The_Dude

NEW YORK - Forced to scramble after starter Roy Oswalt was injured, a record six Houston pitchers combined on the first no-hitter against the New York Yankees (news) in 45 years.


AP Photo



Relievers Pete Munro, Kirk Saarloos, Brad Lidge, Octavio Dotel and Billy Wagner (news) finished to lead the Astros over the Yankees 8-0 Wednesday night.


It was the most pitchers ever to combine on a no-hitter in major league history — four had twice done the trick. The Yankees had gone 6,980 games — the longest streak in major league history — without being no-hit, since Hoyt Wilhelm's 1-0 victory for Baltimore on Sept. 20, 1958.


The last time New York was held hitless at Yankee Stadium was on Aug. 25, 1952, by Detroit's Virgil Trucks.


The closest New York came to a hit was in the fifth inning against Saarloos, when Alfonso Soriano sent a fly ball into short left field. Lance Berkman, who hit a two-run run homer in the third inning, ran in, stuck out his glove and made a tumbling catch.


Third baseman Geoff Blum made a barehanded pickup on Juan Rivera in the third inning and threw him out at first.


Astros pitchers combined for 13 strikeouts, including four by Dotel in the eighth, which tied the major league record for an inning. Soriano reached during the inning when he struck out on a wild pitch.


Wagner struck out Jorge Posada (news) and pinch-hitter Bubba Trammell (news) to start the ninth. He then got Hideki Matsui to ground to first base with one pitch to complete the Astros' 10th no-hitter, the first since Darryl Kile (news) against the New York Mets (news) on Sept. 8, 1993.


With Yankees' fans standing and applauding, Wagner pumped his fist as he stepped on first base to end it. Many the Astros came out of the dugout and onto the field to give high-fives.


This was the second no-hitter in the majors this season. Kevin Millwood (news) pitched one for Philadelphia on April 27 against San Francisco.


Overall, it was the third no-hitter in a game between AL and NL teams, and all of them have been at Yankee Stadium.


The other two were perfect games — Don Larsen did it against the Brooklyn Dodgers in the 1956 World Series (news - web sites) and by David Cone (news) against Montreal on July 18, 1999.


Oswalt strained his right groin and left in the second inning. He looked toward catcher Brad Ausmus (news) after his second pitch of the inning, his 23rd of the game, and immediately was replaced.


Oswalt originally hurt his groin May 15 while running the bases against Pittsburgh and was on the disabled list until May 31. Houston said he was day-to-day.


Munro pitched 2 2-3 innings, Saarloos 1 1-3 innings and Lidge (4-0) went two innings. Dotel threw the eighth and became the 44th pitcher in major league history to strike out four in an inning.




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damn houston rocks!

__________________
"Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity." - Darrel K Royal

BTAC Type-S

As a lifelong Red Sox fan, my nipples are hard.

Not to mention Pedro is back, amazing as ever, and our offense scored 13 runs last night to move into first place in the AL East! Nomar had more triples last night than the Yankees had hits (he also has had two in the past two games).

Life is good.

rogue49

Hey, it had to be history & a great game,
even the Yankee fans were into it.

And even as a Yankee fan myself, its still incredible to hear about.
I wish I saw it.

holtmate

I just saw the highlights on SportsCenter...very impressive! Houston looked great, and it's always nice to see the Yanks lose.

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"Because you're perfect."
"You have a point there."

The_Dude

i remember the commentator saying that the salary for the yankees pitching staff was more than the entire astro's team.

__________________
"Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity." - Darrel K Royal

Giant Hamburger

Hail Citizens!

This game warmed by beefy heart.

It might be the greatest Astros game since September 25, 1986. That's when Mike Scott pitched a 2–0 no-hitter against the Giants at the Astrodome, clinching the National League West title for the Astros. It was the first time a pennant had ever been decided by a no-hitter, and the 3rd consecutive game in which Astros pitching had allowed a mere two hits or less.

Now, if we could only win a playoff series.
-GH

jmf1234

Ha! Yankees suck. They won today (thurs.) though.

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Glory's Sun

I know how you feel. I couldn't stop smiling knowing the yanks were no hit. The yankees are only hitting something like .230 as a team. My Bo' Sox are rockin' it. 20 HRs in the last 8 games.. we're 1/2 game up which isn't much and steinbrenner is pissed so who knows there could be a whole new yankee team soon who cares I hope the yanks choke and miss the playoffs all together. That would be wonderful.

dragon2fire

yes yes yes


yeah


does a dance

ok i am done

i am not a yanks fan

MikeyChalupa

Remind me to bump this thread in October.

GO YANKS!

-Mikey

trent98

theyd probably get more no hitters if theyre relievers pitched that much every game. dotel and wagner could both be closers on almost any other team.

Paper Clip

There is a God!

warrrreagl

Wouldn't you know it? Brad Lidge is on my fantasy team, and I had his ass on the bench that night.

Shoot.

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Living is easy with eyes closed.

JoeyB

I am constantly amazed at how fans relish a Yankees defeat even more than they enjoy a victory by their own team. I think Red Sox fans have finally accepted the fact that they won't win a title, so that energy now goes to celebrating a New York defeat.


If a Yankees loss in the middle of June does it for you...enjoy it. Bask in the glow.

Yankees playoff tickets will go on sale September 20.

Meanwhile, in Beantown, I believe that REO Speedwagon will be playing at Fenway Park in a reunion tour.

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Peetster

My favorite team! Whoever is playing the Yank-me's!

Glory's Sun

We'll win a title again one year.. just like the cubs will win it again some year. Will it be soon.. you just never know. If we (red sox) add a little better pitching we'll be great. Our bats are smokin we just need some stronger pitching. Do I relish a Yankee defeat? of course..but Yankee fans relish a Boston defeat as well. it's just part of the rivalry.

BigBlueWrecking

Last time the Yanks got no hit...the won the Series. I hope it happens again. They just swept a pretty good team in the Cards, and now have their next 17 games against the O's, Mets, and Rays. Not a brutal schedule. Hopefully the Sox will choke like normal, and they will be 10 games out by September.

eyeseepeedude

see what happens when you spend a lot of money... a wimpy team comes in and makes you look foolish.

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JoeyB

The Yankees fans I have known relish a good Boston defeat, but only if it comes at the hands of New York. If the Red Sox lose to Detroit or Tampa Bay, it doesn't register.

Boston fans seem to have been conditioned to accept the defeat that naturally comes with Fenway and the only happiness they get is if the Yankees stumble.

I have rooted for NY since 1976 (God Bless Thurman Munson) and struggled through the ugly 80's of Ed Whitson, Wayne Tolleson, Steve Kemp and others. At no time during that decade of struggles did I savor a Boston loss.

If I had the choice of a NY win or a Boston loss, I would always go for the win. It seems that some Red Sox fans would find that choice much tougher.


For the record, as a baseball fan, I would LOVE Red Sox/Cubs World Series. The celebration, tension and excitement would be astronomical.

MikeyChalupa

Good point... in 1973 AND 1974, Oakland won World Series titles despite getting no-hit each season. The 1990 Oakland A's won the AL pennant after getting no-hit by Nolan Ryan.

I'll be in Tampa for their game against the Rays on the 26th. Should be the last game of a 4 game sweep...

-Mikey

MikeyChalupa

Yankees are now 15-2 since the no-no.

-Mikey