Max Scherzer allowed one hit over eight innings to lead the Los Angeles Dodgers to an 8-0 win against the visiting San Diego Padres on Sunday afternoon, completing the three-game sweep.
Scherzer took a perfect game into the eighth inning before Eric Hosmer pulled a double just out of the reach of right fielder Mookie Betts with one out. It was the only baserunner Scherzer allowed.
Scherzer (14-4) also struck out nine to become the 19th MLB pitcher to reach 3,000 strikeouts for his career.
Betts, Corey Seager and Justin Turner homered for the Dodgers (91-53), who remain 2 1/2 games behind the San Francisco Giants for the NL West lead.
Scherzer struck out the side on nine pitches in the second inning, joining Chris Sale and Sandy Koufax as the only pitchers to accomplish an immaculate inning at least three times in their MLB careers.
The 37-year-old ace struck out five of the first seven batters overall, but didn’t record his sixth until fanning Hosmer for the second out in the fifth inning, giving him 3,000 for his career.
Scherzer was trying to become the seventh MLB pitcher to throw at least three no-hitters, joining Nolan Ryan (seven), Koufax (four), Larry Corcoran (three), Cy Young (three), Bob Feller (three) and Justin Verlander (three).
Blake Snell started for San Diego (74-68), but limped off the field after throwing his 11th pitch. Snell threw seven no-hit innings against the Arizona Diamondbacks on Aug. 31, and took a perfect game into the seventh inning in his last outing against the Los Angeles Angels on Tuesday.
Nabil Crismatt entered on short notice with two outs in the first inning and threw 2 1/3 shutout innings. Dinelson Lamet (2-4) started the fourth and gave up a two-out solo home run to Seager for a 1-0 lead.
Betts added a homer to lead off the fifth inning and make it 2-0. Turner hit a three-run blast as part of a four-run seventh to make it 6-0. Los Angeles added two runs in the eighth when Betts was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded and Max Muncy followed with a sacrifice fly.
–Field Level Media