After Gwynn made it a perfect day for Montreal, the Expos charged to the mound to greet Martinez, and the fans stayed on and cheered. There was nothing in my mind," Martinez said of his reaction when the game ended. I could only cry. I didn't know how to express myself.
I didn't know how to respond to this kind of game. Martinez, a native of Nicaragua, is the first opposing pitcher to throw a complete-game no-hitter in the year history of Dodger Stadium.
He's also the first to pitch a complete-game no-hitter against the Dodgers at home since Johnny Vander Meer beat Brooklyn on June 15, , at Ebbets Field. Martinez, a member of the All-Star team, was nearly out of baseball after the season.
But he overcame an alcohol problem to become the ace of the Expos' staff. After 10 seasons with Baltimore, Martinez was traded to the the Expos on June 16, , for a player to be named later. He became a free agent after the season and started the '87 season as a minor league pitcher. Martinez, the target of several trade rumors lately, was for Montreal last season with a 2.
Dodgers starter Mike Morgan had a perfect game of his own through five innings until Ron Hassey led off the sixth with a single. Hassey was also the catcher when Len Barker pitched a perfect game for Cleveland against Toronto on May 15, Hassey is the first in major league history to catch two perfect games. There's been only one or two games when he hasn't had the kind of stuff he had today. The Montreal right-hander struck out five for his 22nd shutout in career starts.
It was the seventh no-hitter in Expos' history and the first perfect game. It was the fifth nine-inning no-hitter of the season, the first coming on May 1 by Texas' Nolan Ryan against Toronto. The closest thing to a hit off Martinez came with one out in the fourth inning when Juan Samuel hit a hard smash to third that Tim Wallach fielded on the lip of the infield grass.
Martinez then felt some tightness in his right hip while pitching to Eddie Murray and was allowed to throw two warmup pitches. He shook it off and went on to perfection and a place in baseball history. Morgan also had a perfect game through five innings until Hassey led off the sixth with a single. Walker scored when Griffin made his second error of the inning on a Hassey groundball. Morgan went on to throw a complete game himself, allowing just four hits while walking one.
The last man between Martinez and perfection was pinch-hitter Chris Gwynn , younger brother of Tony. The lefty swinger almost ended the dream when he slapped a 1-and-1 pitch barely foul down the third-base line. I was so overexcited out there. Martinez left the 1-and-2 pitch up, and Gwynn lifted it to right-center. But I had to get over there and get it. I had to forget what was at stake.
After Grissom gloved the ball, celebration ensued, led by Wallach. When the swarm abated, Martinez then enjoyed an interlude alone in the dugout. He needed just 96 pitches, 66 of which were strikes. He went to a two-ball count on only eight hitters, and of these, only three went to a three-ball count. There were 17 groundouts, five strikeouts, two foul outs, and just three fair balls hit out of the infield. You give the credit to Dennis. Later that night, teammates and friends toasted him with champagne; Martinez raised his glass, then set it down without taking a sip.
Martinez, the first player from Nicaragua to reach the majors, was already a hero in his homeland. He threw eight more shutouts, including two of his six career two-hitters he also had a one-hitter in The winningest Hispanic pitcher in the history of Major League Baseball topped off his hall of fame career with this perfect game against the first place Dodgers at Dodger Stadium. Mike Morgan, the Dodgers starting pitcher, also had a gem going into the sixth inning, but only "El Presidente" would finished with the ace.
Caught Stealing : Hassey. Errors : Griffin 2. Left On Base : Montreal 4. Sacrifice : Calderon.
0コメント