Yanks Shutout Of Shutouts

Did you see what Roy Oswalt did last night? If not, here’s the recap via the Houston Chronicle:

As Hurricane Ike headed toward Houston, Astros ace righthander Roy Oswalt took the Minute Maid Park mound Thursday night with interlocking goals. The first objective was to lead the Astros to victory, and the second was to provide a few moments of comfort for his nervous community.

Setting the franchise record for consecutive scoreless innings was a mere bonus as he threw his second consecutive shutout while completing a four-game sweep against the Pittsburgh Pirates with a 6-0 victory.

With their sixth victory in a row and 14th in 15 games, the Astros moved within three games of the National League wild card-leading Milwaukee Brewers with 15 games to play.

“I was trying to make it as quick as possible so they could get home,” Oswalt said after needing only 90 pitches and two hours nine minutes, while becoming the first pitcher to throw consecutive shutouts in the majors this season.

“Somebody said there was a hurricane on the way, so I was trying to be as quick as possible.”

With 321⁄3 consecutive scoreless innings, Oswalt broke the franchise record J.R. Richard set with 31 consecutive scoreless innings in 1980.

Seeing this made me wonder “When was the last time that a Yankees starting pitcher threw a nine-inning shutout?” So, I looked. And, here’s the answer: Chien-Ming Wang on July 28, 2006.

Wow. It’s been over two years since a Yankees starting pitcher threw a shutout.

Noodling this some more, I next wondered “When was the last time a Yankees starting pitcher threw a shutout, in September, when it meant something for the team?” So, I looked again. And, here’s that answer: Aaron Small on September 3, 2005 – when the Yankees started that game in second place, 4 games back in the loss column, behind the Red Sox.

Aaron Small? That seems like forever ago, doesn’t it?

All told, since 1996, the Yankees starting pitchers, each season, were usually good for about three (or so) one-man shutouts per year – sans 1998 where they went crazy with 8 of them and 2004 where they had none. But, that changed around 2006.

The Yankees starters had one shutout in 2006 (which was that game by Wang) and zero shutouts last year. And, this season, to date, they’ve got zip too.

Three years without a horse. Let’s hope that changes next season.

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