This Day In Astros History: June 11, 2003

Bringing you a special Saturday edition of the TDAH because of this particular anniversary. On this day,eight years ago, the Houston Astros combined to no-hit the New York Yankees in Yankee Stadium, winning 8-0.

Roy Oswalt started the game, but only pitched one inning before leaving with an injury (a tweaked groin, if I remember correctly). Pete Munro quickly took over, tossing 2 2/3 innings while walking three and striking out two.

Kirk Saarloos followed, pitching 1 1/3 innings while striking out one before Brad Lidge provided two more innings of relief. Lidge struck out two and only needed 23 pitches to get through his innings. He was awarded the victory, his fourth of the season.

Octavio Dotel came in next, pitching a perfect eighth. Well, it was almost perfect, if not for a dropped third strike that allowed Alphonso Soriano to reach first safely. Ducky went ahead and struck out two more batters to end the frame, recording four strikeouts in one inning.

Billy Wagner closed things down in the ninth, completing the no-hitter by striking out Jorge Posada and Bubba Trammell before getting Hideki Matsui to ground out to Jeff Bagwell at first.

Lance Berkman added his 12th home run in this game, a two-run shot in the third inning. Richard Hidalgo went 2 for 5 with two doubles, two RBIs and a run scored while Orlando Merced, who was the designated hitter in this one, went 1 for 5 with a triple.

It was the only combined no-hitter in franchise history and just the third no-hitter thrown by an opposing team in Yankee Stadium. The last time that happened was when Virgil Trucks did it for Detroit in 1952. 

Here is a graphic replay of the game, thanks to Back to Baseball.