Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, September 5, 1993 TAG: 9309050229
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: From Associated Press reports
DATELINE: NEW YORK LENGTH: Medium
Abbott, a fan favorite everywhere because he overcame being born without a right hand, added the feat to his resume before a cheering crowd of 27,225 at Yankee Stadium.
After Carlos Baerga grounded out to shortstop Randy Velarde for the final out, Abbott was mobbed by his teammates as the crowd stood and cheered.
"I was just thrilled to death," said Abbott, who acknowledged the cheers by tipping his cap and waving to the crowd. "I never expected to throw a no-hitter."
The crowd, held down by morning rain, remained on its feet until Abbott came out of the dugout to take a bow. He then brought catcher Matt Nokes out with him.
"Matt called a great game," Abbott said. "He deserved credit, too."
Chris Bosio of the Seattle Mariners pitched the season's only other no-hitter on April 22 against the Boston Red Sox at the Kingdome.
Dave Righetti of the Yankees pitched a no-hitter against visiting Boston on July 4, 1983.
The Indians' Kenny Lofton led off the ninth inning and tried to bunt, but he fouled off the ball. After being booed loudly, he bounced out to second base.
Felix Fermin followed with a drive that speedy center fielder Bernie Williams ran down in left-center, and the game ended on Baerga's routine grounder.
"The defense was outstanding behind me," Abbott said. "I really wasn't thinking about a no-hitter until the ninth inning."
The Yankees, who had lost five of their previous seven games, were looking for a big effort from Abbott, and they got it. He entered the day with a 4.31 ERA and had been hit hard of late.
"The Indians are a good hitting team," Abbott said. "They have a lot of tough outs."
Abbott (10-11) walked five and struck out three for his third complete game of the season and first shutout.
In his previous start last Sunday at Cleveland, Abbott gave up seven runs and 10 hits in 3 innings. Some Indians said his fastball didn't have the usual movement, about 3 or 4 mph slower than usual.
Third baseman Wade Boggs saved the no-hitter when Albert Belle hit a hard grounder in the hole with one out in the seventh. Boggs made a diving stop in front of Velarde, got up and made a perfect throw to first baeman Don Mattingly.
It was the first no-hitter against the Indians since Toronto's Dave Stieb did it on Sept. 2, 1990.
Abbott carried a no-hitter into the eighth inning on May 29 against the Chicago White Sox before Bo Jackson broke it up with a one-out single.
Saturday, after walking Randy Milligan with one out in the second inning, Abbott retired eight straight before walking Milligan again leading off the fifth. Rookie Manny Ramirez grounded sharply to short into a double play after Milligan's walk in the fifth.
New York acquired Abbott from the California Angels on Dec. 6 for J.T. Snow, Russ Springer and Jerry Nielsen.
He was a star pitcher at the University of Michigan and a member of the 1988 U.S. team that won the Olympic gold medal.
Entering this season, Abbott had a 47-52 record with a 3.49 ERA in four seasons with the Angels. His best year was 18-11 in 1991 with a 2.89 ERA.
The Yankees started the day trailing Toronto by two games in the American League East Division. The Blue Jays played a night game at California.
"It's a thrill to do this in a pennant race, in September," Abbott said.
New York scored three runs with the help of two errors in the third inning.
Mike Gallego was walked by starter Bob Milacki (0-1) and with one out, Boggs singled to right field with Gallego moving to second. Dion James then singled to center.
Gallego scored, but Lofton's throw from center field to get Boggs skipped past third baseman Jim Thome and Boggs scored. James also scored on the play.
Velarde led off the fifth with his sixth homer, a drive into the bleachers in right-center.
by CNB