced on Saturday that changed four runs to unearned from his previous start, Hernandez entered the finale with a chance to pass Sale and win the ERA title.
Hernandez started the sixth inning getting C.J. Cron to ground out. McClendon gave Hernandez his moment in the spotlight, pulling him to a standing ovation with fans twirling the yellow "K" towel handed out before the game. Hernandez tipped his cap and saluted the fans, appearing to fight back tears.
"We're going to build a great thing here," Hernandez said. "We've got the pieces. We're going to be good."
One out later, Cano was replaced to a standing ovation to complete his first season in Seattle after signing a $240 million, 10-year contract. Hernandez was the first at the top of the dugout to greet Cano, who hit .314 with 14 homers and 82 RBIs.
"I just thought, our fans should have an opportunity to thank them for the tremendous years both of them have had," McClendon said. "I thought our fans were just tremendous in that respect. Both of those guys grinded it out all year and they're big-time players and I thought they deserved that."
RUN SUPPORT
Michael Saunders had a pair of RBI doubles and Mike Zunino a two-run single to provide Hernandez run support and give Seattle a 4-0 lead after four innings.
MARINERS UNDOING
Seattle had a 1½-game lead for the second wild card on the morning of Sept. 7 but lost 12 of its next 17 games and dropped three games behind the A's with four to play. Seattle had three five-game losing streaks and lost eight straight in April, but remained in contention to the final day. The Mariners finished 41-40 at home and 46-35 on the road.
Copyright by STATS LLC and The Associated Press
Photo Wire
Seattle Mariners starting pitcher Felix Hernandez throws against the Los Angeles Angels in the first inning of a...
(AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)
(AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)
Game Information
| Stadium | Safeco Field, Seattle, WA |
| Attendance | 40,823 (85.8% full) - % is based on regular season capacity |
| Game Time | 2:50 |
| Weather | 59 degrees, cloudy |
| Wind | 5 mph |
| Umpires | Home Plate - Adrian Johnson, First Base - Chad Fairchild, Second Base - Dan Bellino, Third Base - Bill Miller |
Jeter leaves with hit and 9-5 win over Red Sox
75°Broken Clouds
1:35 PM ET, September 28, 2014
Fenway Park, Boston, Massachusetts
Fenway Park, Boston, Massachusetts
Associated Press
Jeter Collects RBI Single In Final Game
It went off of his palm and onto the grass, and by that time Jeter was safe at first with hit No. 3,465 -- the last of a career in which he established himself as the New York Yankees' consummate captain and, for two decades, the face of baseball."It's been a blessing," Yankees manager Joe Girardi said, holding back tears. "To play along with such a great player, to manage a guy that is what you want in every player, what you want every player to care about, what you want every player to fight for, what you want every player to do. It's been a real blessing."Jeter bid baseball adieu on Sunday with an RBI single, a dugout full of hugs and a final wave to the fans, concluding his Hall of Fame career by helping the Yankees beat the Boston Red Sox 9-5.Three days after an emotional farewell in New York, pinstripe-wearing fans filled Fenway Park for Jeter's finale, chanting for him and the visiting Yankees and standing for each of his at-bats. After a hard line-drive out in the first inning, Jeter delivered his final hit as part of a four-run third inning, then left for a pinch runner and headed into retirement."I felt like the time was right," Jeter said. "My emotions were so all over the place on Thursday in New York, and when I got here I was ready; I was ready for my career to be over with. I'm happy I had an opportunity to come up and play here a couple of games. I'm ready for this to be the end."Jeter's departure gave some import to an otherwise meaningless game between the longtime AL East rivals, who missed the playoffs together for the first time in 20 years. The last-place Red Sox -- the defending World Series champions -- are the first team in baseball history to go from worst to first and back to last in three consecutive seasons.Michael Pineda (5-5) earned the victory as the Yankees finished in second place, 12 games behind the division-winning Baltimore Orioles and too far back in the wild-card standings to make the weekend series meaningful. Clay Buchholz (8-11) gave up Ichiro Suzuki's two-run triple in the fourth, then entered trivia history as the last pitcher to give up a hit to Jeter.After a walk and a single and a wild pitch put runners on second and third, Suzuki lined the ball into the Fenway triangle, the deepest part of the ballpark, where it rolled under the 420-foot marker and stopped. Fans moaned that he was not waved home for an inside-the-park homer, but with Ichiro at third it meant that Jeter would be coming to bat with another RBI opportunity.The 40-year-old shortstop, in the lineup this weekend as the designated hitter, took a strike, took a ball and then fouled a pitch off before bouncing a high chopper to third."I don't know if I make the play if I bare-hand it," said 23-year-old Garin Cecchini, who met Jeter during the pregame ceremony. "I told him when I shook his hand, `Congratulations and thanks for being such a good role model.' I think that's the best compliment anyone can have."All eyes in the sold-out crowd of 36,879 turned to the Jeter, safe at first, waiting to see if that was it. And when Brian McCann came out of the dugout to replace him as a pinch runner, the Captain's career was over -- 46 years to the day after Mickey Mantle ended his on the same field. And it marked the last appearance in a game of any Yankee with a single-digit uniform number.Jeter pointed at the applauding Red Sox, hugged pitcher Clay Buchholz and then stopped in front of the Yankees dugout to tip his helmet to the crowd. Buchholz waited behind the mound to give the cheers a chance to subside, and then Jeter disappeared into the dugout.The final hit raised Jeter's lifetime batting average to .310, gave him 1,311 RBIs and made the score 4-0. The Yankees scored five more in the top of the seventh inning and Boston put five across in the bottom half, but by that time the ballpark was half-empty.The fans had gotten what they wanted -- even the ones from Boston."I don't know how people could really unite a crowd like he did today," Girardi said. "Such big rivals, so much history between the teams, but you would have thought that it was one team, in a sense, today. And I don't know how many players can do that in any sport. But I think it shows you the respect he has even against your toughest rival."The sun-soaked day began with a 30-minute ceremony in which Jeter was serenaded with "Respect" and presented with some local baubles: second base emblazoned with his No. 2, a pair of Yankees-themed boots and a check for $22,222.22 to his Turn 2 Foundation. Former Red Sox players from Carl Yastrzemski to Fred Lynn came out to greet him along with captains from the other local teams: Bruins Hall of Famer Bobby Orr, the Celtics' Paul Pierce and the Patriots' Troy Brown, followed by the entire 2014 Red Sox team.Jeter's parents made the trip for his final series, along with thousands of New Yorkers who clogged the MassPike on their way to the game. Fans in Jeter's No. 2 pinstripes milled unharassed inside the ballpark -- a scene unimaginable a decade ago -- mixing with Bostonians showing their esteem for a player who relished the rivalry as much as they do."JETUH," said one T-shirt in Red Sox colors and his name translated into the local dialect.And on the back: "WICKED RE2PECT."---Follow Jimmy Golen on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/jgolen
Photo Wire
New York Yankees' Derek Jeter stretches with teammates before the last baseball game of his career, against the...
(AP Photo/Steven Senne)
(AP Photo/Steven Senne)
Game Information
| Stadium | Fenway Park, Boston, MA |
| Attendance | 36,879 (99.5% full) - % is based on regular season capacity |
| Game Time | 3:14 |
| Weather | 84 degrees, sunny |
| Wind | 6 mph |
| Umpires | Home Plate - Larry Vanover, First Base - Angel Hernandez, Second Base - Paul Nauert, Third Base - Vic Carapazza |
Jordan Zimmermann throws first no-hitter for Nationals in finale
72°Broken Clouds
1:35 PM ET, September 28, 2014
Nationals Park, Washington, D.C.
Nationals Park, Washington, D.C.
Associated Press
Zimmermann No-Hits Marlins
Zimmermann leaned his head back and winced. His first thought: "Double. No-doubt double."
"And then," the right-hander said later, "he comes out of nowhere and makes that catch."
Saving The Best For Last
Jordan
Zimmermann made the last day of the regular-season count when he tossed
a no-hitter for the Nationals on Sunday. Zimmermann now joins a short
list of pitchers in MLB history to throw no-hitters in his team's final
game of the season.| Year | Pitcher | Team |
|---|---|---|
| 2014 | J. Zimmermann | Nationals |
| 2013 | H. Alvarez | Marlins |
| 1984 | M. Witt* | Angels |
| 1975 | Combined | Athletics |
| 1892 | B. Jones | Reds |
| *Perfect Game | ||
| --ESPN Stats & Information | ||
"I thought there was no way this would ever happen. My career numbers are something like one hit per inning, so I figure if I can make it out of the first, the hit's coming in the second," said the 28-year-old Zimmermann, a quiet guy who was a second-round draft pick in 2007 out of Division III University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point. "But today was one of those special days."
Almost morphed into a one-hitter, though. With two outs in the ninth and a 2-1 count, Marlins leadoff man Christian Yelich turned on a 94 mph fastball over the plate.
Souza was shaded well over toward the left-field line at a coach's prompting.
"He probably couldn't have been more out of position," said right fielder Jayson Werth, who watched it all unfold from what became a nearly silent home dugout.
"I was just thinking to myself, `It is not optimal to be Steven Souza right now, because as soon as you come into the game, every time, the ball's going to find you," Werth said. "I had a feeling something crazy would happen. But not that crazy, that's for sure."
Souza sprinted, extended his glove and leaped for the sensational catch, using his bare hand to squeeze the ball in his mitt as he fell.
"The one thing on my mind is, no matter how I'm going to get there, I'm going to get there," Souza said. "Getting there, I kind of blacked out."
Souza held his glove aloft to show he had the ball. Zimmermann raised both arms. Nationals relievers in the home bullpen lifted their arms, too. So did thousands in the Nationals Park crowd of 35,085, who roared with every pitch late.
"I don't think anyone in the stadium expected Souza to get to that," Zimmermann said.
Indeed, Miami's Mike Dunn said he and other relievers in the left-field visitors' bullpen started cheering as the ball headed their way.
"When he caught it," Dunn said, "it was just like, `Really? Did that just happen?"
Said Yelich: "With that on the line, that might be one of the best plays I've ever seen. Ever."
Souza jogged in and Zimmermann greeted him with a hug. Souza handed over the baseball, which Zimmermann shoved in his back pocket.
"It was too loud to hear everything he was saying," Souza said. "But I heard, `I love you' and `Thank you."
Souza's name now belongs alongside those of other players delivering superb catches to save no-hitters. The name that kept coming up in the Nationals' clubhouse was Dewayne Wise, the defensive replacement whose juggling, tumbling grab in the ninth saved Mark Buehrle's perfect game for the White Sox in 2009.
No major leaguer had thrown a no-hitter in Washington since Bobby Burke did it for the Senators in 1931 against Boston.
Quite a way to cap a regular season in which the Nationals finished with the NL's best record, 96-66. Washington hosts San Francisco or Pittsburgh in Game 1 of a division series Friday.
"Just an epic day for an epic season," said Denard Span, who set a Nationals season record with his 184th hit.
Zimmermann (14-5) struck out 10 and allowed only two baserunners. After retiring the first 14 batters, he walked Justin Bourn on a low, full-count fastball with two outs in the fifth. In the seventh, Garrett Jones reached first base on a strike-three wild pitch; moments later, catcher Wilson Ramos picked him off.
Zimmermann's accuracy was unassailable: 79 strikes and 25 balls.
Starting on seven days' rest because his pitching shoulder got bruised by a line drive his last time out, Zimmermann poured in fastballs in the mid-90s mph, used his mid-80s slider to great effect and had his changeup fooling a Marlins lineup without NL home-run champion Giancarlo Stanton.
It was the fifth time there has been a no-hitter on the final day of the season. Happened last year, too, when Henderson Alvarez of the Marlins did it against Detroit. On Sunday, Alvarez (12-7) was Miami's starting pitcher against Zimmermann, allowing Ian Desmond's 24th homer for the only run.
With only a few clouds and the first-pitch temperature at 79 degrees, Zimmermann didn't need a whole lot of defensive help until Souza's memorable play. That might have been a good thing, because Nationals manager Matt Williams pulled his starters as the game went on.
The closest Miami came to hits before Yelich were three liners in the fifth grabbed by backup infielders -- Tyler Moore at first, Kevin Frandsen at third, and Danny Espinosa at shortstop.
"Three rockets, and right at guys," said Zimmermann, who had shaving cream in both ears from the on-field celebration. "That's when I knew there might be something special happening."
Frandsen wasn't so sure, saying: "Fifth inning's a little early to think, `He's got a no-hitter."
Maybe. But after the third, pitching coach Steve McCatty pulled Williams aside to point out that their initial plan to let Zimmermann have a light day's work with an eye to the postseason might not hold up.
"I said, `What do we do if we're going to give him six (innings) and he doesn't (allow) a hit?" McCatty recounted. "He just looked at me and said, `That's not funny.' I said, `Well, there's a good chance that's going to happen."
Thanks in part to Souza, it did.
Copyright by STATS LLC and The Associated Press
Photo Wire
Miami Marlins starting pitcher Henderson Alvarez throws during the first inning of a baseball game against the...
(AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
(AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
Game Information
| Stadium | Nationals Park, Washington, D.C. |
| Attendance | 35,085 (84.5% full) - % is based on regular season capacity |
| Game Time | 2:01 |
| Weather | 79 degrees, sunny |
| Wind | 3 mph |
| Umpires | Home Plate - Alan Porter, First Base - Gary Cederstrom, Second Base - Mark Ripperger, Third Base - Lance Barksdale |
Research Notes
From
Elias: With all the defensive changes on the last day of the season,
the Nationals had 15 different players record an assist or a putout on
Sunday.
FROM ELIAS: That's the most different players with an assist or a putout
in a no-hitter in MLB history.
|
How Jordan Zimmermann Threw a No-No
* Got 19 swings and misses, 2nd most in any start of his career (20 on June 24, 2014)
* Got 6 K with his breaking balls (curveball or slider), tied for a career high
* Threw 23 1st-pitch strikes (all 10 of his K came after being ahead 0-1)
* Hitters chased 22 of his pitches out of the strike zone, tied for 3rd most in his career
* Recorded 7 K on pitches in the lower-third of the strike zone or lower, tied for the most in any start in his career
|
Henderson Alvarez, who got the loss today, has a no-hitter on his resume (the final game of the season last year).
The last no-hitter where the losing pitcher had also thrown a no-no in his career was.... this season, when A.J. Burnett got the loss in Josh Beckett's no-hitter on May 25. Burnett threw his no-hitter in 2001 as a member of the Marlins.
|
Zimmermann's
no-no is the 56th no-hitter thrown by a team in September or October
(in the regular season) since the 1st World Series was played in 1903.
Only 6 of the previous 55 teams to do it went on to win the World
Series, and it's only happened once in the Divisional Era.
[+] |
From Elias: When Jordan Zimmermann's
no-hitter ended, every one of the 7 position players behind him (not
including the catcher) entered the game as a substitute.
FROM ELIAS: It's the 1st no-hitter in major-league history that ended
with 7 position players on defense who did NOT start the game.
|
Henderson Alvarez
has allowed an .802 OPS in plate appearances to end with a slider this
season, which is 214 points higher than the league average among
qualified pitchers. Denard Span
has an .868 OPS in plate appearances to end in a slider this season,
which is 252 points higher than the league average among qualified
hitters.
|
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