I didn’t get a chance to work this into my piece on Bartolo Colón, but it’s worth a note now that I’ve done my homework. Of all the ballgames I’ve attended, Colón came the closest to throwing a no-hitter. On September 18, 2000, he pitched 7 1/3 hitless innings against the Yanks for Cleveland, allowing only a meager single to Luis Polonia and snapping Roger Clemens’ 16-start unbeaten streak. He went the distance, striking out 13 (every batter in the Yankee lineup except Polonia) and walking one — among the most dominating performances I’ve ever witnessed. Of course, it helped his cause that the Yanks were in the midst of an historic, wretched 3-15 slide to close out the 2000 season. I never got to the point of actually pulling for him, but had he taken the no-no into the 9th, I would have gladly put away my Yankee cap for the day.

The link above is to the game story, this one is to the box score.