Watch: Ryan Zimmerman robs Tommy Edman to preserve no-hitter

Anibal Sanchez wasn’t able to complete a no-hitter against the St. Louis Cardinals in Game 1 of the NLCS on Friday night, but Ryan Zimmerman did his best to help the effort.

Cardinals infielder Tommy Edman led off the bottom of the eighth inning with a line drive towards first. Zimmerman made an incredible diving catch to retire Edman:

Ryan Zimmerman.

That's the tweet. #NLCS pic.twitter.com/f9ap8qPerl

— MLB (@MLB) October 12, 2019

What a play!

After seeing that effort from Zimmerman, one might figure it was the Washington Nationals’ night and that Sanchez would be able to complete it. Two batters later, though, outfielder Jose Martinez delivered a pinch-hit single for the Cardinals’ first hit of the night.

Here's the Jose Martinez hit to end Anibal Sanchez's no-hitter with two outs in the eighth. Third time in the postseason the #Cardinals have been no-hit to two outs in the eighth in a postseason game, but they've broken it up then every time. #Nationals #NLCS pic.twitter.com/sbd7f13D74

— Billy Heyen (@Wheyen3) October 12, 2019

The Nats removed Sanchez from the game after that hit. He had thrown 103 pitches and allowed just the one hit and no runs, exiting with a 2-0 lead.