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Originally Posted by Nevadaref
Yo, Chuck!
Boston's Clay Buchholz, who wasn't even in the major leagues two weeks ago, became the 20th rookie to throw a no-hitter in baseball history Saturday night when he beat the Baltimore Orioles 10-0 at Fenway Park.
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I've been dying to get in here and post, but I turned the computer off early last night to watch the game with my dad, and then I couldn't get into the forum this morning. Anyway. . .
Not only was he still the minors two weeks ago, but he wasn't even supposed to start last night. Wakefield was scheduled to pitch but his back was bothering him. So Clay didn't even know he was pitching until yesterday afternoon, I think.
Coco Crisp made a couple of very good running catches in center field to keep the no-no going and Dustin Pedroia made an absolutely unbelievable diving stop behind second base in the top of the seventh to save the night. He was somehow able to get up and barely throw out Tejada, who stupidly dove into first base.
Buchholz also made a fine defensive play on a sharp bouncer right back to the mound. But his use of multiple pitches at any point in the count was really what kept the Orioles at bay, I think. He threw a fastball, curveball, slider, and change-up and used them all perfectly. (Last pitch of the game was a curve or change-up -- I couldn't tell for sure -- and Joe West took so long to ring it up that I thought he called it a ball. I yelled at the TV and then West gave the signal and Tek jumped out of his crouch.)
The only disappointment of the whole night is that nobody gave him a cream pie to the face during his post-game interview. Poor kid had a hard enough time talking, though. He just had no idea what to say. He could've used a little coaching from Crash Davis for the interview.
First Red Sox rookie to throw a no-hitter. Only the third pitcher ever to throw one in his first or second career start. Veritek has caught Boston's last three no-hitters (Nomo @ Balt, Lowe @ Tampa Bay, Buchholz vs. Balt). The only player to catch more no-hitters than Veritek was a guy who played for the White Sox in the late teens and early 1920's.
Buchholz was drafted by the Red Sox using the draft pick they received as compensation from the Mets when NY signed Pedro as a free agent.
Great night!