Cristian Javier’s parents had the idea that he would provide something special in Game 4 of the World Series. And the Houston Astros starter, with three of his teammates, would prove them right.
The Astros on Wednesday produced the first combined no-hitter in World Series history – and the second no-hitter of the Fall Classic overall – as Javier and the Houston 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 threw six no-balls while starting for the Astros, striking out nine and walking two in 97 pitches before being relieved.
Bryan Abreu and Rafael Montero each pitched a perfect inning before Ryan Pressly shut down the Phillies in the ninth, leaving the hosts hitless at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia.
After the final out, Javier ran from his dugout to hug Pressley on the mound, surrounded by their celebrating teammates. In an on-court interview, he was asked when he knew the night was going to be special.
“It’s funny. My parents told me today that I was going to throw a no-hitter, and thank God, I was able to do that,” Javier told Fox Sports, through a translator.
Javier, who is originally from the Dominican Republic, later told reporters that his father had arrived just a day earlier in the US to watch him on the field.
Javier left the game with a 5-0 lead, with the Astros scoring all of their runs in the fifth. Houston manager Dusty Baker said after the game that he was thinking about Javier and protecting his health when he decided to pull him after the sixth, noting Javier’s increasing pitch count and the strength of the Astros’ bullpen.
“It’s always tough to get a guy out, but you have to weigh the no-hitter and the history against trying to win this game and get back to 2-2 in the World Series,” Baker said.
The only previous no-hitter in the 118-year history of the World Series came from a pitcher, Don Larsen, who threw a perfect game in the 1956 World Series.
The Astros now hold the distinction of throwing the first combined no-hitter not only in the World Series but in postseason history, according to Major League Baseball. Aside from the Astros’ and Larsen’s feats, the only other no-hitter in the postseason was thrown by Roy Halladay for the Phillies in the 2010 National League Divisional Series.
Philadelphia manager Rob Thompson noted that the Phillies had a hitter against them against the New York Mets earlier this year, then won the next day.
“These children have short memories. They are going home tonight. They will go to bed and come back here tomorrow and prepare and compete like they always do,” Thomson said.
This is Houston’s second no-hitter this season. On June 25, Javier, Hector Nerys and Pressley combined for one against the Yankees.
Astros catcher who called his team’s pitches Wednesday, Christian Vazquez, also ran to hug Pressly after the game. Houston coach Joshua Miller praised Vazquez for his role.
“He calls every pitch, sees the movement, sees the hitter’s reaction,” Miller said, according to MLB.com. “It’s huge, knowing what to call and when to empty the overall game plan in certain situations.”
Vazquez said he didn’t think about completing Wednesday’s no-hitter until “maybe the last inning” because of the Phillies’ strong lineup, which led to a Game 3 victory on Tuesday.
“We’re not done yet, but this is very, very special for us. And when we get old, we’ll remember that,” Vazquez said.
