Max Scherzer almost ties Johnny Vander Meer's consecutive no-hitters.

Johnny Vander Meer is the answer to one of those wise guy questions: what record is least likely to be broken?  In 1938 Johnny Vander Meer pitched two consecutive 9 inning no-hitters for the Cincinnati Reds.  Obviously, to break that record a pitcher needs to throw three consecutive 9 inning no-hitters.

Vander Meer's no-hitters:

Saturday June 11, 1938 Boston Braves in Cincinnati 3-0; 3 BB, 4 SO; in Crosley Field Attendance: 5,214, Time of Game: 1:48; highest Braves BA starting lineup: Tony Cuccinello 2B .273

Wednesday June 15, 1938 in Brooklyn 6-0; 8 BB, 7 SO; first night game at Ebbets Field, Attendance: 38,748, Time of Game: 2:22; highest Dodgers BA starting lineup:
Cookie Lavagetto 3B: 0 for 2, 2 BB .355
Babe Phelps C: 0 for 3, 1 BB .316
Ernie Koy CF: 0 for 4 .305
Plus, Dolf Camilli (1941 NL MVP) 1B: 0 for 1, 3 BB .267

Nine years later on Friday Oct. 3, 1947 Lavagetto broke up a no-hitter in game 4  of the World Series against the Yankees starter Bill Bevens with a game winning pinch hit two run double in the 9th inning with two out.  Bevens went 8.66 innings: 1 hit, 10 BB, 5 SO.  Dodgers won the game 3-2 to tie WS 2-2.  Yanks won the WS 4-3.  Lavagetto had PH for leadoff batter Eddie Stanky and drove in Al Gionfriddo who was pinch running for Carl Furillo who had walked and Eddie Miksis who was pinch running for PH (for pitcher Hugh Casey) Pete Reiser who had been intentionally walked.  In game 7 Lavagetto PH against winning pitcher Joe Page in the 7th and popped out; Bevens relieved starter Spec Shea in the 2nd: 2.66 innings, 2 hits.  Gionfriddo robbed Joe DiMaggio of a home run in game 6.  Lavagetto, Bevens and Gionfriddo never played in the big leagues again.

Ernie Koy, Sr. also played fullback at the University of Texas 1930-1932.  Ernie Koy, Jr. was a running back in the NFL for the New York Giants 1965-1970. 

Today Max Scherzer pitching for the Washington Nationals got about as close as a pitcher can get to matching Vander Meer:

Sunday, June 14, 2015, 2:10 pm Brewers in Milwaukee 4-0, ONE hit, 1 BB, 16 SO, Miller Park, Attendance: 34,964, Time of Game: 2:59
Carlos Gomez CF: 1 for 4 .270; led off the 7th inning with a fly ball single to right for the only hit off Scherzer.

Saturday June 20, 2015, 4:05 pm Pittsburgh Pirates in Washington 6-0, 0 hits, 0 BB, 1 HBP, 10 SO in Nationals Park, Attendance: 41,104, Time of Game: 2:21

In consecutive complete games Scherzer just missed a no-hitter (one hit, 7th inning), then just missed a perfect game (one HBP, 2 out, 9th inning). To me that's pretty darn close to pitching consecutive no-hitters. Given how few complete games pitchers get these days that's pretty amazing.

No-hitter and/or one hitter in consecutive complete games. Tuesday, June 19, 2012