Corey Kluber paused for a moment, before delivering his first pitch in the ninth inning.
“I had to take a deep breath after warming up. I tried to calm myself down a bit, “acknowledged the pitcher nicknamed” Klubot “for his serenity and precision mechanical movements, like those of a robot.
Then Kluber had the sixth no-hitter on record this season in the majors, and the second in two nights, as the New York Yankees beat the Texas Rangers 2-0 on Wednesday night.
“It was fun. I think it was a special night, “commented the pitcher. “I have never been part of a game like this. He hadn’t even witnessed one, much less had he thrown it. “
There have been four no-hitters in a 15-day period. The six totals represent the highest number at this stage of a campaign in history.
The 35-year-old right-hander, a two-time AL Cy Young recipient, walked Charlie Culberson in the third inning. Had it not been for that, he would have gotten the perfect game.
“I’m really not a person who wonders a lot what would have happened if such a thing happened. Obviously, I would have liked not to walk a batter on four pitches in a row, ”Kluber said. “But at that point in the game, the score was 0-0, so after that walk, my mind was on solving the inning without conceding a run.”
Kluber polished his pitching gem one night after Spencer Turnbull hit a double zero against the Seattle Mariners. The last time there had been no-hitter games on consecutive days was in 1969.
In that year, Jim Maloney had a no-hitter for Cincinnati on April 30 and Don Wilson did the same for Houston the following day.
“I felt butterflies in my stomach in that ninth inning. Now I’m getting emotional, just to testify that this was something really special, “said manager Aaron Boone. “And it was amazing to see his teammates and the excitement they all expressed for Corey and for being a part of something like this. What a performance! “
In his ninth start for the Yankees, Kluber (4-2) struck out 10 and pitched 101, of which 71 were strikes. His most powerful fastball reached 92.5 mph, on a night when he also pulled 31 corners, 27 cutters, 23 sinkers, 18 gears and two four-seam straights.
Last season, Kluber was pitching for the Rangers when he hurt himself after just one inning of labor on his team debut.
That was Kluber’s second season that had to be shortened by injuries. His 2019 season ended on May 1, when he was hit in the forearm by a grounder.
He left the Rangers as a free agent to sign for a year and $ 11 million with the Yankees.
Right fielder Tyler Wade ran to catch a fly ball from pinch-hitter David Dahl. It was the second out of the ninth inning, before Willie Calhoun’s ground ball to Venezuelan shortstop Gleyber Torres marked the culmination of the game.
Wade entered in the third inning after Ryan LaMarre injured his thigh.
Boone said he was nervous about that hit, considering the ball would fall.
“I knew I was going to catch her,” Wade commented instead. “I didn’t know if I would have to dive in or catch her like I did, but I knew I would.” (MLB in Spanish)
Congratulations @CKluber on the no hitter and thank you for allowing me to be a part of an incredibly special night I will never forget! pic.twitter.com/es4FU7Hdwm
– Kyle Higashioka (@the_higster) May 20, 2021