CNN
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Christian Javier’s parents had an idea that he would offer something special in Game 4 of the World Series. And the Houston Astros starter, along with three of his fellow hurlers, 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 Houston’s bullpen blanked the host Philadelphia Phillies 5-0 to tie the seven-game series at 2. -2 and secure their place in baseball lore.
Javier tossed six innings of no-hit ball while starting for the Astros, striking out nine and walking two on 97 pitches before being relieved.
Brian Abreu and Rafael Montero each pitched perfect innings before Ryan Pressley shut out the Phillies in the ninth to keep the hosts hitless at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia.
After the last out, Javier ran from his dugout to hug Pressley on the mound. In an on-field interview, he was asked when he knew the night would be special.
“It’s ridiculous. 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 a translator.
Speaking to reporters later, Javier, who hails from the Dominican Republic, said his father had come to the US just a day earlier to watch him pitch.
Javier exited the game with a 5-0 lead before the Astros scored all of their runs in the fifth. Noting Javier’s rising pitch count and the strength of the Astros’ bullpen, Houston manager Dusty Baker said he was thinking about Javier and protecting his health when he decided to pull him after the sixth.
“It’s always tough to take a guy out, but you have to weigh the no-hitter and 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 World Series history came from a pitcher, Don Larsen, who tossed 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 also in postseason history. Aside from the Astros and Larsen’s accomplishments, the only no-hitter in the postseason was Roy Halladay’s tossed for the Phillies in the 2010 National League Divisional Series.
Philadelphia manager Rob Thomson noted earlier this year that the Phillies had pitched a no-hitter against the New York Mets, then won the next day.
“These guys, they’ve got a short memory. He is going home tonight. They go to bed and come back here tomorrow and prepare and compete like they always do,” Thomson said.
It was Houston’s second no-hitter this season. On June 25, Javier, Hector Neris and Pressley teamed up against the Yankees.
Astros catcher Christian Vazquez, who called his team’s pitches Wednesday, also ran to hug Pressley after the game. Houston’s pitching coach, Joshua Miller, praised Vazquez for his role.
“He’s calling every pitch, he’s looking at the movement, he’s looking at the hitter’s reaction,” Miller said, according to MLB.com. “It’s big, knowing what to call and when to vacate the general game plan in certain situations.”
Vazquez said he didn’t think about completing Wednesday’s no-hitter until “probably the last inning” as a strong Phillies team en route to Tuesday’s Game 3 victory.
“We’re not done yet, but it’s very special to us. And we’ll remember this when we’re old,” Vazquez said.
