It took three pitchers, 150 pitches and 15 strikeouts, but the Houston Astros combined for a no-hitter against the Yankees on Saturday at Yankee Stadium, beating the best team in baseball, 3-0.
Cristian Javier got things started for Houston, dominating the Yankees for seven innings. He struck out 13 batters and his only blemishes were a first inning walk and a batter reaching first base on an error in the seventh inning. But with Javier at 115 pitches, Manager Dusty Baker pulled his starter in favor of right-hander Héctor Neris.
Neris and Ryan Pressly finished the job, tossing two more no-hit innings while allowing two base runners on walks. The scene was reminiscent of another combined no-hitter, when six Astros pitchers worked together to no-hit the Yankees on June 11, 2003. That game was also at Yankee Stadium, and it was the last no-hitter against the Yankees before Saturday.
Saturday’s no-hitter was the third this season — the Mets had a combined no-hitter on April 29 and Reid Detmers of the Angels threw one on May 10 — and it was only the seventh time that the Yankees have gone without a hit in 120 seasons and more than 18,500 games.
The Astros’ combined brilliance wasted a strong effort by Gerrit Cole, the ace of the Yankees staff, who allowed four hits and one run in seven innings, striking out eight.
Javier, 25, is off to a strong start in his third season. With Saturday’s win he improved to 5-3 and lowered his E.R.A. to 2.73. Despite not being able to finish the no-hitter on his own, he set career highs in pitches and strikeouts, while tying his career high in innings pitched. And thanks to his bullpen, he can claim partial credit to a no-hitter at Yankee Stadium.
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