Rob Issa, FISM News
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Cristian Javier shut down Philadelphia’s sluggers throughout Game 4 of the World Series in Philadelphia on Wednesday night, as he alongside three Houston relievers propelled the Astros to victory while making baseball history.
Javier didn’t allow a hit in six, spectacular innings, and Bryan Abreu, Rafael Montero, and Ryan Pressly threw one hitless inning apiece for the third-ever postseason no-hitter and the first-ever postseason combined no-hitter, as Houston defeated the Phillies 5-0 to even the World Series at 2-2.
HISTORY. pic.twitter.com/CSSISF31Ym
— Houston Astros (@astros) November 3, 2022
Cristian Javier shut down Philadelphia’s sluggers throughout Game 4 of the World Series in Philadelphia on Wednesday night, as he alongside three Houston relievers propelled the Astros to victory while making baseball history.
Game 5 is Thursday night back at Citizens Bank Park in front of a boisterous crowd that had little to cheer last night. The game was a major let-down after Game 3 when the Phillies belted five home runs to defeat the Astros 7-0.
Javier, the hard-throwing right-hander, struck out nine batters and walked two.
“I just came out holding onto God, trying to be positive, trying to attack the strike zone,” he said through a translator. “Thanks to God I was able to accomplish that.”
The 25-year-old from the Dominican Republic pitched in front of his parents, who predicted he’d throw a no-hitter.
Cristian Javier's parents told him today that he'd throw a no-hitter…@Ken_Rosenthal spoke with the @astros Game 4 starter who just helped his team do just that. pic.twitter.com/Fjtv3bQOvG
— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) November 3, 2022
Javier exited after 97 pitches and Astros manager Dusty Baker turned it over to the league’s best bullpen to ensure a victory and ensuring a return trip to Houston for Saturday’s Game 6.
“We had a fresh bullpen, our guys are throwing good down there and we figured that was enough, especially this late in the year,” said Baker, about taking Javier out of the game. “Usually, we had him around 100 (pitches), didn’t want to start him out the next inning. But boy, that was some way to win a ballgame. Man, the fans were psyched; our fans were psyched, anyway. But it brought back memories of when Doc Halladay no-hit us when I was in Cincinnati. I guess it was supposed to happen.”
Don Larsen’s perfect game for the New York Yankees against the Los Angeles Dodgers in Game 5 of the 1956 World Series is the only other no-hitter in the World Series.
Roy Halladay tossed a no-hitter in his first career postseason start with the Phillies in the same ballpark against the Cincinnati Reds in Game 1 of the 2010 National League Division Series. Baker was the manager of that Reds team.
Javier kept the Phillies off-balance with his slow pace, walking around the mound, rubbing the ball, and being deliberate about his timing.
The Astros scored the only run they would need when reliever Jose Alvarado replaced starter Aaron Nola with the bases loaded and no outs in the fifth and promptly hit Yordan Alvarez to force in a run.
Alex Bregman then lined a 100 mph fastball down the right-field line to drive in two runs.
Keep fightin'. pic.twitter.com/FpNFS95cug
— Houston Astros (@astros) November 3, 2022
The Astros put up a total of 5 runs in the fifth inning for what would end up being the final score of the evening.
Javier didn’t need much offense because he was in control the entire night.
“I think it’s the best fastball I’ve ever seen,” catcher Christian Vazquez said of Javier. “That’s how special he is. You can call it, whoever’s in the batter’s box, and it’s going to be awesome, it’s going to be effective and it’s going to do the job.”
Kyle Schwarber came closest to getting Philadelphia’s only hit when he ripped a ball just foul down the first-base line, but then struck out on the next pitch.
With the momentum shifted toward Houston, Astros ace Justin Verlander aims to send them home looking to clinch in six.
Verlander is 0-6 with a 6.07 ERA in eight World Series starts after blowing a five-run lead in the opener.
Noah Syndergaard, who was scheduled to start Game 3 before it was rained out Monday night, will oppose Verlander. He’s pitched three times this postseason and allowed one run in five innings.
“I just try to go out there and have success in whichever role they choose to use me in,” Syndergaard said. “I think it’s going to be really cool to have the opportunity to go toe-to-toe with Justin Verlander. Justin’s a guy that I’ve looked up to my entire life, and to be able to go toe-to-toe with him again, I mean, we started the year off facing off against each other. So I mean, just the whole opportunity just kind of gives me chills.”