Cristian Javier and the Houston relievers combined for just the second no-hitter in World Series history last night, taming Philadelphia’s red-hot bats and their boisterous fans for a game-ending 5-0 Astros win. tied at two wins apiece.
Don Larsen of the New York Yankees pitched the only no-hitter in Fall Classic history, a perfect game against the Brooklyn Dodgers in Game 5 of the 1956 edition. Javier and relievers Bryan Abreu, Rafael Montero and Ryan Pressly fell short of perfection. But they grazed her. It was the second time this year that the 25-year-old Dominican right-hander led a no-hitter.
On June 25 at Yankee Stadium, Javier combined with Héctor Neris and Pressly to keep New York hitless. So, Javier racked up 115 pitches in seven episodes.
Four months later, he used 97 pitches. In the most momentous start of his career, Javier carved the greatest work of art out of him as a pitcher.
Protected with a four-seam fastball that reached 95 mph at most and a slider, Javier dominated at will in the Phillies’ fiefdom. The Astros ensured that this Fall Classic is defined on the weekend and at home.
For Game 5 tonight in Philadelphia, Astros ace Justin Verlander will try again for an elusive first World Series victory against Noah Syndergaard.
Down 2-1 in the series, the Astros desperately needed Javier to hit the table to avoid being left with the noose around his neck.
And boy did he do it. He allowed just a couple of runners on the trails, walking Bryce Harper leading off the second inning and Brandon Marsh with one out in the third.
Javier prescribed nine strikeouts, including five in a row between the fourth and fifth innings. The other no-hitter gem of the postseason came from the Phillies’ Roy Halladay, opening a division series against Cincinnati, also at Citizens Bank Park. After stringing together 16 scoreless innings, the Astros’ offense woke up with a five-run inning in the fifth.
Alex Bregman had the big hit on the rally, a two-run double. The other three runs came on a bases-loaded hit to Yordan Álvarez, a sacrifice fly by Kyle Tucker and a single by Yuli Gurrriel. Verlander will look to break the curse on him in the World Series. He is 0-6 with a 6.07 ERA in eight starts.
