Yanks' no-hitter is first since '58

NEW YORK -- Forced to scramble after starter Roy Oswalt was injured, a record six Houston pitchers combined on the first no-hitter against the New York Yankees in 45 years.

Relievers Pete Munro, Kirk Saarloos, Brad Lidge, Octavio Dotel and Billy Wagner finished to lead the Astros over the Yankees 8-0 Wednesday night.

"The first time to step on the Yankee Stadium mound and be part of a no-hitter is something special, something I'll never forget," Saarloos said.

It was the most pitchers ever to combine on a no-hitter in major league history -- four had twice done the trick. The Yankees had gone 6,980 games -- the longest streak in major league history -- without being no-hit, since Hoyt Wilhelm's 1-0 victory for Baltimore on Sept. 20, 1958.

The last time New York was held hitless at Yankee Stadium was on Aug. 25, 1952, by Detroit's Virgil Trucks.

"This is one of the worst games I've ever been involved in," Yankees manager Joe Torre said. "It was a total, inexcusable performance."

"I can't find a reason for what happened today," he said. "The whole game stunk."

Only resembling a hit

The closest New York came to a hit was in the fifth inning against Saarloos, when Alfonso Soriano sent a fly ball into short left field. Lance Berkman, who hit a two-run run homer in the third inning, ran in, stuck out his glove and made a tumbling catch.

Third baseman Geoff Blum made a barehanded pickup on Juan Rivera in the third inning and threw him out at first.

"One guy usually goes out there and does it," Astros manager Jimy Williams said. "Maybe two, but not six."

Astros pitchers combined for 13 strikeouts, including four by Dotel in the eighth, which tied the major league record for an inning. Soriano reached during the inning when he struck out on a wild pitch.

Wagner struck out Jorge Posada and pinch-hitter Bubba Trammell to start the ninth. He then got Hideki Matsui to ground to first base with one pitch to complete the Astros' 10th no-hitter, the first since Darryl Kile against the New York Mets on Sept. 8, 1993.

With Yankees' fans standing and applauding, Wagner pumped his fist as he stepped on first base to end it. Many the Astros came out of the dugout and onto the field to give high-fives.

A day earlier, Wagner and several Astros stars talked about how excited they were to play for the first time at Yankee Stadium. After New York won 5-3 Tuesday, Wagner and Houston came back and left their mark on the historic park.

This was the second no-hitter in the majors this season. Kevin Millwood pitched one for Philadelphia on April 27 against San Francisco.

And it came on the 65th anniversary of Johnny Vander Meer's first no-hitter. The only pitcher to throw consecutive no-hitters, he started that streak on June 11, 1938, for Cincinnati against the Boston Braves.

Overall, it was the third no-hitter in a game between AL and NL teams, and all of them have been at Yankee Stadium.

The other two were perfect games -- Don Larsen did it against the Brooklyn Dodgers in the 1956 World Series and by David Cone against Montreal on July 18, 1999.

Oswalt strained his right groin and left in the second inning. He looked toward catcher Brad Ausmus after his second pitch of the inning, his 23rd of the game, and immediately was replaced.

Oswalt originally hurt his groin May 15 while running the bases against Pittsburgh and was on the disabled list until May 31. Houston said he was day-to-day.

Munro pitched 2 2-3 innings, Saarloos 1 1-3 innings and Lidge (4-0) went two innings. Dotel threw the eighth and became the 44th pitcher in major league history to strike out four in an inning.

Dotel and Wagner combined to fan eight straight hitters before Matsui grounded out.

"If they get a hit, who cares?" Dotel said. "I just wanted to do my thing."

New York, just 16-24 since its 20-4 start, looked awful throughout, with physical and mental miscues.

Jeff Weaver (3-5), repeatedly booed by the fans, appeared uncomfortable in his first start since May 31. He had been dropped from the rotation after owner George Steinbrenner wanted Jose Contreras to start, and was back only because Contreras went on the disabled list earlier this week.

Weaver gave up a double to Craig Biggio leading off the game and allowed him to score on a two-out wild pitch.

Orlando Merced tripled off Rivera's glove in left field in the second and scored on Jose Vizcaino's sacrifice fly. After Berkman's homer -- which extended his hitting streak to 17 games -- landed in the upper deck -- Weaver could only stare at the plate under his cap, pulled low, while he waited for the umpire to give him a new ball.

Weaver stayed in for 6 1-3 innings, allowing five runs and 10 hits.

New York had a chance to get back in the game in the third inning, loading the bases with two outs on an error, a walk and a hit batter. But Posada grounded out on a 3-0 pitch.

Richard Hidalgo added a two-run double for the Astros.

Notes: Vida Blue, Glenn Abbott, Paul Lindblad and Rollie Fingers combined for a no-hitter for Oakland against California on Sept. 28, 1975. Bob Milacki, Mike Flanagan, Mark Williamson and Gregg Olson combined for a no-hitter for Baltimore at Oakland on July 13, 1991. ... Derek Jeter has struck out in 12 of his last 19 at-bats. ... The Yankees agreed to a minor league contract with their top draft pick, 3B Eric Duncan, giving him a $1,275,000 signing bonus. He had previously signed a letter of intend to attend LSU. ... New York's games against St. Louis on Friday and Saturday are sellouts. Roger Clemens is to make his fourth try for No. 300 on Friday.