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Napoleon had Waterloo. Coyote had Roadrunner. Anibal Sanchez has Laynce Nix.
But for Nix's leadoff single in the second inning, a looping fly that dropped in front of center fielder Chris Coghlan, Sanchez would be taking a no-hitter into the seventh inning, the third time this year he's flirted with a no-no.
If this scenario seems strangely familiar, it's with good reason. On Mother's Day in Miami, Sanchez was cruising toward his second career no-hitter before Nix singled to center to lead off the seventh to break up the gem. Sanchez finished by allowing two hits in seven innings and striking out a career-high 11.
Sanchez has only seven strikeouts through six innings today, but the Nationals are having no more luck at figuring out the Marlins right-hander. Luckily for the Nats, Livan Hernandez has been equally efficient, scattering six hits through seven innings.
Hernandez lost his shutout bid when Mike Stanton hit a solo homer to left for a 1-0 Marlins lead with two down in the seventh. Greg Dobbs followed with a double off the scoreboard in right.
Sanchez's no-hitter came in 2006, his rookie season, against the Diamondbacks. He lost a no-hit bid against the Rockies on April 22, settling for a one-hitter and a complete game after a ninth-inning single. He has two one-hitters and a no-hitter since breaking into the majors in 2006.
