The Power of a No Hitter

What makes a meaningless late-September game at Yankee Stadium, with nothing on the line for either team, exciting? The possibility of a no-hitter. On the way to the Stadium for the game, I did not think that the game was going to be very good, especially after hearing that Derek Jeter and Alex Rodriguez would not be playing for the Yankees, and that Darell Rasner, a rookie pitcher would be making the start for New York. The crowd was intense throughout the last four innings of the game, even though the Yankees were losing 5-1 and then 7-1. The reason for the intensity was that the Yankees were being no-hit by the Baltimore Orioles' pitcher, Daniel Cabrera. The rabid Yankees fans could not bear to see their team be no-hit and while in normal circumstances, many fans would have left to beat the traffic, almost all of the 50,000 fans in attendence stayed to cheer the Yankees on, staying to see Robinson Cano break up the no-hitter with a bloop single in the 9th inning, with one out. Cabrera then sealed the one-hitter by forcing Bobby Abreu to ground into a game ending double play.

The fans in the crowd were energized all game long. While my favorite baseball moment ever was going to Fenway Park, this game was a close second. The thrill of wondering if Cabrera could get another out was amazing. The fans watching their powerful team getting no-hit was fun for a diehard Red Sox fan, who hoped to see the Yankees lose. Most say that they want to see offense, but I will take a pitching duel anyday, I think that is a lot more exciting, especially when the pitcher who is doing excellent is the one you are rooting for.