Jordan Zimmerman tosses first Nationals no-hitter

Capped with a sensational catch by left fielder Steven Souza, Washington Nationals right-hander Jordan Zimmerman tossed the first no-hitter in franchise history as his team climbed to 30 games above .500 with a 1-0 win over the Miami Marlins Sunday.

Zimmerman (14-5) walked just one, striking out 10 in the historic outing, and faced the minimum after Garrett Jones, who drew the aforementioned walk, was picked off.
He outdueled Miami right-hander Henderson Alvarez , who on the last day of the 2013 season, tossed a no-hitter of his own. Alvarez had just one blemish on his resume in Washington, D.C. Sunday, a solo shot off the bat of Ian Desmond that accounted for the lone run of the contest.

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Miami (77-85) looked lost at the plate for much of the afternoon, while the Washington offense pounded out 11 hits – all of which came against Alvarez (12-7), who struck out three and did not walk a batter in the loss.

Bryce Harper led the Nationals (96-66) offensively, with a pair of hits, including a double.

Zimmerman’s gem is the fifth no-hitter in Major League Baseball this season. The right-hander joins Tim Lincecum, Clayton Kershaw, Josh Beckett and a group of Phillies pitchers in accomplishing the feat in 2014.