CNN
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Christian Javier’s parents had a feeling he would deliver something special in Game 4 of the World Series. And the Houston Astros starter, along with three of his fellow hurlers, will prove them right.
The Astros on Wednesday pitched the first combined no-hitter in World Series history — and the second no-hitter of the Fall Classic overall — as Javier and Houston’s bullpen beat the host Philadelphia Phillies 5-0 to tie the best-of-seven series at 2. -2 and secure their place in baseball lore.
Javier tossed six innings of no-hit ball When starting For the Astros, he struck out nine and walked two over 97 pitches.
Brian Abreu and Rafael Montero both pitched one perfect inning before Ryan Pressley led the Phillies to a ninth-inning shutout at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia.
After the last out, Javier ran from his dugout and hugged Pressley on the mound, surrounded by their celebrating teammates. In an on-field interview, he was asked when the night would be special.
“It’s funny. My parents told me I was going to throw a no-hitter today, and thank God I was able to do it,” Javier told Fox Sports through an interpreter.
Javier, who is from the Dominican Republic, later told reporters that his father had arrived in the United States a day earlier to watch him on the pitch.
Javier left the game with a 5-0 lead and the Astros scored all the runs in the fifth. Houston manager Dusty Baker said he was thinking about Javier and protecting his health when he made the decision to pull Javier after the sixth inning, noting Javier’s increasing pitch count and the strength of the Astros’ bullpen.
“It’s always tough to take a guy out, but you have to weigh the no-hitter and history against winning this game and getting back to 2-2 in the World Series,” Baker said.
Only one winner in 118 years World Series History It came from a pitcher named Dan Larson who threw a perfect game in the 1956 World Series.
According to Major League Baseball, the Astros now have the distinction of throwing the first combined no-hitter not only in the World Series, but in postseason history. Outside of the Astros and Larson’s accomplishments, Roy Halladay threw for the Phillies in the 2010 National League Divisional Series.
Philadelphia manager Rob Thompson noted that the Phillies pitched a no-hitter against the New York Mets. Earlier this yearThe next day was successful.
“These guys, they got a little memory. They’re going to go home tonight. They’re going to bed and come back here tomorrow and prepare and compete like they always do,” Thompson said.
It was Houston’s second no-hitter of the season. On June 25, Javier, Hector Nerys and Pressley teamed up against the Yankees.
Astros catcher Christian Vasquez, who called his team’s pitches on Wednesday, ran to embrace Pressley after the game. Houston’s pitching coach Joshua Miller praised Vasquez for his role.
“He calls every pitch, he watches the movement, he watches the hitter’s reaction,” Miller said. According to MLB.com. “Knowing when to vacate the general game plan and what to call in certain situations is huge.”
Vazquez said he didn’t think about ending Wednesday’s no-hitter until “probably the last inning” because of the strong Phillies lineup. Its road to a Game 3 victory was slow tuesday
“We’re not done yet, but it’s very special to us. We’re going to remember this when we’re old,” Vasquez said.
