Wagner makes history in multi-pitcher no-hitter for Astros
Billy Wagner knew all about the history that was made in Yankee Stadium. And in his first game in the Bronx, Wagner helped make a little history for himself and his Houston Astros.
On June 11, 2003, Wagner combined with four other relievers to no-hit the Yankees in an 8-0 Houston win. It marked the first time the Yankees were no-hit since Baltimore’s Hoyt Wilhelm blanked the Bombers on Sept. 20, 1958, and the first no-hitter against the Yankees at Yankee Stadium since Aug. 25, 1952, when Detroit’s Virgil Trucks pitched his second gem of the season.
“First appearance for most of us in Yankee Stadium,” Wagner told the Associated Press after the second game of a three-game series that saw the Astros – who were then members of the National League – make their first trip to Yankee Stadium since interleague play began in 1997. “What better place could there be? This is like the history book.”
Roy Oswalt started the game for the Astros and pitched a perfect first inning after the Astros picked up the only run they would need when Craig Biggio scored on a wild pitch from Jeff Weaver in the top of the first. But Oswalt was unable to continue due to a groin injury, forcing Astros manager Jimy Williams to turn to his bullpen.
Peter Munro took over in the second inning and worked 2.2 scoreless frames – though he allowed three Yankees to reach base in the third inning on an error, a walk and a hit batter. Kirk Saarloos recorded the last out of the fourth and pitched a perfect fifth before Brad Lidge (who was credited with the victory) retired the Yankees in order in the sixth and seventh.
After Octavio Dotel struck out four batters in the eighth – Alfonso Soriano reached base on a wild pitch on his strikeout – Wagner took over in the ninth and fanned Jorge Posada and Bubba Trammell before getting Hideki Matsui to ground to first baseman Jeff Bagwell, who flipped the ball to Wagner covering at the bag to end the game.
“My heart was about to pound out of my chest,” Wagner told the AP of his ninth-inning performance.
The game marked only the seventh no-hitter against the Yankees in 103 seasons, the first coming on June 30, 1908, by Boston’s Cy Young. It was the 10th no-hitter in Astros history and the ninth combined no-no in AL/NL annals.
“Once things started snowballing,” Yankees manager Joe Torre told the AP, “I think we lost our composure.”
Wagner would finish the season with 44 saves over 78 games, which would both turn out to be career-high totals. The Astros traded him to the Phillies following the 2003 season, and Wagner would pitch with Philadelphia, the Mets, Boston and Atlanta before retiring with 422 career saves following the 2010 season.
Wagner was elected to the Hall of Fame in 2025.
Craig Muder is the director of communications for the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum
