Sometimes hype is the creation of the media exaggerating or inflating the importance of an event. May 28, 2000 at Yankee Stadium turned out to be an exception.
Pedro vs. Clemens
The ancient rivals squared off on a Sunday night ESPN telecast with each team tied for first place. The pitching match-up was billed as the greatest of the century. Pedro vs. Clemens. Indisputably, the best pitcher in the game was drawing the start against the ex-Red Sox standout.
Yankee Stadium was electric from the opening pitch. 55,339 witnessed HOF-caliber pitching thrilling the sellout crowd. Inning after inning, each hurler retired the side with relative ease.
The game was scoreless through eight innings. Clemens retired the first two Red Sox batters before infielder Jeff Frye reached on a single off the pitcher’s glove. Moments later, Trot Nixon blasted a two-run homer to right field breaking the deadlock.
In the bottom of the ninth, the Yankees loaded the bases with two-outs before Pedro retired Tino Martinez on an infield groundball. Each pitcher tossed nine innings. In an era dominated by offensive clout, the pitchers dominated the game on this night.
Pedro: 9IP / 4H / 0R / 1BB / 9K (128 pitches)
Clemens: 9IP / 5H / 2R / 0BB / 13K (127 pitches)
May 28, 2000…the best pitching duel I ever witnessed.