Yankees’ Michael King makes history with ultra-rare feat

Yankees pitcher Michael King made history Friday night at Yankee Stadium with a feat that was more rare than Corey Kluber’s no-hitter last month.

Facing the Boston Red Sox in the top of the fourth, the righty struck out the side on nine pitches, all of them strikes for an Immaculate inning.

Introducing Yankees Insider: Get exclusive news, behind-the-scenes observations and the ability to text message directly with beat writers

This achievement occurred for just the seventh time in Yankees history and 103rd in the majors according to Wikipedia. For comparison, there have been 311 no-hitters, including 12 by Yankees (counting Don Larsen’s World Series perfect game).

Making his second start of the season, King fell behind 3-0 in the first inning when Rafael Devers lauched a second-deck homer to right field and the score was the same heading to the fourth when Hunter Renfroe, Marvin Gonzalez and Christian Vazquez struck out on three pitches.

Renfroe took two strikes before whiffing, then Gonzalez fouled off a pair of pitches before swinging and missing for the second out. Vazquez then had two strikes call before swinging through an 80-mph curve that ended the inning.

The next inning, King was maybe even better retiring the Red Sox on four pitches, a Yankees first since he did it April

King was knocked out in the sixth with a runner on first and Boston up 3-0. His final line was 5 1/3 innings, six hits, four runs, five strikeouts, no walks and two amazing innings.

YANKEES IMMACULATE INNINGS

Al Downing: Aug. 11, 1967 vs. Indians, 2nd inning facing Tony Horton, Don Demeter and Duke Sims.

2. Ron Guidry: Aug. 7, 1984 vs. White Sox, 9th inning facing Carlton Fisk, Tom Paciorek and Greg Luzinski.

3. A.J. Burnett: June 20, 2009 vs. Marlins, 3rd inning facing Josh Johnson, Chris Coghlan and Emilio Bonifacio.

4. Ivan Nova: May 29, 2013 vs. Mets, 8th inning facing Ike Davis, Mike Baxter and Ruben Tejada.

5. Brandon McCarthy: Sept. 17, 2014 vs. Rays, 7th inning facing Wil Myers, Nick Franklin and Matt Joyce.

6. Dellin Betances: Aug. 2, 2017 vs. Tigers, 8th inning facing Jim Adduci, Justin Upton and Miguel Cabrera.

7. Michael King: June 4, 2021 vs. Red Sox, 4th inning facing Hunter Renfroe, Marvin Gonzalez and Christian Vazquez.

Get Yankees text messages: Cut through the clutter of social media and text with beat writers and columnists. Plus, get breaking news, exclusive insight and analysis every day. Sign up now.

Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com.

Randy Miller may be reached at rmiller@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @RandyJMiller. Find NJ.com on Facebook. Tell us your coronavirus story or send a tip here.

Note to readers: if you purchase something through one of our affiliate links we may earn a commission.