Sept 2, 1990: Stieb finally throws no-hitter
Submitted by BTGrimes on Fri, 09/02/2011 - 1:00pm |
| An amazing string of dominance CLEVELAND, OHIO • Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Dave Stieb finally got the monkey off his back - if you call pitching three one-hitters in four starts a burden - and threw a no-hitter on this date in 1990. He beat the Cleveland Indians 3-0. Stieb made But the stretch David Andrew Stieb went through two years earlier was a remarkable string of dominance where he came very close to tying, and even breaking, a record many thought was unreachable. On September 24, 1988 (box scores/play-by-play below), also in Cleveland, Stieb had not allowed a hit for 8 and 2/3 innings when Indians 2nd baseman Julio Franco came to bat. With a 2-2 count, Franco got a base hit to centerfield. Stieb retired the next batter for a 1-0, 1-hit shutout. On September 30, Steib's very next start at home in Toronto, he had not allowed the Baltimore Orioles a hit going into the 9th. He induced two groundouts, bringing pinch hitter Jim Traber to the plate. Again, on a 2-2 count, Traber got a base hit. The next batter grounded out and Dave Stieb had his second consecutive 1-hitter after not allowing a hit for 8 and 2/3rds. He came amazingly close to tying Johnny Vander Meer's streak of two consecutive no-hitters, but still had none. The following spring, April 10, 1989, in New York, Dave Stieb threw his third 1-hitter in two seasons. It wasn't quite as dramatic this time as Stieb gave up the 1 hit in the 5th inning when Yankee catcher Jamie Quirk singled. Considering Steib's September 24th and 30th starts of 1988 were the last two of the season and April 10, 1989 was his second start of the next season, three of four starts in a row were one-hitters. Has there ever been a more dominating stretch by a pitcher in major league history? CONTRIBUTING SOURCES: This baseball history calendar is brought to you by TODAY in BASEBALL. Spread the word. Hyperlink www.todayinbaseball.com to your website. |
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