TAMPA, Fla. — Max Fried was unaware of the potential no-hit game he was pitching, only realizing it had been lost due to a scorer’s decision change as he began the eighth inning. “I’m just relieved I didn’t have to think about that,” Fried stated after guiding the New York Yankees to a 4-0 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays on Sunday.
In his debut season following a lucrative $218 million, eight-year free-agent agreement with the Yankees, Fried’s performance has been impressive, advancing to a 4-0 record with an ERA of 1.42. Chandler Simpson, a rookie with notable speed, hit a grounder with one out in the sixth inning that was initially ruled an error by official scorer Bill Mathews when it deflected off first baseman Paul Goldschmidt’s glove.
Fried managed a hitless game through seven innings and was preparing to launch his first pitch in the eighth when Mathews reversed his decision to an error. Mathews reviewed several video replays and concluded Simpson would have made it to first regardless of a throw. Jake Mangum then interrupted Fried’s momentum in the eighth by hitting a straightforward single to center field on Fried’s fifth pitch of that inning.
By the time Fried exited, he had allowed only two hits in 7 2/3 innings, delivering 102 pitches, narrowly below his career-high 110 set in 2022. “I’m holding onto that ball and wish to keep pitching for as long as possible until the manager decides otherwise,” Fried remarked.
Yankees manager Aaron Boone was initially unaware of the scoring amendment. “I assumed the first recorded hit was in the eighth,” Boone said. “I later recognized they altered it. While we’re challenged to beat him to the bag, it’s understandable but can complicate matters during the game, notably with a no-hitter at stake.”
Boone expressed surprise over the scoring’s initial error call. “I’m often puzzled by the official scorers,” he noted. “Errors are frequent at Yankee Stadium, while hits are generously credited elsewhere. It’s a distinct experience in every park.”
Ejected at the top of the eighth, Boone wasn’t left to decide on extending Fried’s no-hit attempt amid rising pitch counts. “I wouldn’t have allowed him beyond 120 pitches today,” Boone mentioned. “There would have been discussions if he completed the eighth. He seemed fatigued; I’m uncertain of the final count but wouldn’t have let him continue unconditionally.”
Fried previously delivered seven no-hit innings on May 11 at the New York Mets’ Citi Field, later exiting after 109 pitches in a 4-1 triumph. Relief pitcher Joe Jiménez maneuvered past two walks in the eighth, while Raisel Iglesias managed the ninth until losing the no-hitter to J.D. Martinez’s home run.
Notably, the Yankees delivered exceptional defense to preserve the no-hitter and widen their 3-0 lead over Tampa Bay. In the third inning, Fried dashed to first ahead of Simpson. Forcing Mangum with a diving catch in the fifth, Trent Grisham initiated a double play, and second baseman Jazz Chisholm Jr. ran 74 feet to seize a challenging popup from Christopher Morel.
“I dubbed him Flash Gordon,” Boone quipped, “emerging seemingly from nothing.”