NEW YORK (AP) — Clarke Schmidt completed seven hitless innings on the mound before acknowledging to manager Aaron Boone that he wouldn’t be continuing. Despite his disappointment, Schmidt, a right-hander for the New York Yankees, understood the decision not to push beyond the seventh inning in pursuit of a no-hit game. He was removed after reaching 103 pitches, and the Yankees lost the no-hit bid against the Baltimore Orioles when Gary Sánchez singled to lead off the eighth inning against J.T. Brubaker.
Schmidt reflected on the moment, saying, “It’s more him looking at me like this is your limit for today.” Boone explained, “You’re going to power through pitch limits or within reason. Today was not that day for Clarke.”
Schmidt grappled through a high-stress first inning, issuing walks and hitting a batter but settled in as the game progressed. Boone sensed Schmidt’s struggle and decided to pull him after the seventh inning, despite the no-hit bid. Brubaker, who took over, ultimately allowed a hit to Sánchez, breaking the streak.
The game marked the fifth time in Yankees’ history that a pitcher threw at least seven hitless innings but fell short of completing a no-hitter. Despite the disappointment, the team’s strong pitching performance was evident throughout the game. Schmidt’s impressive outing included striking out five and walking two, ending with a scoreless inning streak of 25.1. The Yankees have a rich history of no-hitters, with the most recent one occurring in June 2023.
On the other side, the Orioles have been no-hit 15 times in their history, with their last occurrence in 2015. The game was a testament to the excitement and unpredictability of baseball, showcasing the highs and lows that come with each pitch thrown.
