Verlander loses no-hit bid on bunt, Scherzer on bouncer

Posted June 22, 2017 7:00 am

By The Associated Press

Detroit Tigers starting pitcher Justin Verlander throws to the Seattle Mariners during the first inning of a baseball game, Wednesday, June 21, 2017, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren) The Associated Press

Hours after Max Scherzer lost his no-hit try on a bouncer that got away, Justin Verlander's bid for a perfect game got broken up by a bunt.

Only five pitchers in major league history have thrown three or more no-hitters. Scherzer and Verlander both got within range of joining them Wednesday.

Verlander shut down Seattle until speedy Jarrod Dyson beat out a drag bunt for a single with one out in the sixth inning. The ball got past Verlander, and the Detroit ace glanced at Dyson as he streaked past first base. The Tigers led 4-0 at the time.

"I was just trying to get something going," Dyson said after the Mariners rallied for a 7-5 victory. "The guy was having a perfect game on us. I'm not just going to keep going up there hacking at him. I know how our matchups have been in the past. He always wins the battle, so I had to just try to play my game and I was able to get down a good bunt."

Verlander faltered after that and was pulled with a 4-3 lead. He gave up four hits and struck out 11 while throwing 110 pitches in 5 2/3 innings.

The right-hander had no problem with Dyson bunting to break up the gem.

"It was a perfect bunt," Verlander said. "That's part of his game. I don't think it was quite too late, given the situation, to bunt, especially being as how that's a major part of what he does. I really didn't have any issues with it. It wasn't like I got upset about it."

Scherzer held Miami without a hit until A.J. Ellis got an infield single with one out in the eighth inning. The comebacker glanced off Scherzer's glove, and Washington wound up losing 2-1.

"I thought I had caught it," Scherzer said. "When I looked at the glove, it was empty."

Nolan Ryan threw a record seven no-hitters and Sandy Koufax had four. Bob Feller, Cy Young and 1880s pitcher Larry Corcoran each pitched three.

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More AP baseball: https://apnews.com/tag/MLBbaseball

Washington Nationals' Max Scherzer delivers a pitch during the eighth inning of a baseball game, Wednesday, June 21, 2017, in Miami. Scherzer's bid for the third no-hitter of his big league career ended with one out in the eighth inning, and he then gave up two unearned runs as the Miami Marlins rallied to beat the Washington Nationals 2-1. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee) The Associated Press

Washington Nationals' Max Scherzer delivers a pitch during the first inning of a baseball game against the Miami Marlins, Wednesday, June 21, 2017, in Miami. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee) The Associated Press

Detroit Tigers starting pitcher Justin Verlander throws to a Seattle Mariners batter during the third inning of a baseball game, Wednesday, June 21, 2017, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren) The Associated Press

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