Scherzer Flirts With No-Hitter, Yet Suffers Loss
Max Scherzer was dominant as usual on Wednesday afternoon in Miami, but somehow he walked away with the loss. After losing a no-hit bid in the eighth inning against the Miami Marlins, the ace gave up the lead in a 2-1 Washington Nationals defeat. In what was a frustrating inning, the right-hander gave up the no-hitter on an infield single by A.J. Ellis with one down. He would then load the bases after an error by first baseman Adam Lind, before tying the game with a wild pitch. Giancarlo Stanton's game-winning RBI single later in the inning was the only other hit against Scherzer, who dropped to 8-5 on the season despite striking out 11. He had retired 18 in a row before surrendering the first hit, as the former Cy Young Award winner was nearing his third career no-no. He has recorded the feat against the New York Mets and Pittsburgh Pirates. The Marlins will come off this comeback win to play host to the Chicago Cubs on Thursday night. Meanwhile, the Nationals will head back home to host the struggling Cincinnati Reds beginning on Friday.
Yankees Snap Losing Streak, Take Back First Place
After the Boston Red Sox dropped their series finale to the Kansas City Royals on Wednesday afternoon, the New York Yankees picked a good time to snap their seven-game losing streak. Didi Gregorious and Matt Holliday both went deep in the 8-4 win over the Los Angeles Angels, which puts New York a half game above Boston for first place in the AL East. Both of New York's long balls gave them the lead at the time, as they put an end to their longest losing streak since 2007. They have not dropped eight in a row since August of 1995. Jordan Montgomery allowed just two runs over 5.2 innings and earned his fifth win after Dellin Betances, Chad Green, Tyler Clippard, and Aroldis Chapman sealed the victory out of the bullpen. Clippard gave way to Chapman after giving up a two-run shot to Martin Maldonado for his second homer of the game. The flame-thrower would then retire the Angels in order to end the night. These two teams will finish off their series on Thursday night.
Oilers' McDavid Takes Home Hart Trophy
Connor McDavid of the Edmonton Oilers had a fitting end to his stellar season, as the 20-year-old took home the Hart Trophy as the league's MVP at the NHL Awards. McDavid beat out Sidney Crosby of the Penguins and Sergei Bobrovsky of the Blue Jackets, while also taking home the Ted Lindsay Award for most outstanding player. The second-year player became the third-youngest player to win MVP, with only Crosby and Wayne Gretsky winning it at a younger age. Both of those players won the award as teenagers. Other awards from the night included Patrice Bergeron getting his fourth Selke Trophy. Elsewhere, Bobrovsky won the Vezina Trophy, Brent Burns was honored with the Norris Trophy, and despite not winning the big one, Crosby won the Richard Trophy a the league's top scorer. The award show also included the expansion draft for the Las Vegas Golden Knights, which included big names like Marc-Andre Fleury and James Neal.
Max Scherzer was dominant as usual on Wednesday afternoon in Miami, but somehow he walked away with the loss. After losing a no-hit bid in the eighth inning against the Miami Marlins, the ace gave up the lead in a 2-1 Washington Nationals defeat. In what was a frustrating inning, the right-hander gave up the no-hitter on an infield single by A.J. Ellis with one down. He would then load the bases after an error by first baseman Adam Lind, before tying the game with a wild pitch. Giancarlo Stanton's game-winning RBI single later in the inning was the only other hit against Scherzer, who dropped to 8-5 on the season despite striking out 11. He had retired 18 in a row before surrendering the first hit, as the former Cy Young Award winner was nearing his third career no-no. He has recorded the feat against the New York Mets and Pittsburgh Pirates. The Marlins will come off this comeback win to play host to the Chicago Cubs on Thursday night. Meanwhile, the Nationals will head back home to host the struggling Cincinnati Reds beginning on Friday.
Yankees Snap Losing Streak, Take Back First Place
After the Boston Red Sox dropped their series finale to the Kansas City Royals on Wednesday afternoon, the New York Yankees picked a good time to snap their seven-game losing streak. Didi Gregorious and Matt Holliday both went deep in the 8-4 win over the Los Angeles Angels, which puts New York a half game above Boston for first place in the AL East. Both of New York's long balls gave them the lead at the time, as they put an end to their longest losing streak since 2007. They have not dropped eight in a row since August of 1995. Jordan Montgomery allowed just two runs over 5.2 innings and earned his fifth win after Dellin Betances, Chad Green, Tyler Clippard, and Aroldis Chapman sealed the victory out of the bullpen. Clippard gave way to Chapman after giving up a two-run shot to Martin Maldonado for his second homer of the game. The flame-thrower would then retire the Angels in order to end the night. These two teams will finish off their series on Thursday night.
Oilers' McDavid Takes Home Hart Trophy
Connor McDavid of the Edmonton Oilers had a fitting end to his stellar season, as the 20-year-old took home the Hart Trophy as the league's MVP at the NHL Awards. McDavid beat out Sidney Crosby of the Penguins and Sergei Bobrovsky of the Blue Jackets, while also taking home the Ted Lindsay Award for most outstanding player. The second-year player became the third-youngest player to win MVP, with only Crosby and Wayne Gretsky winning it at a younger age. Both of those players won the award as teenagers. Other awards from the night included Patrice Bergeron getting his fourth Selke Trophy. Elsewhere, Bobrovsky won the Vezina Trophy, Brent Burns was honored with the Norris Trophy, and despite not winning the big one, Crosby won the Richard Trophy a the league's top scorer. The award show also included the expansion draft for the Las Vegas Golden Knights, which included big names like Marc-Andre Fleury and James Neal.
