Max Scherzer took a no-hitter into the eighth inning before giving up two hits and a run after getting the first man out, but he and the Washington Nationals held on to defeat the Cincinnati Reds 5-1 Monday afternoon in our nation's capital.

With some terrific defensive help, Scherzer no-hit the Reds until Tucker Barnhart singled with one out in the eighth. Barnhart lined a 1-2 fastball of 98 miles per hour into left field to break up the no-hitter (video). One out later, Skip Schumaker doubled home Barnhart to end the shutout. The Reds got one more hit in the ninth, a Joey Votto single off reliever Matt Thornton.

Nationals left-fielder Tyler Moore made a fantastic diving catch in the third.

At the time, thoughts of a no-hitter had not yet festered, but that catch preserved the feat and let the game become exciting as it progressed. Anthony Rendon made a gem of his own to end that third inning (video). Scherzer got even more defensive gems throughout the game.

Scherzer (W: 13-12, 2.91 ERA), ended the day with a line that reads 8 IP, 2 H, 1 ER, 3 BB, and 10 K. He flirted with what would have ended up as his second no-hitter of the season. On June 20, Scherzer no-hit the Pittsburgh Pirates. In fact, he had a perfect game going with two outs in the ninth before hitting Jose Tabata. He then got Josh Harrison to fly out to complete the no-hitter. 

Just one start earlier, Scherzer lost a perfect game in the seventh but one-hit the Milwaukee Brewers, meaning he came within one hit of tying Johnny Vander Meer's two consecutive no-hitters. 

Scherzer has rebounded from a rough August that saw him amass an ERA of 6.43 in five starts to post a September ERA of 3.02 in five starts with likely one left before the season ends on October 4.

Brandon Finnegan (L: 4-2, 3.86) pitched five innings, allowing three earned runs on eight hits. He walked two, struck out three, and allowed a home run. 

The Nationals scored twice in the bottom of the fourth on Matt den Dekker's RBI double and Michael Taylor's RBI single. Wilson Ramos (15) and den Dekker (5) each hit solo home runs in the fifth and sixth innings, respectively. den Dekker was 3 for 4 with that home run (video). He scored twice and drove in two on the day.

Reed Johnson capped the scoring with a sacrifice fly in the eighth. Johnson's RBI was just his third in only 20 plate appearances on the season.

The Nationals ended their home schedule with Scherzer's gem. On Tuesday, they travel south to visit the Atlanta Braves before ending the season at Citi Field, facing the N.L. East champion New York Mets.

The Reds, meanwhile, return home to host the #2 N.L. Wild Card Chicago Cubs from Tuesday through Thursday. They will then end the season at PNC Park, playing the Pirates, currently the top N.L. Wild Card team. The Pirates are also still fighting for the N.L. Central division title.