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Hernandez blanks former team as Diamondbacks sweep Nationals

Apr 8, 2007 - 10:09 PM WASHINGTON (Ticker) -- Livan Hernandez showed his former team that he still has plenty left in the tank.

Hernandez carried a no-hitter into the sixth inning and worked seven scoreless frames to lead the Arizona Diamondbacks to a 3-1 triumph over the Washington Nationals.

A two-time All-Star with the Nationals' franchise, Hernandez (1-0) was dealt to the Diamondbacks last August after clearing waivers.

The 32-year-old Hernandez returned to Washington in triumphant fashion Sunday, yielding three hits and three walks with one strikeout. The righthander did not allow a hit until the sixth, when Ryan Zimmerman roped a long double with two outs.

Hernandez was masterful pitching in the cold, blustery conditions at RFK Stadium.

"The wind really helped me a lot with the sinker," Hernandez said. "Everything was moving, so you didn't have to push and throw hard. You just let guys hit in the air."

Hernandez admitted he was not worried about the no-hitter and also emphasized how much he enjoys pitching here.

"I don't think about (the no-hitter)," he said. "The game's 2-0, and you don't want something in your mind that's not going to happen.

"This ballpark is great for pitchers. I've got a lot of good memories here."

Arizona catcher Miguel Montero said it was a delight to work with Hernandez.

"He was painting the corner all game long," Montero said. "He had pretty good command. He hit all the spots and had a great game plan."

The Nationals also offered words of praise for their former ace.

"That's pretty much what he does," Washington manager Manny Acta said. "He preys on guys' aggressiveness."

"That's pretty typical (Hernandez)," Zimmerman added. "He wants you to hit the ball. He's not going to strike a lot of people out."

Righthander Brandon Lyon allowed a run in the eighth but worked out of a bases-loaded jam to set up closer Jose Valverde, who pitched the ninth for his third save.

Orlando Hudson ripped an RBI double in the first inning and came around to score on Eric Byrnes' groundout.

Rookie Chris Young added insurance in the eighth with a run-scoring single, and Scott Hairston had a pair of hits for Arizona, which completed a sweep of this four-game series.

"Winning four here was huge," Arizona manager Bob Melvin said. "We were one pitch away from winning another in Colorado. Any time you come away with a 5-2 road trip, you'll take it."

Nationals starter Shawn Hill (0-2) worked 6 2/3 efficient innings, yielding two runs and six hits with two walks and two strikeouts.

"He was outstanding," Acta said. "I'm pretty confident this kid is going to give us something every five days."

Austin Kearns lined an RBI single off Lyon in the eighth to help Washington avoid the shutout and Zimmerman had a pair of doubles for the Nationals, who fell to 1-6 this season and managed a total of just six runs in this four-game set.

"It's just a week," Acta said. "Those hits will come. Some of those balls were hit hard, right at people."