LIVE: Astros’ Cristian Javier has a no-hitter vs. Yankees through seven innings

Astros starting pitcher Cristian Javier was tasked Saturday with his first career start in Yankee Stadium — and in doing so, he’d be facing the team with the best record in baseball and his counterpart was highly-compensated Yankees ace Gerrit Cole. Javier stepped up with a major way with the best start of his career. 

In seven scoreless innings, Javier did not allow a hit. The Astros have needed every bit of his work, too, as they hold a 2-0 lead. They got a solo home run from J.J. Matijevic in the top of the seventh inning and Jose Altuve provided insurance with a solo blast in the eighth. 

Reliever Hector Neris took over for Javier in the eighth inning, looking to help complete a combined no-hitter. Though he walked two, got Joey Gallo on a warning-track fly and Aaron Judge on a very hard hit liner, initially dropped by the shortstop who recovered in time to get the out at second, the no-hitter remained intact. 

Anthony Rizzo, Josh Donaldson and Giancarlo Stanton are due up for the Yankees in the ninth.

Javier wasn’t perfect, as he allowed a first-inning walk and then Donaldson reached via error in the seventh. He had 13 strikeouts, which is a career high. 

Javier threw 115 pitches. His previous high in pitches was 93 and that was his last outing. He was probably OK to extend himself a bit past that mark, but once it gets 15-20 pitches higher, he’d be facing arm fatigue and it looked like he started to lose some command late in the seventh. 

This outing matches his career high in innings for a start. He previously went seven innings twice (most recently May 13 of last season). His career high in pitches in one game was 107, which happened April 27 of last season. 

The Astros aren’t strangers to no-hitters. There have been 13 in franchise history. In 2019, Justin Verlander did it on Sept. 1 and there was also a combined no-no on Aug. 3. 

That combined no-hitter in 2019 came from Aaron Sanchez, Will Harris, Joe Biagini and Chris Devenski. 

Follow along for live updates as the Astros attempt to make club history.