Danny Espinosa on play to nab Pedro Alvarez in eighth: "I was able to get him"

No-hitters are always about a dominant pitcher completely shutting down an opposing squad. More often than not, these pitching gems have a few plays in the field on defense that make the difference between a no-hitter and a one- or two-hitter.

On Saturday in D.C., Max Scherzer was awesome in his no-hitter of the Pirates, with a final score of 6-0.

One play that got the crowd roaring was a defensive play by veteran second baseman Danny Espinosa late in the game that kept the Pirates off the basepaths.

With two outs in the bottom of the eighth, the Pirates' first baseman, Pedro Alvarez, sent a sharp grounder deep into the hole between first and second. The Nationals had the left-handed hitting Alvarez played to pull. Anthony Rendon was playing above second base and dove to his left but couldn't come up with the ball.

Espinosa ranged to his right and then fired across his body to first baseman Tyler Moore, who stretched out to nab Alvarez before he touched the first base bag.

Scherzer was through eight innings unscathed.

"That was a tough play by Danny," Moore said. "We're playing him in the shift and he's playing halfway in right field. (Anthony Rendon) couldn't get to it, and Danny had to go to his right, made a good play on the ball. That kind of got the blood pumping a little bit, I think with us and the fans, that this could be a possibility.

"(Alvarez is) a little slower runner, so I mean we had a little bit of time. But still not a very fun play to have, it wasn't very routine. So Danny made a good job on that."

When the ball was first hit, did Espinosa think he could make the play?

"I think I'm going to try," Espinosa said. "I'm going to try to do the best I can to make that play. I was a little more to my left, I thought he was going to pull that ball with the shift. I got to that ball and I just knew I had to get to that ball quick. I was able to get him."

Espinosa said the adrenalin pump in the dugout was high after the defensive play.

"Everyone was pretty happy," Espinosa said. "Everyone was happy and excited for Max."

Scherzer said Espinosa deserves a ton of credit because he has been bounced around the infield and outfield all season defensively, but still manages to make big plays.

"That goes to the early work," Scherzer said. "That goes to Espi working hard. You got to realize what he's been asked to do right now. He's being asked to play left, first, short, second. And for him to be able to make that play just shows how much hard work he's putting into his game."

Espinosa explained the angle of the play.

"You typically don't work on a play at second to your right that you get around the ball and throwing," Espinosa said. "At short, that's a play you make a lot. But at second, that's typically not a play you make. Yeah, getting around the ball the throw is a different angle right there."

Moore said it was a thrill to be able to watch Scherzer work, and he has seen the veteran start to gain momentum the last couple of starts again.

"He's special," Moore said. "Special for his last two starts have been unbelievable, just dominant. It's just crazy to see and glad he's on our team for sure. It was a special time for this team and Maxie."

Espinosa said the no-hitter ranks up there with some of him favorite memories in the big leagues.

"It was a lot of fun," Espinosa said. "To see a guy be able to throw a no-hitter, to be a part of a no-hitter, it's awesome. Not even every player gets to be a part of one no-hitter in their career. And to see him going out there and compete and just shutting it down was a lot of fun."