
(c) Houston Astros | by John P. Lopez, Houston Chronicle
September 8, 1993 - Darryl Kile, a surprising All-Star
in 1993, entered into Astros lore Wednesday night, throwing a stunning no-hitter against the New York
Mets in a 7-1 Astros victory.
It was the Astros' first no-hitter since Mike Scott's pennant-clinching
victory over the San Francisco Giants in 1986 and only the third in baseball this year.
"It was just incredible, an unbelievable feeling," said Kile, who improved to 15-6, walked only one batter
and wrapped up the game with back-to-back strikeouts of Mets pinch-hitters Tito Navarro and Chico Walker.
"I guess the only thing better than this," Kile said, "would be winning the seventh game of the World Series. What
can you say? I can't believe it."
For a rising star who struggled to make the team last spring and had to survive an emotional off-season when his
father died, the no-hitter came thanks to an effort that could hardly have been more impressive.
For the start, Kile confused and overpowered the Mets. Kile's control proved to be impeccable, as he rarely got behind
in the count and threw less than 90 pitches total.
"It's incredible just to be a part of it," Astros second baseman Craig Biggio said.
"He was in such control out there. I looked up around the fourth inning and, you know how sometimes you just get a gut feeling?"
"I said to myself, 'Man, he's throwing. He might just get it.'"
Kile did, retiring the final 17 batters in a row.
"This is the best control I've had," Kile said, "I just felt real good."
But as much as Kile was superb, he also was helped by two of the most spectacular plays of the season in a seventh
inning that nearly saw the gem slip away."
"You'll never see any two plays better," said Kile, who was mobbed on the mound after the final out and doused with
champagne in the jubilant Astros locker room.
The huge plays came back-to-back, with third baseman Ken Caminiti diving hard to
his left to scoop a bullet from the bat of Mets first baseman Eddie Murray.
It was easily the hardest-hit ball of the night, but Caminiti made the remarkable play.
One batter later, Astros shortstop Andujar Cedeno made a dive no less incredible
than Caminiti's, leaping deep into the hole on a shot from Joe Orsulak. Cedeno turned and threw to Jeff Bagwell
at first base in one motion and nipped Orsulak at the bag.
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